We all know people who have perfected the art of advancement through cutting moral corners. We hear success stories of how the morally bankrupt have reaped financial gain. Unfortunately, it too often seems those who play by the rules become nothing more than stepping stones to be taken advantage of by those craftier characters who are marching their way to the top. Moral strength, it might appear, is the fast track to mediocrity.

Fortunately, just the opposite is true. Moral strength can provide one thing that nothing else can – a guarantee of personal success. It accomplishes this miracle in two ways: it influences how we define success and it gives us the tools to achieve that success.

*Moral strength helps us to define success*

Moral strength lays the foundation of success by influencing our very understanding of what success is. We start to realize that many things the world commonly chooses as a measure of success are either partially or completely out of our control. Becoming a millionaire by age 25 requires more than knowledge and hard work. It also requires opportunity and, often, a healthy dose of luck. If you don’t get the breaks, you won’t get the bucks.

Moral strength gives us the courage and the wisdom to define success through the process and not the result. We can’t guarantee a business will make us a million dollars, but we can control whether we work hard and put in the effort to give it every chance to make money. We can choose to do business honestly and above board. We can choose to run a business in such a way as to make sure we still have time for friends and family.

*Moral strength gives us the tools for success*

The right definition of success is a good start, but it is only a start. There is still a long way to go before success is achieved and, as the proverb says, there’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip. Fortunately, in addition to helping us define success, moral strength gives us the tools we need to achieve success.

The character traits that are equated with moral strength are also the character traits that are identified with successful people. It is easy to understand the connection. Perseverance gives us the strength and determination to overcome obstacles. Humility gives us the willingness to learn and to ask others for help and advice. Patience gives us the strength to work and wait, and not fall prey to the desire for overnight success. Unselfish behavior creates good relationships and makes others want to see us succeed. Courage gives us the confidence to boldly step into the unknown. Faith gives us the optimism that everything will turn out for the best.

Many people of questionable morality strive for personal success. Some of them succeed in the short run. Many don’t. It is only through moral strength that you can have long-term personal success guaranteed.