“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”
– Henry Ford (1863 – 1947)

Your reputation is critically important. You earn it — a task at a time, a job at a time, a decision at a time —  over a period of years.  The tough part is your reputation is largely if not exclusively what others think of you.  If you earn a name for yourself by coming through, you’ll also earn the benefit of the doubt. Conversely, if you’re the guy who: a) shows up late, b) shows up unprepared, c) doesn’t show up at all, or d) doesn’tcontribute when he does, your circumstances and opportunities will get poorer with you.  A man owes it to himself to deliver results in every circumstance.

If you work for it, you don’t have to depend on luck.

My charge to you
I’m aware that millennials — and millennial men in particular — are facing a disappointing job market.  Many of you are underemployed, working at jobs unrelated to your interest or expertise.  As a member of that cohort whose turn it is to run things, I want to tell you something important: Being new doesn’t relieve you of your duty to do your best.

Seek help
Daniel had Mr. Miyagi as his sensei.  You need one, too.  I’ve written previously about the importance of mentors, and I want to encourage you to seek one.  Now.  If you’re connected to a biblically sound church, why not talk to your pastor or one of the elders to see if there are men of character who’d be willing to be a mentor to you.  And to those of you reading this blog who are older men, let your pastor or elders know you’d be willing to serve as a mentor to a young man — and ask them to hold you accountable.

Get instruction
In a previous post titled Wynton’s Ways to Practice, I quoted the jazz great’s principles for practicing effectively.  One of the first rules is to seek the best instruction you can afford.  It doesn’t matter if your philosophy degree only landed you a job bagging groceries.  You’re not going to be there forever!  If you realize this, you know that you need to be improving yourself so you can continue to grow intellectually, emotionally, artistically and spiritually.  This will prepare you for what comes next.  There are classic works of literature available, as well as open-source college and graduate courses online for free.  There is no excuse not to seek  them out.  If you do this now,  as you prevail in some future challenge, you’ll realize the value of all that seemingly irrelevant preparation.  Thanks, Mr. Miyagi!

• Own your past & acknowledge it. —  You did it; don’t dodge the issue.  Square up to it and move forward with resolve.
• Accept the consequences.  — Being sorry isn’t enough. Being forgiven doesn’t erase the effects of one’s failure.  Attempt to make restitution, but do so quietly and without an expectation that you’re efforts will always make it all right.  Some redemptions take time.
• Receive grace when it’s offered. — We all need forgiveness.  If the people you’ve hurt are willing to show grace, by all means be gracious enough to accept it.  Your desire to continue beating yourself up for something others forgive is a form of self-absorption.
• Don’t dwell in the past — Good or bad, it’s in the past.  Do what you can about the present and the future.
• Commit to the long-term future — Connect today’s choices to the reputation you want going forward, and make it count.