Last week, news broke that Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a love child with a member of his household staff more than a decade ago. Instantly, the Terminator and Governator drew worldwide scorn as the Inseminator.
Although Arnold isn’t the first high profile, internationally recognized personality to be unfaithful, he follows a long list of politicians who have cheated on their wives, such as President Clinton, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
From a branding perspective, do actions we take in our personal lives have the ability to affect our business? Do we hold certain people, like celebrities and politicians, to a different standard than we would a colleague, a neighbor, or a friend? Is it permissible to turn a blind eye to one’s bad behavior because they are a significant revenue source or have industry influence?
Personally, I believe the issue boils down to that of commitment, which in business we refer to as a contract. If we can’t keep a commitment to those closest to us, like a spouse, how can we be trusted to keep a commitment to anyone else, including a client, prospect, or referral source?
I’m interested in your perspective. How do you think a sexual exploit affects one’s personal brand, if at all?
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