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You Can't Buy
A Reputation
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FRI MAY 25
p
erhaps it is possible that
everyone knows it. So what happens
Greek philosopher Socrates
when you switch wholesalers to get a
was clairvoyant and envi-
better price and the produce isn't as
sioned a future with employees stand-
good anymore? Your reputation you
ing around the water cooler gossiping
worked so hard to build will take a hit
about their boss's lack of
and your business could
style or sending scathing e-
be destroyed in a matter of
mails to office friends about
weeks.
another colleague's alleged
It takes a lifetime to build
extracurricular affairs.
a good reputation, yet it
Socrates knew the value
takes just one day and one
of a good name and of
foolish action to destroy
preserving our reputa-
it. We see this every day.
tions. What he suggested
A judge is caught driving
many, many years ago still
drunk; the teacher of the
Rob ert Sher
resonates as true today. We
year gets caught with child
Co l umnist
should regard our good
pornography; a politician
names as the richest jew-
is arrested in a prostitution
els we can possibly possess because:
sting.
"Credit is like fire. When once you
Reputations stick. In the beginning
have kindled it, you may easily pre-
of your careers, you each got labeled
serve it but, if you once extinguish
with good or bad reputations, like it
it, you will find it an arduous task to
or not.
rekindle it again. The way to gain a
Those of you lucky enough to have
good reputation is to endeavor to be
the good reps can probably get a little
what you desire to appear!"
break somewhere along the way for
Do you talk out
making a mistake.
of school telling
For you, a mistake
Socrates knew the
colleagues' secrets?
might be called a
Have you ever gotten value of a good name
lapse in judgment or
drunk at a company
a minor stray from
and of preserving our the path but, if you
party or behaved
inappropriately at a
get a rep early on in
reputations.
community fund-
your career with a
raiser? Have you said
negative label, peo-
hurtful things about
ple will wait for you
someone else behind his or her back?
to wreak havoc no matter what. When
If so, it will hurt your reputation if it
you slip, so will your reputation.
hasn't done so already.
"A good reputation is more valuable
In my many years in executive busi- than money," playwright Oscar Wilde
ness roles, and in my coaching prac-
said. I couldn't agree more. A good
tice, I've heard many things. I prefer to reputation must be earned. You can
ignore the idle chit-chat and useless
buy just about anything else. E
gossip because, at the end of every day,
I want my own reputation to remain
Robert Sher, CPA, is a certified execu-
intact.
tive coach. Formerly CFO and partner
A good reputation is not something
for Schostak Brothers & Company,
that can be achieved overnight. It takes Sher has been a delegate from the
time and is the product of persistent
Michigan Association of Certified Public
action over time, but a bad reputa-
Accountants to the National Future Forum
tion takes no time. Perhaps you have
working on the CPA "Vision" Project. Sher
worked hard to build a solid reputa-
serves on the boards of charitable and
tion running your small grocery busi-
professional organizations as well as being
ness with a persistent smile on your
on the West Bloomfield Township Board
face and giving customers the best
of Trustees and treasurer of the American
prices in town for more than 20 years.
Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Your produce is the very best and
Foundation.
Messages (3)
"t o I
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