Original Post: October 31, 2013
There is a lie being whispered into our heads these days. It says “nobody cares, you can just do what you want, and no one is paying attention”. It is a lie. People are watching and there will be consequences! The choices made to do something, be in a particular place, say a certain thing or phrase, all have the potential to cause regret and grief later. Character takes a lot to build but very little to destroy, or as political activist Thomas Paine states “Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
Recently, several incidents in the media have highlighted how a slip in judgment can snowball into a loss of community respect and public humiliation. If what you are in private or the places you frequent are questionable, or even the demeanor you display under pressure is mean and nasty, it will change the way people view you. Your professional character will be questioned regardless of past accomplishments or family background. It will not matter that to you, past behavior was just a stepping stone into your future, nor does it matter whether you felt responsible for the ethical activity around you or that you felt disrespected in the vilest way. Your actions, your presence, your response must always portray moral character, fortitude and professionalism. Another author put it like this “How horrible it will be for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD. Their deeds are done in the dark, and they say, “No one can see us” and “No one can recognize us.” Here’s a tip: someone is always watching, someone always sees, and in today’s environment, someone is always willing to not only record and post it, they will also “tag” you with full disclosure!
Professional presence like character is powerfully transparent. It withstands past scrutiny and responds appropriately to present circumstances and public disclosures. “The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out” ~Thomas Babington Macaulay
I am Pamela Coopwood, and I am “Speaking of Protocol”