We live in a trust deprived society where everyone thinks we are only motivated to benefit ourselves.
But when there is trust, every interaction is easy.
Learning to trust yourself is the most important part because it creates a strong foundation inside yourself for what trust should look like. Once you know how it works in you, it’s easy to see how it works everywhere.
There aren’t any surprises when it comes to building trust, it’s not exciting. When you think of it as a personal asset, one that contributes to your legacy, it becomes almost sacred.
The more respect I gain for the fragility of trust, the more I have been paying attention to the nuance of each element that builds it.
Words. Chose your words carefully. I am amazed at the power words have. They can create wars or burn bridges. They are the beginning and end of every relationship. They build or destroy connection. You may have good intentions but a poor delivery will leave you apologizing for something unrelated to what you were trying to say. Every word matters.
Promises. Be aware of the promise you are making and then keep it. Some promises aren’t spoken, but all of your promises are kept by your behaviour. If your promise doesn’t mean anything, trust is broken.
Compassion. Care about others. Nobody cares about your stuff as much as their own. Always remember that. You can say no, you can set boundaries, you can.
Realness. Get comfortable with who you are and where you are at. It never hurts to be an expert, but it always hurts to pretend to be an expert when you aren’t. You aren’t ever going to be “better” than others, but it’s entirely possibly you have more experience and more knowledge. Knowing when you are the more experienced one, or figuring out that you are the rookie is a vital distinction to make early on so you can act accordingly.
While some these are easier said than done, they are the footprint to living a life that moves faster, builds bigger, and achieves more than you can imagine on your own. Each piece is either adding to your trust asset or breaking it down.
If you are going to build anything, let it be trust. It matters.