Guiding Principles
Guiding Principles are a set of fundamental values or beliefs that guide an organization or individual’s behavior and decision-making. They are the core values and philosophy that define an organization’s purpose, mission, and culture. Guiding Principles can include ethical and moral standards, as well as practical principles for achieving success or fulfilling a mission.
TheAmericans Guiding Principles serve as a compass for behavior and decision-making, and help to ensure consistency and coherence in actions and goals.
The Golden Rule
As a member of TheAmericans, we believe in treating others with the same respect, professionalism, and camaraderie that we would like to receive ourselves. This means leaving past conflicts behind, offering forgiveness, and striving to be the better person in every situation. By following these guidelines, we can create a positive and supportive community that embodies the values we stand for.
To achieve this, we suggest the following:
Before sending an angry message, take a moment to reread it and consider if it aligns with our values. If it doesn’t, delete it and try to approach the situation in a more constructive way.
Be a mentor to others and lead by example. Show them a better way to communicate and work together.
Avoid gossiping or repeating negative comments, as this only perpetuates fear and negativity within the community.
Seek out those with different opinions and try to find common ground. Be open to different points of view, even if you don’t agree with them.
By embodying these principles, we can create a community that is respectful, supportive, and committed to positive change.
“If we lose love and respect for each other, this is how we finally die”
-Maya Angelou
Protect Your Character
Your character is a defining aspect of who you are. It’s the legacy you leave behind long after you’re gone. To ensure that your character is protected, it’s essential to understand the different types of character and how they contribute to your overall identity.
Moral character refers to an individual’s core values and principles, such as honesty, integrity, compassion, and fairness, that guide their behavior and decision-making.
Performance character refers to an individual’s personal qualities and habits, such as self-discipline, diligence, organization, and perseverance, that are necessary for achieving long-term success and reaching their goals.
Intellectual character refers to an individual’s habits of mind and attitudes towards learning, such as curiosity, open-mindedness, critical thinking, and creativity, that enable them to solve complex problems and think deeply about important issues.
Lastly, Civic character refers to an individual’s commitment to ethical and responsible citizenship, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with others, demonstrate leadership, and actively contribute to the betterment of their community.
At TheAmericans, we understand that how you treat others speaks volumes about your character. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it and how you make people feel that truly defines you. With this in mind, we offer the following suggestions:
Don’t be bullied into a fight or argument on social media. It’s not worth sacrificing your character over someone else’s negative behavior.
Agree to disagree and quietly ignore the noise. Sometimes, it’s better to walk away than to engage in a debate that won’t lead anywhere.
Avoid engaging in political debates on social media. Trying to change someone’s lifelong belief system in 280 characters is usually futile and can lead to unnecessary conflict.
Remember, a strong character provides others with strength. By embodying these principles and striving to be the best version of ourselves, we can create a positive impact on our communities and the world around us.
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
― Thomas Paine
Self-Improvement
Commit to be in a constant state of learning, practicing, experiencing, and reflecting.
Constantly be aware of all the things to have positive and negative impacts on your Mind, Body and Spirit to create an environment that benefits you. Improving yourself, improves your community.
Everyone Stumbles, you must find the strength to get back up. If you feel like you can’t, reach out to someone in the network. We are here to help you, just as much as we will all need your help at some point. Be a part of the Mentor/Protégé program. Find someone you respect and admire to help you through the challenges of life and improve yourself.
Commit to improving your Mind, Body and Spirit.
- Mind: Always learning, gaining experience, and trying new things.
- Body: Be aware of what you are putting in your body, and exercise. Be aware of the effects that it has on your ability to perform, think, and be motivated.
- Spirit: Find that thing that motivates you. Your family, friends, religion, goals, pets, or anything that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. Now find more things that motivate you and get engaged.
“It’s not how hard you get hit, it’s how hard you can get hit and get back up”
– Rocky Balboa
Pay It Forward
TheAmericans “Pay it Forward” effort is a community initiative designed to encourage individuals to perform acts of kindness and generosity towards others. The program is built on the principle of reciprocity, where recipients of good deeds are encouraged to “pay it forward” by performing acts of kindness towards others, creating a ripple effect of positivity and kindness throughout the community.
Ultimately, the Pay it Forward effort aims to inspire individuals to make a positive impact in their community and create a culture of kindness and generosity. By encouraging individuals to perform acts of kindness and pay it forward, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that benefits everyone in the community.
“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
-Peter Marshall
