Does your reputation reflect who you are?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rob Rhyne
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Inspector General
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  How's your reputation? Are you who you say or think you are? Do your actions reflect the way you want to be perceived? 

Let's face it -- talk is cheap. It's easy to speak positively, even profoundly, about the way you think things ought to be. We all have passions, or something we consider our calling, more than one for some of us. 

But does this translate into our deeds? Our lifestyle? Let's say we consider our service to our country to be one of our callings. If that's you -- wonderful, and thank you. I'll bet you put on a clean uniform every day, check the mirror so you don't bring discredit upon the Air Force, walk straight and tall, shoulders back and down, speak clearly, truthfully and with enthusiasm, looking your audience straight in the eye. These are signs you take pride and confidence in what you are doing. Bravo. 

But are you really this person? Is this who you are, or is this just a façade you put on for official business? Does your private life reflect the same confidence, pride and integrity that you display at work? If so, I believe you are a true ambassador of the profession of arms -- a credit to your unit, the Air Force and your country. Can you be a model Airman without the "swagger? "Of course. There's nothing wrong with a humble spirit. The point is have you decided who you want to be and are you living that life both publicly and privately? 

I was fortunate to witness an example this past weekend of someone who has achieved public greatness and reinforces his image with acts of giving which demonstrate that he is worthy of his reputation. I'm speaking of Wynton Marsalis. For those who don't know, Wynton Marsalis is considered, by some sources to be "among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era." He has won nine Grammy Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Above all this, his reputation is for dedication to the cause of music education and preserving the heritage of jazz for our younger generation. To this end, he did something remarkable and spontaneous recently. As he traveled Highway 80 en route to the Monterrey Jazz Festival, he saw a sign for the Vacaville Jazz Festival. He pulled over to check it out and came upon the Vaca High Jazz Ensemble performing at the Nut Tree. 

What happened next was even more remarkable. He pulled out his trumpet and joined the band, filling in for the missing third trumpet player. Imagine Michael Jordan stopping to join a pickup game in your neighborhood. The kids, parents and everybody who saw will never forget the moment. After playing a few songs, he stopped into Borders and played the blues with some "old timers" - including myself - who were performing there, posed for pictures, signed a few autographs and left everyone with the impression that this was a sincere gentleman in every sense of the word who took time out of his day to provide the chance of a lifetime for the kids and those passionate about jazz music. 

So I ask again -- does your reputation really reflect who you are? It does for the greatest among us.