Character – A Critical Component of Personal Development

By Emmanuel Udo | October 10, 2018 |

In my essay on personal development I quoted Perry Holley’s statement that a personal development plan should focus on self-awareness, character and your values. I had discussed self-awareness in a subsequent piece.

Today, I want to discuss Character – a critical component of personal development.

Merriam-Webster defines character as the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation. Someone has also said that Character traits are valued aspects of a person’s behavior.

Character is critical because it has the potential to determine how far we can go in life, regardless of how much we develop other aspects of our lives. In fact, character determines how far we can go in life.

“Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.” ~ John Maxwell

In fact, weakness of character undermines a person on two counts: it provides a weak foundation that cannot support his tall ambition, and places a cast iron ceiling over his head, limiting how far he can go in life.

“Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success.” ~ John Hays Hammond, American mining engineer, diplomat, and philanthropist

Character has an uncanny way of sneaking in when it matters most, to cause maximum damage and the most embarrassment and pain. Stories abound of how potentially great men have failed because of weak foundation of character.

This readily reminds me of the case of Salisu Buhari, a Nigerian politician. He was the speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria in 1999. He had contested and won the election into the house, and was subsequently elevated to the post for speaker of the house, on the strength of a university certificate from the University of Toronto.

Allegations surfaced, months after his assumption of office, that he had falsified his age and did not attend the University of Toronto, much less graduate from there. He resigned in tears and shame after apologizing to the nation. He was convicted for certificate forgery and sentenced to two years in prison with an option of fine, although he was later pardoned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

We would also remember the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former President of the International Monitory Fund (IMF), a man of great education and impeccable professional expertise. He had been a professor of economics at Paris West University Nanterre La Défense and Sciences Po, and was Minister of Economy and Finance from 1997 to 1999. He was even reported to be planning to contest for the presidency of France.

Then, like a bolt from the blues, came the allegation of sexual assault by a hotel maid. He eventually had to resign his position as he was arraigned in court. Although the criminal case was eventually dismissed, he reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount over a civil case filed by the complainant.

We also would probably remember the failure of Enron, Harvey Weinstein and others too numerous to mention. They underscore the importance of character.

“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” John Wooden, legendary UCLA coach.

On the positive side, we have also heard stories of those for whom a solid character was a springboard that shot them to prominence. Or as Nigerian-American comedian Yvonne Orji says,

“Your character and integrity will take you places your talent can’t”

The case of late Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili, a professor of pharmacy from my Alma mater and former director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria, is particularly heart-warming.

She took ill while working with a Federal Government agency, Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF). The agency sponsored her medical treatment abroad. Further medical investigation revealed wrong diagnosis, which meant she did not have to spend the money allocated for the treatment. She returned the money to the agency. Her boss at the time, the current president of Nigeria, took notice because it was quite atypical.

Her day came when former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was looking for a person of integrity to lead the war on fake and adulterated drugs, and save Nigerians from the scourge, heard her story.

Well, as they say, “when opportunity knocks it is too late to prepare”. She was prepared. That is the story behind her appointment to the head of NAFDAC.

Unfortunately, character is not an item that you could buy off the shelf when required. It is built over time. You will never have it if you have not built it! The other interesting thing about character is that it has to be already there when it is required or it cannot be developed for the moment. Sir Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister wisely said that character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.

We are currently being regaled with salacious stories of moral turpitude of Donald Trump’s nominee for a seat in the supreme court of the United States.

Many have argued that the alleged incident does not matter since it happened so many years ago. I agree. But what is interesting to me is how the man’s response has unwittingly revealed other character weaknesses that were not obvious.

“Adversity does not build character; it reveals it.” ~ James Allen

For instance, some of his classmates have been quoted as refuting the picture of himself that he has painted to the public. Some of them have even accused him of lying!

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ~ John Wooden, legendary UCLA coach.

But why is all these happening at this time? It appears that human societies unconsciously assign ‘character rating’ to different aspects or levels of its strata. And it appears that this rating is rigorously reviewed at the points of transition from one stratum to the other.

“A man of character will make himself worthy of any position he is given.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

The big question would then be, “how does one build good character?” I will provide a very simple answer. Commit to doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances or the outcome. Putting it another way is to say, “Win or lose, I will do the right thing.” That is a very testing proposition, isn’t it?

“Having good character does not ensure that you will be successful in life. But you can be sure that having poor character will eventually derail you personally and professionally.” John Maxwell