Indirect Promises
There are only two ways of earning trust, as best as I can see it:
- Directly, by following through on the promises you make to make to the people in your life.
- Indirectly, by developing a reputation as someone who follows through on the the promises you make to the people in your life.
Either way, you have to follow through on the promises you’re making. And here’s the catch, there are two ways of making promises:
- Directly, by making a clear commitment to someone.
- Indirectly, by relating to someone through the role of partner/parent/spouse/colleague/customer/advisor/expert.
In every interaction you have with another human being you’re making some kind of a promise, are you following through?
