Looking Good Vs. Doing Good: The Importance Of Character

It seems that in today’s news media we are bombarded with negativity, from business, to politics, to sports. Negativity rules our headlines. Violence and corruption often take center stage while stories of morality and integrity are hard to find. While the world may seem to be going in the wrong direction, we all have within us the ability to make things better.

Every day we face a multitude of decisions. Whether they are at home or at work, these choices provide us with opportunities to “do the right thing.” This is where a crossroad appears – deciding between what is easiest or might make us look good vs. what actually is the best available decision. It is when faced with these situations that our true character shines through.


Sometimes making the “right decision” is not popular or easy. When making decisions, keep in mind the importance of character and living our lives through authenticity rather than image.



Bruna Martinuzzi, President of Clarion Enterprises Ltd, recommends several tips on good character and leading by example.

• Make your values actionable. Live your values every day and portray them in your behavior.

• Be known as a promise-keeper. No matter how small, follow through and do what you say you will.

• Don’t take shortcuts in quality. Take pride in your endeavors – others will follow your lead.

• Be consistent in your dealings with others. We can easily slip into the habit of treating colleagues unfairly or talking about others, especially when we get tired or frustrated from our days’ events. This behavior can damage our credibility.

• Audit your decisions. Take a few minutes to evaluate your actions and consider decisions you have made. Are you proud of your choices? Did you reflect good character? What could you have done better? Reflection and evaluation play important roles in bettering ourselves.

Taking simple steps to improve our character is an easy way to contribute to a better tomorrow. Every individual has the ability to do the “right thing.” Martinuzzi put it best when he said, “Every action we take, no matter how small, has our character stamp on it.”

Source: Open Forum