Some of us think we deserve respect simply because of our position. No, respect must be earned; daily. General J. Lawton Collins asserted, 'No matter how brilliant a man may be he will never engender confidence in his subordinates and associates if he lacks honesty and moral courage.' Ultimately, all the skills in the world won't save you if your character is flawed. Author Stephen Covey writes, 'If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics to get other people to do what I want…and my character is fundamentally flawed…in the long run I cannot be successful. My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do will be perceived as manipulative.' It makes no difference how good the rhetoric is or even how good the intentions are; if there is little or no trust, there is no foundation for permanent success. Character can be built, but only slowly. If you want to know how long it will take you to get to the top, consult a calendar. If you want to know how long it will take you to fall to the bottom, try a stopwatch. Dreams become shattered, possibilities are lost, organisations crumble and people are hurt when a person doesn't have character protecting his talent. Character provides the opportunity for longevity in any career, any relationship, and any worthwhile goal. Author and Pastor J.R. Miller wrote, 'The only thing that walks back from the grave with the mourners and refuses to be buried, is the character of a man.' What a man is, survives him, and that makes a lasting difference!
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