Character or Compromise: The Choice is Yours
Updated: Jun 6, 2020
I often say “who you're becoming is always more important than what you’re doing.” Sometimes, people get it. Sometimes they don’t. And at the heart of who you are becoming is the concept of character. Character isn’t like personality. It isn’t something you’re born with. It’s developed over time through conscious choice and living through different situations. Character requires continuous focus and commitment. In a word, character isn’t built by “accident”. It requires intentionality…intentionally choosing who you will be and then, and only then, what you will do.
Character is particularly important for leaders. And how a leader deals with the circumstances of life tells you a lot about their character. Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it. Adversity is a crossroads which makes a person choose one of two paths: character or compromise. Every time leaders choose character, they become stronger, even if that choice brings negative consequences. As Nobel Prize winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, “The meaning of earthly existing lies, not as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering, but in the development of the soul.” The development of character is at the heart of our development, not just as leaders, but as human beings.
What must every person know about character?
Character is more than talk.
Talent is a gift, but character is a choice.
Character brings lasting success with people.
Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character. That’s why developing strong character is so critical.
Authenticity. Values-Centered. Hopeful. Purposeful. Self-aware. Humble. Compassionate. These are the characteristics of strong character that provide the building blocks of incredible leadership.
But every day we have the choice to make in how our character will be grown and lived out. So, make the choice today to stand out from the crowd. Be the light to the world through the character you reveal. Let it shine for all to see and be a ray of hope, of compassion, of authenticity, of love. The world is waiting for you to shine. Why not start today?
Walking Points:
What is character to you?
How are you growing your character?
What challenging situations are you facing today that are stretching your commitment to your character?
Live. Love. Lead. Leave a Legacy!
Dr. Jason