Growing up, my family owned a business. When you own a business, the business becomes life. We talked about it at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and on weekends. I heard everything, absorbed everything, and it's part of the reason for my success as an adult.
One of the many lessons I learned, whether appropriate or not, was to never trust anyone. My Dad never trusted a soul.
I learned in business to trust to an extent, but to also inspect things accordingly because the only person you can count on to deliver is yourself.
After all, sugar and salt look the same. You can't always trust what you see, but you'll know when you make the mistake of confusing one for the other.
My Dad always had a few key people around him that he trusted for the most part. That was enough to run an incredibly successful company.
Trusting the right people is not easy, both in life and in business, because trust asks you to hand someone else a piece of your future and hope they care for it as much as you do.
Over time, you start to learn that trust is not all or nothing. It is not blind faith. It is earned in the little things. It is shown in consistency. It is proven when nobody is watching.
The people you trust most are not the ones who talk loudest about loyalty. They are the ones who show up again and again and again, even when there is no scoreboard and no applause.
The key is not to close yourself off in the name of protection. The key is to stay aware and intentional, but also willing to let someone earn that trust — because winning in life happens with people, not despite them.
To this day, I am so thankful I was raised in that family business, learning the dozens of life lessons I learned. Love you Dad.