The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

October 10Abundant Trust

He who is firmly seated in authority soon learns to think of security, and not progress, the highest lesson of statecraft. From the summit of power people no longer turn their eyes upward, but begin to look about them.

James Russell Lowell—“New England Two Centuries Ago,” Literary Essays (1865)

Funny how we scratch and claw and dig our way to the top, and then once we get there, we spend an enormous amount of time looking back and around to make sure nothing is crumbling around us.

It's the nature of how this game is often portrayed. Beat the competition, win, cash the check (or some new kind of money).

Funny thing is, few things erode progress faster than getting stuck in Paranoiaville on what feels like your slippery summit. Want to pick up some momentum again? Start down the hill, release the brakes, fly on by, and start to trust again.

Trust in abundance.

Extend trust to those who believe in you and your dreams. People, customers, partners, team members want to go on this journey with you if you'll let them. They want you to show them how to help you. They don't need you have the answers or even a plan; they just want to know you care about their climb up the hill, too. Mostly, get out of their way.

Want to win? Show up with a passionate community ready to eat marshmallows with you. (You know they're made from horse hooves, right?)

Today, turn your eyes upward, and hand out the marshmallows.

Challenge Question

1. If someone wrote a story about ...