Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Humpty Dumpty is a late 17th century short, squatty, egg-shaped, nursery
rhyme character that fell off a wall and was, shattered. He could not be
reassembled - he could not be restored to his original condition 'again'.
The latter word suggests to us that old Humpty maybe was on the clumsy side,
somewhat careless or slothful, a major risk taker or prone to frequent
miscalculations. His fatal fall was not his first incidence.

A public image is sort of like Humpty Dumpty and can be just as easily
broken into many pieces. It can be ruined to the point of no remedy, no
recovery. It behooves each person, therefore, to make conscious efforts to
build and maintain honesty, integrity, moral character, respect and strong
self-confidence. This is accomplished through vigilant image enhancement,
self-development and personal growth. It is incumbent upon each
'individual' to master these tasks. No one else can or will do it for
another.

There are many ways to improve self-image as well as public image. The
endeavor begins with how you treat yourself. Is your diet well-balanced, is
it nutritional? Do you exercise? Do you get enough sleep, rest and
relaxation? Do you dress based upon your body shape and size or according
to the latest fads? Have you ever had a color analysis done? Do you know
the difference between casual and business attire? Can you dress for
success? Is there any balance in your day-to-day activities - education,
employment, fun, family, culture?

What kind of company do you keep? Do you hang out with quality people who
live life by design, by purpose? What are your character attributes -
selfish or unselfish, compassionate or insensitive, proactive or reactive,
benevolent or greedy, conscientious or superficial? Take a look in the
mirror and think on these things. Be honest with yourself because the
public sees the real you.

One of the pervading signs of how well a person is seen in the eyes of
others is the ability to communicate effectively. Knowing how to talk with
others both verbally and non-verbally impacts careers, friendships,
marriages as well as business partnerships. Success or failure can be
determined by one's competency in speaking with others, and in conveying
messages without leaving misunderstandings and misconceptions. Of course
this requires a pure heart and a great attitude.

Effective communication skills (clarity, assertiveness, attentiveness,
confidence, positiveness, good listener, risk taker) enhance the total
person. They radiate an image of admiration and respectfulness. Public
image approval is exuded when individuals are regarded as trustworthy; as
having wisdom, good judgment, warmheartedness, power, and authority. The
capacity to talk with sincerity and clarity opens the door to public trust,
it creates good posture; but, it alone does not permanently position one as
a popular public figure.

If someone becomes stuck on himself and his own personal advancement, if his
or her body language contradicts his verbal message, if he becomes careless,
if he takes too many risks - he or she will fall off the wall just as Humpty
Dumpty did. His reputation will crumble. Family, friends, neighbors,
co-workers and even strangers will hold him or her in disdain. This
personal image may be salvageable or it may not - depending upon the level
of distrust created.

For assurance of success in developing and preserving a good public image,
do something positive and constructive each day. Work diligently for a
better personality, good manners, greater communication skills, and also,
an enhanced knowledge base. For improved personal growth, make a difference
in your community by rendering volunteer services. Read something
inspirational every morning. Strive every day to be the best individual you
can be, because a public image really can be as fragile as Humpty Dumpty.