One of the most important things I can communicate to you about character is this: Your character is not determined by whether or not you ever make a mistake, but by what you do about it.
Let me say it again. Your character—or the character of your company or organization or family—is not determined by whether or not you ever mess up, but by what you do to own up to your mistake and repair the damage you have caused.
Everybody is going to mess up now and then. We all understand that, and most of us aren’t looking for perfection in those around us. What we want is for the action not to be repeated and for something to be done to right the wrong. (I think it’s important to mention that I included the microphone cords when I returned them. In other words, I returned the goods in better shape than they were in when I took them. Not that that justifies or excuses the theft, but my point is that restitution is important.)
When you blow it, do you run and hide, and pretend the incident never happened? Do you maintain a position of plausible deniability? Do you point the finger at someone else? Or, do you man up, step up, and ’fess up?
Excerpted from The Seven Powers of Success; Unlock You Strengths, Unleash your dreams. www.charlesmarshall.net. © 2013 Charles Marshall.
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