| Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” |
What’s your reputation worth to you?
Let’s make something clear up front: reputation is not the same thing as image.
In today’s world, we spend a lot of time managing image—curating social media profiles, perfecting public personas, building what’s now called a “personal brand.” That word, brand, once belonged only to companies. Now it’s applied to individuals.
But here’s the difference:
Image is what we want people to see.
Reputation is who we actually are.
And when those two don’t match—eventually, the truth comes out.
We’ve watched it happen time and again. Famous people rise fast on charisma and polish… only to fall hard when reality is exposed. Behind the scenes, the image couldn’t stand the weight of scrutiny.
That’s why it’s wise to follow something called the newspaper rule.
It’s not original to the Bible, but it lines up with its wisdom. And it comes from an unlikely source: Warren Buffett.
Buffett isn’t your typical billionaire.
He doesn’t live in a Manhattan penthouse or a secluded Hawaiian estate.
He lives in a modest house in Omaha, Nebraska—smack in the middle of corn country.
He’s famously frugal, plainspoken, and down-to-earth. And over the years, he’s offered some advice that’s worth more than gold.
One of his most valuable pieces of wisdom? The newspaper test.
He puts it this way:
“If an article were written by a smart but pretty unfriendly reporter about a decision you made, and it showed up in your local newspaper for your friends, family, and neighbors to read…
Would you feel okay about it?
Or would you be ashamed?”
Buffett’s bottom line:
“We can afford to lose money. But we can’t afford to lose reputation.”
Solomon—writing centuries earlier—would have nodded in agreement.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”
—Proverbs 22:1
Money comes and goes.
Fame fades.
But a good name? That’s built one decision at a time—and it’s priceless.
Someone once said:
“Live your life in such a way that when you’re criticized, no one believes it.”
That’s the kind of life worth building.
So today, go live your life.
Speak, act, and decide.
But pause now and then—and ask yourself:
Would this pass the newspaper test?
Because someday, it just might.
–Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
