Perhaps, you feel that The Porch wears out the subject of character.  But, I think it is vital for a successful life as an individual and for success as a company, especially in the healthcare business.  Unless we can be trusted to do the right thing in the right way, we literally have no place being in this business.

Today, we look at three different, but related quotes by three different people.  All relate to our character.  See if any of these hits a bull’s-eye for you today:

1.     “What lies behind us, and what lies before us are but tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”  (Ralph Waldo Emerson) – Emerson is saying here that our character is more important than circumstances.  No matter what happens to us, good or bad, matters less than the person we really are.  Our character is vital to how we handle obstacles, how we manage victories, and how we treat others.  Nothing matters more, in fact.

2.     “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” (George Eliot [Mary Ann Evans]) – George Eliot, the pen name for Mary Ann Evans, is saying to us that we never run out of opportunities to live up to our potential… time only runs out when we breathe our last breath.  For many, the past seems to dominate our thinking and our attitude.  However, every day we have the chance to re-craft or re-invent ourselves.  It is only a matter of deciding that today will be different than yesterday… perhaps, the circumstances may not be different, but our approach to life and how we handle them, can be completely new.  In short, we have a new chance every day to re-form our character into something more impactful and more powerful.

3.     “Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece by thought, choice, courage and determination.” (John Luther) – Luther is saying that good character comes chip-by-chip… much like the work of a master sculptor.  Each day, and through each event, we reveal more and more of our true character.  And, to a significant extent, that is driven by the choices we personally make.

Were any of these especially meaningful to you today?  Have an outstanding day!