The puzzle of achieving success falls apart without character. Money can be made without character, but it is worthless to you and those around you. Life’s puzzles are many–and character is among the most important. Take a look around you and you’ll see many people with money–such as drug dealers and con artists. But they lack character.

If you want a legacy of honesty as you age then don’t let lack of character mar your hard work in achieving success. People may well pity you and this can cause you to become less than you were intended to be.

Character means the same thing as integrity. It means that you do the right thing–no matter who is watching. When your integrity is intact, you have nothing to fear. You have nothing to hide. If you maintain character and integrity, you will climb higher much easier.

To put it in practical terms–You will put the golden rule into work at all times. Some people will step on other people to get what they want; climbing the corporate ladder on the shoulders of others. With character and integrity, you will treat people with respect and dignity. You will treat others in the way that you expect to be treated.

When you are the model of “doing the right thing” in the office, it isn’t always appreciated by your peers. There might be a chance that you are the only one that is doing the right thing. If that’s the case, you will find yourself graduating to better places where your integrity may be appreciated.

Character realizes that the most important things in life are not office- or work-based. They are family and a sense of responsibility to that family. Character will not sacrifice your family on the altar of “I’ve got to finish this project,” nor will it tell your children, “Maybe next time, Hon,” when asked to play catch.

Character shines through when you put your family ahead of your work. Purposefully scheduling time for them (and keeping the appointments) will show your true character and integrity. You can “date” your spouse and play with your children,making you see why you got married in the first place. The example you set will be something your family will be proud of.

Remember that your children will grow up to be just like you. “We teach what we know; we reproduce who we are”–spoken by John Maxwell. Living your life with character and integrity will cause you to reproduce children with the same traits. Those traits will follow you and your children as you progress toward success in your life? And isn’t that what it’s really all about anyway ??

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