Your reputation is one of the most important assets that you have in life.
People will judge you based on your reputation.
People will like you based on your reputation.
Partners will love you based on your reputation.
People will do business with you based on your reputation.
And, people will hate you based on your reputation.
Early assumptions about you, based on your reputation, are difficult to change. As are opinions that are formed when your reputation is brought into question because of your actions in a certain situation or towards someone.
Protect your reputation at all costs. It is the one thing that you will always have regardless of your wealth, job, family, business partners or friends.