MISTAKES
“A person who never made a mistake
never tried anything new.”
—Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist.
We all make mistakes. We lack the ability to be error-free but we can try to do what is right and it is by constantly trying that we build, over time, both our characters and our reputations.
Having great character does not require
that you never make mistakes.
If it did, no one could be said to have great character.Instead, it requires that you work hard to avoid mistakes and make good choices.
Each person that you deal with will judge you based upon his or her own personal standards. Some may require less of you. Others may require more. Your character and your reputation will constantly be assessed by others based on your words and your deeds. Your mistakes will be evaluated based upon their nature and your intent. Innocent and trivial mistakes may offer some insight into your character but are unlikely to significantly impact your reputation unless they are ongoing. More significant mistakes or errors in judgment, especially those that are intentional, can say a great deal about your character and can have a profoundly negativeimpact on your reputation.
In the final analysis, you can’t control what others think so you shouldn’t allow yourself to be defined by the standards of others. Be defined by your own values, your own standards and your own sense of character.
Have high standards and demand more of yourself.
We all make mistakes. People with great character simply make fewer of them. Their mistakes are also normally unintentional and less significant.Given that you are bound to make certain mistakes in your life, it is important that you know what to do when that happens.
Having great character requires
that you admit your mistakes.
It requires that you do whatever is necessary to correct your mistakes. It requires that you accept responsibility for your mistakes and graciously accept the consequences of your mistakes. To do otherwise only compounds your mistakes and evidences a serious lack of character.
Part of accepting responsibility for our mistakes includes apologizing to those you have hurt or disrespected. Be honest and humble. Admit when you’re wrong, acknowledge your mistakes and always be willing to apologize.
Most people are, by nature, very forgiving. We believe in second chances. We want to forgive. But in doing so, we expect those who have made mistakes to admit their mistakes and to accept responsibility for their mistakes.
Never allow your poor handling of your
mistakes to say more about your character
than the mistakes themselves.
Instead, use your mistakes as opportunities to show the true substance of your character by immediately owning and accepting responsibility for them.
These are critically important concepts.Successful people understand and embrace these core values. Moreover, most of them expect that the people they work with and associate with, both personally and professionally, embrace these same core values.
Regardless of your social or economic condition or circumstances, when you practice these core values, others will respect and admire you. You will build lasting and important personal and professional relationships.Conversely, failure to adopt and practice these core values will undermine and/or preclude such relationships and lead to failure and despair.
A person’s reputation is his or her most valuable asset. It can take a lifetime to build and only a single poor choice to destroy. Build your reputation by practicing these core values and guard and protect your reputation zealously. Nothing you possess will ever be more important.
