chapter This Is the Era of Personal Character In my lifetime, American business has never been under such scrutiny. To be blunt, much of it is deserved. --Henry Paulson, Jr., speaking when a senior executive at Goldman Sachs. He went on to become the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. 1 when the world worked according to one famous adver- tising slogan of the 1960s: "A title on the door rates a Bigelow on the floor." In fact, these days just having a title on the door doesn't really get you very far. Neither does a huge salary or even your good looks. Attributes that lie on the surface no longer bring respect, warrant alle- giance, deliver loyalty at any cost, or ensure a strong reputation. This is the era in which reputation is earned through the demonstration of a positive personal character. The most powerful way to build a successful career is through the strength of your personal character. This is at the core of all you do and all you say. It determines the decisions you make and the enterprises you pursue. GONE IS THE DAY American Management Association / www.amanet.org