Yet Another Thing My Dear Old Dad Used To Say:
"Your word and your name are the only two things that matter in this world at the end of the day. Protect them."
Hi again, all my friends, family, foes, fiends, and all you funky folks.
Man, do I miss my dad, everyday and a lot. Dad was a great salesman, it seemed effortless, but he worked hard to hone the craft to make himself, Mom and I comfortable, we weren’t ever “rich”, but Dad did very well, and when he retired at 58, everyone knew he did very well. Snow cones to Eskimos type of salesman, naturally charismatic, everyone loved him. He has been gone since 2000, but it seems like yesterday. He was one of those old-school, tough-as-nails, nothing ever bothered him, tell-it-like-it-is kind of guys. The kind who didn’t suffer fools gladly but would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. And man, did he have some sayings. Some were hilarious, some were head-scratchers, and most of them—like this one—stuck with me like glue.
"Your word and your name are the only two things that matter in this world at the end of the day. Protect them like gold."
Simple, right? But damn, if it isn’t very profound.
Your Word: The Gold Standard of Trust
Back in the day (and yeah, I’m dating myself here), a handshake meant not just something, but everything. If you said you were gonna do something, you did it. No contracts, no lawyers, no backdoor nonsense—just a man (or woman) standing by what they said, and backing it up with action.
Now? We live in a world where people flake more than 75 year old barn paint. Promises are made with fingers crossed behind backs. Politicians lie before breakfast just to warm up. Companies screw over loyal customers and employees for a quick buck. Social media? Don’t even get me started—probably more than half of it is performative nonsense where people pretend to be something they’re not. (Just posers)
But here’s the thing: When you break your word, you break trust. And trust, once lost, is hard as hell to get back. (It may be totally irreparable.)
My dad taught me early: If you say you’ll be somewhere, be there. If you promise to do something, do it. If you can’t? Don’t ever say you will. It’s not complicated, it is very black and white. Be the person others can rely on, because in a world full of empty talkers, the ones who actually follow through stand out like a screaming guitar solo in a sea of elevator music.
Your Name: The Legacy You Leave
Your name isn’t just what’s on your birth certificate or your social media profile. It’s your reputation. It’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room. And once that’s tarnished, good luck cleaning it up. (Ever watch a celebrity apologize on t.v.? It never seems to work, damage is done.)
I’ve seen it a million times—people who cut corners, burn bridges, or flat-out screw others over for short-term gain. And yeah, sometimes they get away with it… for a short while. But eventually, the truth catches up. People remember. And suddenly, doors that used to swing wide open slam shut “like a bull’s butt in fly season”. (Another “Dad-ism”)
On the flip side, when you build a name for yourself by being honest, dependable, and real? That’s not gold, it’s diamonds and platinum. Doesn’t matter if you’re a rock star, a plumber, or a CEO—people want to work with those they trust, because it is so much easier and they never need to check to see if the work is done right.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
We’re living in the age of instant everything—instant fame, instant outrage, instant cancellation. One dumb tweet, one shady deal, one moment of weakness, and boom—your name’s crap.
But here’s the cool part: You control this.
Every time you keep your word, even when it’s hard, you’re investing in your good name. Every time you own up to a mistake instead of covering your dumb ass, you’re strengthening your reputation. Every time you treat people right—even when they don’t "deserve" it—you’re building something that lasts. People like the fact that you are honest enough to own the problem, and fix it as fast as humanly possible.
Rock & Roll (And Life) Ain’t Always Pretty
I’ve been in sales and music a long time. I’ve seen legends rise and fall. And the ones who endure? The ones people still respect decades later? They’re not always the most talented (though talent always helps). They’re the ones who showed up, who treated clients, co-workers, fans and fellow musicians with respect, who didn’t sell out their integrity for a quick hit, ever.
Same goes for life. You don’t have to be perfect. Hell, my Dad sure wasn’t. But you gotta be humanly real. You gotta mean what you say and say what you mean. And when you screw up (because you will, like it or not), own it, fix it, and do better the next time.
Final Thought (And a Challenge)
Next time you’re tempted to cut a corner, flake on a promise, or talk trash behind someone’s back, ask yourself: Is this b.s. worth my good name?
Because at the end of the day, when the lights fade, the money’s spent, and the crowd’s gone home, all you’ve really got is your word and your name.
So protect ‘em like your life depends on it. Because in a way, it does.
Rock on, my friends. Classic Rock on.
Dean Benson, “The Dean of Rock & Roll” on Sky7music.com middays!Also see me on https://www.deanbensonrocks.com for more articles.And my other "Stuff" at: https://www.deanbensonrocks.io.Also: https://stan.store/DeanBensonRocks.And of course, www.roadmapmogul.com.