From the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, John Hope Bryant.

From John Hope Bryant’s Unlocking Success newsletter on LinkedIn, September 30, 2022.

Growing up, I’d often hear the men in my community say, “All a man has in this world is his word and reputation. Make sure both are always sound and solid.” I didn’t realize it then, but those wise sayings set a foundation for success. However, before we go further, I want to modify the adage slightly and replace “man” with “person” because this key applies to everyone.

At the core of the message is a call to be a trustworthy, dependable person on whom others can rely. I’d like to believe that most people at least want to be known as someone whom others can count on. But sometimes, even the best of us fail to meet the expectations of the things we agreed to. The danger in this is that a series of minor incidents build up to damage our “social credit score” significantly. Thankfully, however, after keeping a few things in mind and making a couple of considerations, we’ll be well prepared to follow before we commit and say, “I do.”

You don’t have to run from the post. I’m not talking about marriage (although the same principles apply). I am, however, talking about wedding ourselves to commitments that we make to others. One of the first pitfalls we fall into when managing our word and reputation is committing too early. We all want to make the people that we know and love happy. As a result, we may get in the habit of saying “yes” too soon. Before committing to serving on a board or committee, pause and ask yourself and your conversation partner about the details regarding what they’re asking you to do. What is the expectation? What is the timetable? How many people will be involved? Gaining clarity on the front end and checking the new opportunity against present commitments will save you and others a lot of heartaches.

Second, you should consider what you already have on your plate. You are a high achiever. It may not always feel like it, but you’ve dedicated yourself to excellence. Individuals with a high drive for success often readily accept new challenges and are eager to get involved in whatever they’re passionate about. However, we must face facts fairly. Despite our ambition, desires, and lofty goals, we must tackle the reality that none of us can do everything others ask of us. As humans, we are finite beings existing in a finite world. What I mean is that if you say yes to everything, you will exhaust one of your natural resources: energy, time, or mental capacity. You can alleviate this problem by seeking out partners and affiliates who may be able to help you accomplish the task at hand. Like the old proverb says, “many hands make light work.”

Lastly, before you commit and say I do, consider the cost of the opportunity in relation to your existing reputation. You should not attach your name to every project, assignment, volunteer opportunity, or job that comes across your desk. Stay choosey. Simply put, when you say “I do” to quality projects that you have the time, capacity, and understanding to execute correctly, people will take note of your standards of excellence and quality of work. This mindset, paired with substantive action, creates a snowball effect of securing win after win, success after success.

Consider Beyonce. She doesn’t show up to every event and doesn’t perform at every concert. She’s placed a premium on her time and her presence. That way, when you see her name in a lineup, you know that it has some prestige, and you’re in for a stellar performance. Her name and her reputation precede her. You should follow suit.

If you take these few simple considerations to heart, you’ll see a shift in your day-to-day work and life in general. You’ll begin to see your time and energy as precious, and people will start to respect you at greater levels. Dedicate yourself to being a solid individual with fantastic skill sets and a heart to serve; people will line up to leverage your talent. But remember, find all the pertinent information about the project before you commit, examine your capacity and partner with others if necessary, and be selective with what and with whom you associate yourself.

Let’s continue towards success!