Reputation is the most valuable asset you don’t own. It exists entirely in other people’s minds. You can influence it but you cannot control it. It determines who trusts you, who wants to work with you, what opportunities come your way, and how much benefit of the doubt you receive when things go wrong. Two people with identical skills and experience will have radically different career trajectories based on reputation. The one with strong reputation gets opportunities, resources, and support. The one with damaged reputation struggles regardless of actual capability. Reputation operates as currency in professional and social markets. Just...