Once I was offered admission into a Faculty in the university, under our change-of-course scheme, only I was required to pay for it. Actually that's a bribe because it is free once you meet the requirements. I met the requirements. My parents were far away in Delta State, the university was in Lagos and I had a handsome enough pocket money to do the transaction, but I toned down my voice and whispered to the secretary of the Faculty who made the offer that, it is against my faith to do bribes, that the worst that can happen to me is to journey back to Warri as a drop-out and face the anger of my parents. I ended by saying I was ready to make this journey, than to give him a bribe. He was shocked at what a boy was telling him and I walked away.
Somehow, maybe he was touched, my name was forwarded to the Head of Dept from same secretary's office and to God be the glory, I got that admission without giving a dime of bribe to anyone.
The above is the extent to which I value a good name or reputation. It has to do with living a life of integrity and the description of myself once you click on my Hive username says so. So ofcourse, like the example above this isn't an eye-service kind of thing, it is an overwhelming passion for right conduct in all things; the root and fuel for this being the fear of God domiciled in my heart.
My mantra is, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, to be respected is better than silver and gold.". In other words nothing is too much to loose, so long as it gives ventilation to moral rectitude.
The truth is that people are always watching and these sacrifices one makes for a good name or reputation becomes what you are known for and over time I have seen that for me, it paves the way, it gets rewarded. It is beautiful perhaps beyond description that I can move around boldly, pick any call that comes into my phone freely because I have nothing to hide, in public it indeed brings honour my way.
Cheers