Always in the spotlight

Depending upon your career path, at some point you might find yourself in the spotlight. Maybe you become CEO of an organization. Maybe you become director of a well-established non-profit organization in your community. Or maybe you find yourself in a career field that inherently receives constant publicity (e.g. media, fashion, etc). How you carry yourself both at work and in private can reflect greatly not only on you, but also on your organization. Be very careful how you behave, and learn from the mistakes of others.

Pete Coors, an executive with Molson Coors Brewing Co. was arrested for driving under the influence. He was at a wedding reception, had some drinks, and left. His only mistake was then getting behind the wheel of his car.
In addition to his role with Molson Coors Brewing Company, Pete Coors is also a general spokesperson for the beer industry. And although the industry as a whole has promoted responsible drinking, when one of their leading spokespeople is arrested for violating that exact advice, the message become diluted and loses some credibility.
In a statement, he said, “I made a mistake. I should have planned ahead for a ride. For years, I’ve advocated the responsible use of our company’s products. That’s still my message, and our company’s message, and it’s the right message. I am sorry that I didn’t follow it myself.”
Even though Coors was mature enough to acknowledge his mistake, his company’s image still took a hit from this incident, and the message his industry has been trying to communicate has lost some of its weight.
Many students will at some point find themselves in the spotlight. You don’t have to be an executive in a major multinational corporation. Even with small businesses, your conduct can be publicly scrutinized in your local community with negative effects. Make sure you conduct yourselves in such a way that you don’t hurt your career and undermine the organization you work for.