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Reputation: The New Currency

Reputation is often referred to as “the new currency” – the most valuable asset and the biggest risk for individuals, organizations, cities, countries, and industries alike. Losing it can be devastating.

Though reputation is intangible, it influences everything we do. Whether you’re a doctor, businessperson, employee, scientist, or clergy member, your reputation is shaped by your actions and performance. It takes significant effort to build, sustain, and protect.

As the saying goes, “If you lose your good name, who will trust you?” or, from another perspective, “Your name arrives at a destination long before you do, so make sure it’s a good one.”

Socrates (469 BC – 399 BC) wisely said, “Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly possess. Credit is like fire; once kindled, it’s easy to preserve, but once extinguished, it’s a difficult task to rekindle. The way to gain a good reputation is to strive to be what you desire to appear.”

I advise companies, countries, cities, executives, and individuals on how to build and protect their reputations and mitigate reputation risks – one of the top three global risks identified in numerous surveys.