Trust is Everything

People tend to rise or fall to expectations. This is common for children, spouses, employees, and friends. Insecurity is demonstrated through distrust; confidence is demonstrated through trust. Distrust in colleagues is toxic, multiplying via thoughts and gossip.

The saying that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” makes sense. Low expectations create negativity, resulting in bad culture. Positive momentum, thus, results from being believed in and expected to succeed. You are innocent until proven guilty. Innocence creates opportunity; opportunity is whatever you make of it, but it has the best chance of resulting in a culture of progress.

After numerous failed relationships, in my early life, I met the woman I’d do anything to marry. Some previous relationships resulted in distrust (on my part); (my) distrust began to create a toxic relationship. I created negativity with low expectations. I was, of course, wrong to have low expectations as she was/is the dream partner in life. I wish I had expected the best rather than assuming the worst.

On our honeymoon, in Vietnam, I rented a moped in Sapa and persuaded Katie to ride through the mountains. I drove; she rode. While driving six inch roads next to cliffs, over 2x4 bridges across rivers and streams, passing locals carrying actual fridges on their backs, I realized that my wife trusts me (probably too much). We were driving terrain that only goats should access. When she asked to drive, my trust disappeared.

Trust and good intentions are an act of faith and so, so scary. I asked Katie if I could retake steering within five minutes. Once again, I had low expectations.

If-then logic aside, good people do exist and it’s important for society to believe in them. Expecting the best is worth the risk (most of the time). When I quit my job, Katie told me she trusted me: the most frightening and motivating response she could have given.

These are a fraction of my thoughts from today.

P.S. We now have our third customer.