For over 150 years, literature on success emphasized what Covey terms the Character Ethic. This philosophy focuses on foundational principles like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule. The Character Ethic teaches that true success and lasting happiness stem from integrating these principles into our very being. Covey asserts, “The Character Ethic taught that there are basic principles of effective living, and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.”
These timeless values provide a solid foundation for personal and professional growth. By developing and nurturing our character, we create a stable base from which all our actions and interactions can flourish.
However, Covey notes a significant shift in the concept of success after World War I, from the Character Ethic to what he calls the Personality Ethic. To describe this new approach, Covey observes, “Success became more a function of personality, of public image, of attitudes and behaviors, skills and techniques, that lubricate the processes of human interaction.” While these attributes can be helpful, they are often superficial and focus more on quick fixes rather than enduring principles. This shift led to a compartmentalization of character, treating it as just one aspect of success rather than its foundation.
The Pitfalls of Personality Ethic
While the Personality Ethic can yield short-term gains, it often lacks the depth required for sustained success. Covey warns, “If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what I want, to work better, to be more motivated, to like me and each other–while my character is fundamentally flawed, marked by duplicity and insincerity–then, in the long run, I cannot be successful. My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do–even using so-called good human relations techniques–will be perceived as manipulative.”
Without a solid foundation of character, techniques and strategies can come across as insincere and manipulative. People are perceptive and can sense when there is a lack of genuine integrity. As Covey aptly puts it, “Only basic goodness gives life to technique.” In other words, without true character, any skill or tactic is rendered hollow and ineffective in the long run.
The Power of Character
Ultimately, it is our character that communicates most powerfully. Covey emphasizes, “What we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.” Our actions, behaviors, and interactions are a direct reflection of our inner character. Genuine success stems from aligning our actions with these core principles, creating a harmonious and trustworthy presence in all aspects of life.
Covey urges us to remember the foundational principles that underpin true success. He suggests that in our quest for improvement, we may have “inadvertently become so focused on our own building that we have forgotten the foundation that holds it up.” This reminder is a call to return to the core values that form the bedrock of meaningful and lasting success.
What did you learn from these pages? Tell us in the comments below and join us on September 2nd as we cover pages 23-35.
