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© 2025 Copyright, Jennifer R. Farmer

The PR Whisperer

Author, Crisis Communications Expert, Strategic Communications Advisor

Tag: pride

Wealth is a Veneer: It Presents a Covering but Doesn’t Reveal What’s Beneath

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The past year has been marred by unbelievable scandals. I never considered him to be a profit but comedian and actor Katt Williams rightly predicted that lies would be exposed in 2024. He was right.

From faith to entertainment to politics and even real estate, some of the wealthiest people we know have been imbued with allegations of wrongdoing. The thread that connects many of the scandals is money and pride. Some of the high-profile figures accused of wrongdoing and caught up in scandals were very wealthy and possibly filled with pride.

Real estate brothers Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander were charged with sex trafficking and sexual assault. They were also very wealthy.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, once rumored to be a billionaire, has been accused of sexual assault, sex trafficking and other charges. He now sits in a Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Robert Morris, former pastor of the Gateway Church, was accused of sexually abusing a child. He stepped down from his ministry as did several elders who are accused of covering up allegations against him.

These individuals are not anomalies. They are representative of a culture that idolizes money. They are also a harbinger of what could happen when one falls into pride.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that money is bad. It isn’t inherently good either. It is merely currency. Yet many in our society want to get more of it.

If you search “wealth” in Google, you are likely to find scores of articles, blogs and video content on how to make money, how to build wealth, and how to safeguard one’s wealth. Entire reality shows are built upon a person or family’s wealth, without consistently showing how they acquired that wealth. There is less content on how to look past wealth and discern a person’s character.

The truth is that wealth can be a veneer. It offers a fancy covering and a way to accentuate what is underneath. It elevates a person’s image, sometimes masking their true character. But too many times we ascribe noble characteristics on people simply because they have wealth. Wealth isn’t an indication of integrity, goodwill or morality. It just means a person has figured out how to market a product or brand.

It’s important to remember that predators who are wealthy may prey on those who aspire to be rich and those in financial lack. They target those who would like lifestyles similar to the rich and famous. For this reason, I wish there was less content online and in popular culture that idolizes wealth and the wealthy.

In 2025, we must be less concerned with a person’s outward presentation and more focused on the contents of their heart.

 

Jennifer R. Farmer is a public relations executive and bakery lover. See her other posts here

Pride Leads to Ruin, Humility Lifts Us Up

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Do you want to know when a person is likely to make a mistake, or ruin what they have spent their whole life building? It’s when they fall into pride. Pride is being in love with yourself. It is thinking of yourself more highly than you should.

Unfortunately, pride is a prerequisite for failure and humiliation. There is a passage of scripture in the Christian bible that says “pride goes before a fall.” There is yet another passage that warns that God opposes the proud; that means he works against the prideful. Have you ever been in a season where you’re putting so much effort into one project or another only to realize that you’re not making progress. Ask yourself if you’ve been walking in pride.

Now certainly, you can be in a season of testing or a season of waiting where you’ve not done anything wrong – you’re fulfilling your purpose – but you’re a season of waiting or preparation. That’s not what I’m talking about in this article. I’m referring to people who are prideful and the dangers of that condition.

Initially Subtle

What scares me about pride is that it is initially subtle. You can fall into pride and not immediately know it. For example, have you ever witnessed someone who was puffed up with pride and it was apparent to everyone except the person in question? I believe that pride can be intertwined with the spirit of deception. You fundamentally believe that you can get away with anything; that is deception.

And what happens when you’re in pride or living in deception? Your downfall is imminent. I don’t care how much you have accomplished, how well-connected you are, or how much money you may have. Each of us can get it wrong or experience a fall from grace. Want proof? Consider the many political, church or celebrity scandals and you’ll see that persons who are prideful set themselves up for ruin.

Humility is the Antidote for Pride

If this is you, remember the antidote to pride is humility. It having the humility to consult others and to be accountable to others. No one is perfect and everyone can make a mistake. But being accountable to others, and being willing to accept wise counsel will help you avoid or get out of pride.

Jennifer R. Farmer, known as The PR Whisperer, is a crisis communications expert, podcast host, and small business owner.  In her spare time, she enjoys visiting volunteering and reviewing bakeries.

Diddy Allegations Offer Critical Reminders

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Wealth doesn’t confer character. It indicates you can monetize a product or skill.

Like a lot of people, I have been blown away by the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs and the raids at his properties in Miami, Los Angeles and possibly New York. In full disclosure, I worked on a small, two-week, writing project for him in 2020. Naturally, when I think about his current woes, I am horrified and saddened. It is true that Diddy has not been charged with a crime. And the continual allegations against him give reason for alarm.

This is one of those unfolding stories that I’ve been unable to stop following. As someone who tries to find the lesson in as many situations as possible, the matter involving Diddy offers a few reminders:

1. Wealth is not an Indicator of Character

Wealth is a demonstration that a person has found a way to monetize a certain product or skill. But wealth is not synonymous with character. Neither is having a large platform. I tell myself not to idolize people because they have wealth and not to confer on wealthy individuals, attributes they haven’t earned. In Psalms 49:16-20, the psalmist says “Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed – and people praise you when you prosper – they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.” We should celebrate people for being honorable – not because they’re rich.

2. Your Association Will Always Impact You

When we surround ourselves with the wrong people, we will not go unscathed. If the allegations against Diddy are true, think about the people in his orbit who will be impacted solely based on their connection with him and any wrongdoing they may have committed while working with him. The same cloud that hangs over his head now hangs over theirs, regardless of whether they were named in civil lawsuits involving him. Our associations will always impact us. And we can’t be so prideful to think that we are the exception or that we can sidestep the problematic behaviors.

3. We Are Often Ensnared by Our Own Devices

This unfortunate matter involving Diddy is a reminder that we will be ensnared by our own devices. It’s easy to blame others. But in the end, we are responsible for our lives and our choices. Often it is these choices that will cause our downfall or our success. In Psalm 9:16, the psalmist says “The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.” In other words, the way that we consistently live our lives and the decisions we make will be our downfall or our on-ramp to opportunity.

4. The Matter Involving Diddy is an Opportunity to Recommit to End Sex Trafficking

One of the allegations against Diddy is around sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is one of those evils that is difficult to confront and openly discuss. For persons who have their own history of sexual trauma, conversations around sex trafficking can be triggering. And I fear that the people involved in sex trafficking advocacy likely have had a family member impacted by it or they themselves were impacted by it. But I don’t know if we can end it in our life time if more of us don’t get involved. As a society, I hope we commit to work collaboratively to end this evil that destroys lives and communities.

Jennifer R. Farmer, known as The PR Whisperer, is a crisis communications expert, podcast host, and small business owner.  In her spare time, she enjoys visiting volunteering and reviewing bakeries.

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