A picture article caught my attention yesterday in the Economic Times, and the caption of that article was "Data in 2025 – Huge, but not fully secure". The article went on to say, "Within the next 10 years, worldwide, data is going to swell to about 163 zettabytes." The current amount as of last year, 2016, was standing at 16 zettabytes. I don't know how good you are in these matters of the 'bytes', but if you go Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, Petabyte, Exabyte and then you'll finally reach Zettabyte, which then finally culminates in Yottabyte! But, to get an understanding of how much we are talking about, they say that 163 zettabytes is equal to watching the entire Netflix catalogue 489 million times. Or, if you can relate more to DVDs, it is equivalent to 40 trillion DVDs, which would reach to the moon and back over 100 million times.
These kinds of numbers just throw you. There's no reference point. To even think of going to the moon and back 100 million times, or to watch Netflix 489 million times – mind-boggling! Yet, that is the amount of data that is going to be present in less than 10 years. What also caught my attention was that it was not fully secure. With all this data out there, the data wasn't going to be very secure. In fact, they went on to say in this article, "Almost 90% of this data required security, but less than 50% will be secured." That's a startling amount of information or data that is in danger. Even now, when you think of the amount of personal information that is out there, it's so difficult to even imagine it. It is also a bit scary to think that there is so much of who you are that is available so freely to people all around.
But, thinking about it, I thought that is also creates tremendous opportunity for men and women in the workforce. The need of the hour as this burgeoning data begins to take place, is to find men and women of good character who can be keepers of the data, who will be able to hold the data in confidence and employers can know that they will not misuse the data in any way
I'm sure that all of you have heard of Indra Nooyi's Five C's of Leadership, where she talks about having a Core Competency, Courage and confidence, Communication, Consistency and finally, a moral Compass that will always point north. Over the years that she has worked in top leadership positions at PepsiCo, she has observed that integrity, or a moral compass, has to point north or it can be so detrimental to our progress. Character is so important.
What is character? It is a very neutral term. In, and of itself, it talks about the prominent attributes, or traits or features, that are part of your nature. But, it's the adjective that is placed before it, that is defining. Is this person a person of good character, or not? Michael Josephson, ethicist and one who has founded the Josephson Institute of Exemplary Leadership & Business Ethics, says, "So when we say someone has good character, we are expressing the opinion that his or her nature is defined by worthy traits like integrity, courage, and compassion. People of good character are guided by ethical principles even when it's physically dangerous or detrimental to their careers, social standing, or economic well-being. They do the right thing even when it costs more than they want to pay." No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. It's something that is determined by your life, not by one single noble act.
Character, for you and me, is going to be so important, not only now, but in the years to come with all this knowledge about. Men and women of good character are going to be sought out to be keepers of this burgeoning data field that is being created.
Michael Josephson further says, "There are Six Pillars of Character that are so important:
· Trustworthiness: Ethical people are worthy of trust. Trustworthiness means being honest, having integrity, keeping your promises, and being loyal.
· Respect: We must respect ourselves and remember that every person has the right to our respect.
· Responsibility: We must be accountable for our own actions, practice self-restraint, and always do our best.
· Justice and Fairness: Fairness is one of the most difficult values, because sometimes it means doing the right thing even if others don't agree. We must try to do what we know is fair and just.
· Caring: Caring is concern for the interests of others.
· Civic Virtue and Citizenship: Responsible citizenship means being involved in public service. This includes voting, reporting crimes, testifying as a witness, protecting the environment, and working for the candidate of our choice.
Six Pillars of Character that must shape who we are! It's good that we look at these things that Michael Josephson has put out, because when we think about character, we usually only think about honesty or integrity. But this amplifies for us what character is all about. I think, as men and women who are looking ahead at this world and want to be an integral part of it and leave behind changes that are good for our children and our grandchildren, we must be men and women of good character.
Our Scriptures say: Whoever can be trusted with very little, can also be trusted with much. Whoever is dishonest with very little, will also be dishonest with much.
So, I think the call for us today is to just look at the little things that we do, and to be able to be trusted, to be men and women of character with the little things that we have, even as our good character develops. Remember: it's not the same as reputation. Character is like the tree, while reputation is like the shadow of the tree – it depends on where the light is falling and where your point of view is. But character is a standalone. It talks about essentially who you are and what you stand for. In the little things that we do, may we stand for all that is good and virtuous in every facet of our lives. That's my hope for each one of us who reads this post.
May I pray for you. Almighty God, enable us to be men and women of good character, that as the world grows and there is a niche for good people to step into areas of security and confidence and other areas that require good character, we will not be found wanting. Help us to be people that the world will look to, to handle these kinds of posts and responsibilities and situations. I pray a blessing on each one and in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
• Zettabyte, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettabyte
• Michael Josephson, "Character--What it is and Why is it Important?" http://josephsononbusinessethics.com/2015/02/character-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/
• Six Pillars of Character, https://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/cc/cc.pillars.html
• Bible reference: Luke 16:10
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