To start, please take some time to think about these persons when you read their names: T. B. Joshua, Agbani Darego, Mary Slessor, Sani Abacha, Ameyo Adadevoh, Allen Onyema.
So what were the first things that came to your mind? What was it about them that you recalled?
When a person’s name is mentioned, we associate things with them. It is way more than that what the person looked/looks like. We think of what the person did and what they stood/stands for. That is exactly what a name is.
What is a name?
A person’s name is synonymous with their reputation. A name is what a person is known by, and reputation is what that person is known for. Most times, they can be used interchangeably. And this is okay.
A name represents a person, their life, and who they are. It speaks of the work they do and how well or bad they do it. When people think of your name, they think of your reputation. So the question now is, “What sort of reputation are you giving yourself? What do others think when they hear your name?”
People we meet everyday form opinions of us and these opinions are based on our interactions with them. All the attitude, words, and personality we leave with them, help them form these opinions. Our interaction with people, overall, influences their decision to want to meet us again or not.
Let me clear a common misconception at this point. Reputation is quite different from first impressions. Where first impressions may stick for a while, they can be modified or corrected. Reputation, on the other hand, is born out of a person’s consistent and repeated behavior over a long period of time. It is strong and can not be erased.
A good name or a bad name?
A good name is demonstrating integrity that people can see and depend on. It includes, but is not limited to returning items you borrowed, fulfilling promises you made, paying bills, rejecting gains that come from another person’s loss and maintaining just business practices.
Please note that having a good name doesn’t mean that you are perfect. It means that when you make mistakes, you learn from them and do what you can to make things right.
Having a good name requires honorable motives and priorities. It is taking responsibility for your actions and making restitution when you are in the wrong.
Lastly, a good name cannot be bought with money. It has to be earned moment by moment, day by day, decision by decision. Having a good name means living in a way that earns the trust of others. If you are considered trustworthy and kind, you have a good reputation.
What did it mean in the past?
Our forefathers demonstrated a great deal of integrity. Most of the things we now enjoy and have been able to build upon stems from their integrity. Talk about marriage, business, or politics; a person’s social standing was everything. In the past, people found it difficult to make promises, and this is because they need to be sure they would not fail.
So we heard people say things like, “If he says he will do it, then he will do it”. Then a man’s word was as good as his deed. You find that if someone was not sure of achieving success in a certain area or delivering on a job, he won’t give you his words. Also, when a person finds that a venture is not credible, he does not put his name to it. A lot of persons were more concerned about what they will be known for. Good name was more important than a promised salary or promised property.
At one time, I feared for the next generation. Now, I’m hopeful. If you can be asking this question, it means our hearts are beginning to turn to our fathers. Not everything in the past is bad, contrary to your beliefs. Discard the bad ones, but not something as divine as being truthful and faithful. These virtues transcend age and time.
Riches vs Good Name
Answer this: If you could receive N60M for doing something that smears your name, would you do it?
That might seem like a dumb question, but in these parts, people choose money over a good name all the time. They lie in order to save some change for house rent, transportation fare, children’s school fees, and the likes. They cheat in order to pass an exam or avoid paying bills. People say they will do one thing, but when they have the opportunity to do something cheaper or more profitable for them, they break their word.
More and more people do not think of “bringing honor to their parents” or “upholding the value of a family name”. They forget or refuse to acknowledge that a good part of their family’s reputation rests on them.
