We live in unprecedented times.  The sheer volume of information at our fingertips and the convenience with which it is accessible is continuously and increasingly transforming life as we know it.  Considering the scope of recorded history, inventions like radio, television and the internet are tiny infants on the world stage, yet during their relatively short existence they have redefined regional, national and global cultures in monumental ways.  These advancements however, as useful as they are, are not without their shortcomings.

Instant gratification – We want what we want, and we want it now.  Sports scores.  Share prices.  Celebrity gossip.  TV listings.  Lasagna recipes.  Now, these things and innumerable others are not bad in and of themselves, but what has steadily occurred over time is that we are less inclined to embrace and exercise traits such as patience and self-control, and our demand for satisfaction, how and when we want it, is increasing unabated.

Morality Under Fire – Every day of every week, television and computer screens are beaming situations, language and images into bedrooms and living-rooms everywhere that would have been regarded as entirely immoral and unethical as little as 25 years ago.  Pornography, materialism, and self-centeredness have made their homes in the collective public consciousness, and the accompanying vices like lust, greed and pride have taken root in and consumed the hearts and minds of individuals and organizations across every demographic.

Guidance gone wrong – The days of children being instructed and nurtured primarily in a healthy family and school environment are generally gone.  Broken homes, overcrowded and dysfunctional education systems, and the consistent flood of often harmful media influences have an increasing impact on the values that are imparted to young people, or lack thereof.

It would not be a stretch to describe the information age as a torrent that is sweeping practically everything in its path to a destination of its making.  Those people and institutions whose values and principles are not anchored in some way, shape or form, will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control.  Never before has the importance of identifying and adhering to a deeply rooted value system been more apparent.  Of course, there is good in the world, and there are those who seek to spread it, but it is also true to say that the things that feed the darker sides of the human condition are peddled and purveyed with far greater brashness, and to a far greater degree.

It therefore becomes exceedingly important to clarify principles that are not only advantageous to live by, but also those that are able to instill and sustain personal and corporate integrity.  The technological advancements that facilitate the seamless distribution of information are not inherently harmful…no more than the blade that is in one hand wielded to kill, and in another utilized to heal.  What is necessary though, is to embrace an honorable behavioral standard that provides us with a mature emotional and spiritual framework, which in turn empowers us to use this powerful tool in a responsible and dignified way.

Want to ensure that your success and fulfillment will survive the tumultuous information age? It will take more than just a handful of superficial strategies. It begins with self awareness of your most valuable asset: Your character.

Download your free ebook “The Human Condition” and discover the key to overcoming your vices and commanding the character of a true leader