Do we still value our reputations the way our great-great grandparents did? Reputation matters to us in some ways but not in others. Take your credit reputation as an example. Do you think about how using your credit cards will hurt your reputation with the credit bureaus? Do you think about how being late on a bill payment hurts your reputation with the utility company? Most people don't think that way. But big corporations have entire departments of employees whose jobs are to keep the company reputation immaculate.