{"id":97328,"date":"2023-03-26T17:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T21:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=97328"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:04:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T18:04:05","slug":"importance-of-character-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/importance-of-character-building\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Character-Building: The Ground Floor of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What does it mean to have good character? What difference does character make when it comes to success or failure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to John C. Maxwell, everyone should prioritize building character<\/a> over all other goals. That’s because it’s an essential part of personal growth<\/a>. On the road to true success in life, there are no substitutes for\u2014or shortcuts around\u2014character-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn about the importance of character-building when it comes to reaching your potential<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Character Building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maxwell claims that the foundation of personal growth is good, strong character. By his definition, having \u201cgood, strong character\u201d means that you embody three universally-valued traits: honesty, integrity, and generosity. Additionally, you consistently act in accordance with these values, even when it\u2019s inconvenient or challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Maxwell suggests three \u201cuniversally-valued\u201d traits that comprise good character, but according to moral relativists, there is no universal<\/em> moral code\u2014rather, the importance of different values is culturally determined,<\/a> For example, some cultures consider obedience and devotion to your parents to be<\/a> an essential component of good character. Even if your essential values are different from Maxwell\u2019s, you can still prioritize building your character by living out the values important to you<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maxwell emphasizes the importance of character-building not only because it ensures <\/em>that you achieve your potential\u2014the ultimate goal of personal growth\u2014but also because it maximizes <\/em>your potential. Let\u2019s explore how strong character contributes to each of these outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong Character Ensures<\/em> That You Achieve Your Potential<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you pursue goals<\/a> in different parts of your life, you\u2019ll find yourself in some novel situations\u2014you\u2019ll meet new people, take on new challenges, and try new things. According to Maxwell, having good, strong character will ensure your success in these situations <\/strong>because demonstrating honesty will make people respect you, acting with integrity<\/a> will show people that you hold yourself to a high standard of behavior, and showing generosity by treating people well will make people want to collaborate with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you consistently <\/em>act in accordance with these values, people will find you more dependable and trustworthy, which will help you connect with people in your life who can help you achieve your goals<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if you have bad or weak character, Maxwell says, you\u2019ll be more susceptible to failure<\/strong> because you\u2019ll disregard your values when making decisions.<\/strong> If you see an easy way out of a dilemma, you\u2019ll take it, even if it\u2019s unethical. This might benefit you in the short term, but in the long run, it can set you back. For example, if you own a business, cutting corners might help you turn profits, but it could also ruin your reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong Relationships Allow You to Flourish<\/strong>

Research supports Maxwell\u2019s claim that having good character can help you make and keep valuable connections with others<\/a>. Psychologists have demonstrated that having good character helps win people over in all stages of life<\/a>. In childhood, we\u2019re more open to befriending people who display positive character traits like fairness and humor<\/a>. We\u2019re also more likely to have satisfying, sustainable friendships with people who are honest and kind.<\/a> This holds true in the workplace, too\u2014when coworkers practice honesty, kindness, and other key values with each other, it leads to a healthier work environment,<\/a> which promotes collaboration, employee performance, and job satisfaction.

Research also supports Maxwell\u2019s idea that healthy relationships<\/a> are important if you want to succeed. While Maxwell focuses on how relationships can help you achieve various goals, maintaining fulfilling relationships may be a worthwhile goal in and of itself: According to an 80-year study by researchers at Harvard University, healthy, meaningful relationships with friends, family, and members of your community<\/a> help you flourish in life because relationships are more emotionally enriching than wealth or career success.

Demonstrating strong character may also help you flourish financially: Research suggests that ethical companies outshine their competitors, and unethical business dealings can incur heavy financial consequences.<\/a> However, it\u2019s important to prioritize your relational success\u2014and your character, since that determines the quality of your relationships\u2014over <\/em>financial success<\/a>. Psychologists say that if you prioritize your finances, you may be more motivated to act immorally in order to keep or build your wealth<\/a>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Character Building Maximizes<\/em> Your Potential<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since character determines what you\u2019re capable of achieving, prioritizing the strength of your character can empower you to reach new heights.<\/strong> If you improve your character, and therefore your moral integrity, Maxwell says you\u2019ll get better at intentionally living out your values with relative ease. In turn, you\u2019ll be able to make steadier progress toward your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In a sense, Maxwell\u2019s character-building is a lot like developing a healthy habit<\/a>: Routinely practicing a value like honesty will eventually make it feel like second nature to you rather than a conscious decision. As such, you can practice character-building the same way you\u2019d develop a habit,<\/a> by linking your desired behavior with both a cue that tells your brain it\u2019s time to perform the behavior and a reward after you\u2019ve performed it. For example, if you want to become more honest, you might make a conscious effort to give your honest opinion whenever someone asks you for it (the cue) and then take time to congratulate yourself for your honesty (the reward). Over time, you\u2019ll develop a habit of honesty.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Maxwell, If you develop excellent<\/em> character, you might be able to make powerful, positive changes in the world and act as living proof of the benefits of personal growth<\/strong>\u2014and since having excellent character means being very generous, you’ll feel compelled to help others grow<\/a>, too. Maxwell believes that demonstrating excellent character makes the world a better place<\/a>, one of the primary benefits of personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Making a difference in the lives of other people is important to Maxwell, but why should it be important to you<\/em>? Psychologists suggest that altruistic behavior has several benefits, including decreased stress and what\u2019s known as \u201cthe helper\u2019s high\u201d<\/a>\u2014the positive feelings you might have after you show someone kindness. Additionally, helping others may prompt an increased sense of purpose,<\/a> which is linked to improved life satisfaction and better lifelong health outcomes.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What does it mean to have good character? What difference does character make when it comes to success or failure? According to John C. Maxwell, everyone should prioritize building character over all other goals. That’s because it’s an essential part of personal growth. On the road to true success in life, there are no substitutes for\u2014or shortcuts around\u2014character-building. Continue reading to learn about the importance of character-building when it comes to reaching your potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":64082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[959],"class_list":["post-97328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-improvement","tag-the-15-invaluable-laws-of-growth","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Importance of Character-Building: The Ground Floor of Life - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"John C. Maxwell says you should prioritize one goal over all others. 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