Character Overview

What Is Character?

We tend to judge people by wealth, position, demeanor, education, and external circumstances. We evaluate them by the size of their bank account, the model of their car, or their possession of the latest gadget. But how much can you really know by looking at these things?

Who You Are

Contrast such superficial “success” with the contributions made by individuals such as Mother Theresa, Booker T. Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Edison. Each achieved a level of success admired by all who dare to believe they too can change their world.

Upon inspection, these heroes’ success lay not in what they achieved, but in what propelled them to their achievements—personal character. Their impact rose from who they were as individuals. Character regulated the majority of their life decisions.

Motivation to Do Right

You have probably heard it said that “knowledge is power.” But a person may understand difficult problems, have flawless logic, or know how to operate machinery perfectly, and still lack character. Consider the effects of knowledge without character. What good are facts without the ability to apply them with wisdom, discernment, and decisiveness?

We define character as “the qualities built into an individual’s life that determine his or her response, regardless of circumstances.” Character is the inward motivation to do what is right in every situation.

With character and knowledge, you will discover unlimited possibilities. You will see challenges overcome with determination and faith, solutions achieved with creativity and resourcefulness, opportunities uncovered with alertness and discernment, and relationships maintained with forgiveness and honor.

Character is the most valuable possession you will ever acquire. Think of the people you have met or read about. You can see how their character led to success or failure in their personal and professional lives. Stories abound of people whose character determined their success.

Determination of Success

Success is not limited to the elite or the rich. It is available to each person who develops the inward motivation to do what is right.

Your life should not be an average one. Whether your past contains incredible achievement or indescribable failure, the future lies before you. Today is your new opportunity to do what is right; today is your chance to build good character.