What's one of the most precious assets, in life?
Gold, petroleum, diamonds, mutual funds, platinum, design clothes, Bitcoin?
Nope.
After water, food, sleep, shelter, and oxygen, what else? Love? Sex, maybe? Freedom? Happiness? Growth?
Sure.
But what about trust?
Without trust, there are no love, freedom, happiness, and growth. Not in the long run, at least.
[Trust is among the most important gifts someone can give you...
Almost as cool as this OOAK handmade lavender draft
I got from a friend yesterday.
Thank you, Cansu!]
How long are you going to keep someone's trust, if they decide to let you in, in their life?
Are you going to be on time?
Are you going to be prepared?
Are you going to be respectful?
Above all, are you going to make them feel like they did the right choice, while trusting you?
If they are coming to your event, are you going to provide real information and to keep the promises you made in your shiny flyer, or are you going to try to make the hard sell just because people are there and you would like to get their money, even if maybe you are not the right one for them?
You can earn trust, just as you can earn attention. Not with everyone, but with the people that you need, the people who need you.
Seth Godin
If they should accept your LinkedIn invitation, are you going to spam them within the first two days of your new connection, without even trying to get to know them?
If they are introduced to you, will you treat them more or less kindly, depending on the fact that you consider them to be a small fish or a big fish?
[When you screw up, people notice it and take notes,
even if they are not always going to point it out.
Image credit: ISO Republic]
People notice, even if they may not say anything and are probably not going to call you out for those selfish actions and many other actions that lead, over time but sometimes yet incredibly fast, to a trust breach.
The tricky part is that after you spoil the first five minutes and the trust that comes with them, it is usually very unlikely that people will give you another shot.
Even more if they are busy, if they are successful, if they have options. Exactly the kind of people you would love to stay in touch with.
How can you add value and make them want to stay, instead?
Which kind of connection are you able and willing to build, not for a short-term interaction that will serve only you, but in the long run?
Who do you want to be today, for yourself and the people around you? If you would meet someone like you, doing what you are doing and behaving the way you do, would you trust yourself?
Tags: Trust, Spoiling trust, Win-win interaction, Selfish vs. generous behavior, Quotes
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