With the financial markets in turmoil with banks and credit problems one word pops into my mind as the Scrabble game word of the day.
TRUST.
From an institutional point of view, from our representative government, from entirely too many an individual, trust is not what it is supposed to be. These are character flaws. Human weakness. What's remarkable to me is many Americans live lives with their families showing trust in each other each day. Yet if power corrupts, and greed sets in for many an individual or organization it seems that trust just goes right out the window.
In the future days ahead, those of us who are trustworthy individuals can be examples to those who are not. Unfortunately sometimes the consequences of bad apples amongst us affect the whole barrel. For those of us who show trust in our lives keep doing what you are doing.
More than just a word. Trustworthiness is a way of living the right way.
Gary - I agree. Today, more than ever, clients will be looking for someone they can trust. We need to be that "someone"... :)
Gary, we can not trust in man, our trust must be God and Him alone to straighten out this mess.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." Ben Franklin
It is important to be trustworthy in our lives, however for people who do not know us trust can be a difficult thing to earn. Many have been burnt in the past by others and unfortunately stay guarded and may even eye us with a bit of distrust.
Gary - I hate to sound negative but I'm beginning to think there is not one trustworthy person in this world. Well, maybe one! YOU!
I battle distrust every day simple because I hold a real estate license. I think Paul is correct -- we all have to earn that trust and not abuse that trust. Every once in a blue moon I run across a situation where there is nothing I can do with a client to gain trust, because some people are simply suspicious and mistrusting. If I have done my very best for that client and there is still no trust, I refer them out. I don't work with people who don't trust me. It undermines my integrity.
Debi: If we are not trusted to those we serve, we are not honoring that service.
Missy: Good point in trusting only in the infallible who will never let us down in God. Great Benjamin Franklin quote you found there.
Paul: Trust, you are correct, is built and is earned.
Mary: Thanks. There are stll many trustworthy people out there. Don't lose hope.
Elizabeth: If you have integrity, and they don't trust you, you've done all you can. It must be a chemistry thing or it is that they essentially don't trust anyone.
Hi Gary ... Once we decide to distrust before we trust, we have lost something of our humanity. I believe in trusting until a person shows me that I cannot. And when I cannot, it says more about him then it does me. I find that most people I encounter are trustworthy because I assume this. Treating people as you wish to be treated goes a long way. Trust In God is personal; trust in man is for the benefit of one's community. I value both.
I think we all must keep in mind that "trusting" is very difficult and yet we must continue to trust in spite of the possibility that that trust will let us down. Trusting is not about "assurances" it is a statement of our own self and what we are willing to give.
It is imperative to be trustworthy to the people in our lives, whether they are close friends or new clients. If there is no trust, then there really is no foundation to build upon. Timely topic.
Oh...how difficult it is to release control to another. After all...that is what trust is really about...right? Do I trust? Hmmmm.......I dunno. Am I trustworthy...I truly hope so. I know WHO I can and do trust!
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. (Jeremiah 17:7)
Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. (Romans 10:11)
GBU, Gary!!
Ross: I worry about this haste too. Is the whole economy going to collapse if we don't rush this through??
Marie: The benefit of the doubt up front is a good way to approach people until the possibility of them letting you down. Trust first and see where it goes but of course use good judgment too.
Charles: Trust is outward you are right and we see what gets reflected back to us. We can trust others too, but it is always a test.
Rich: Great point. Trust is a foundation. Either rock or sand. We have the choice.
Elizabeth Nieves: You don't know this about me but Jeremiah 17:7-8 is my ABSOLUTE favorite verses in the ENTIRE bible. Now you know. Read verse 8 too. Very cool. It is so who I am.
So true. Just do the right thing & be honest. REGARDLESS of how hard that might be. kM
it really irks me when a client askes if he can "trust" me to do what I say. I am not irked at the client, but at the agent that made him think that way!
Gary.. In the world of real estate we need to weed out the realtors that are just in it for the money, from the ones that make money because they love their job. We will have to trust that these people will fall by the wayside.. and the good ones will remain.. such as you and others here on ActiveRain.
I'm sick of the realtors that take the trust from their clients.. it leaves a bad taste in their mouths.. and anyone the talk to.
Gary, I could have written Marie's comment above. I trust someone unless something happens to show me I was wrong; I have often been told this is one of my character flaws because it leaves me open to dishonorable people.....but I am still the same.
I think you are right on. Be trustworthy and trust others and you will get TRUST back. For the people you cant trust show them love and help them grow.
Gary
Thank you for this post. As markets tighten, banks fail, and the world changes we cannot fail in our effort to maintain trust with clients , peers, and community. Unfortunately a few bad apples are already beginning to smell in all three of those areas,
Gary,
wonderful message. I always believe that without trust you haven't got much. Tust is the base on which all else is built.
Jo
Hey Gary! I believe like Jo that trust is the base on which all else is built (can't think of any other better way to put it). Doing business without trust can and will be a nightmare. Take care.
Gary,
Trust must be earned...there aren't many worthy of our support in this political arena!!! Thanks, Fran
Kristin: Doing the right thing and being honest will make everyone trust you.
William: Just reassure them "enthusiastically" that they can always trust you.
Valerie: A trusted advisor to a client is the best REALTOR. Many here like that!!
Pat: I'll check out that Psalm. I visited your post. Thanks for the highlights of everyone. I haven't set up the Google Alerts. More things to bother me : ) I always see things different than others. I appreciate all your kind words.
Carole: Trust everyone Carole, until they show they can't be trusted. It shows you have a pure heart. It is a GREAT quality you have.
Chuck: I like your focus in not forgetting those you can't trust that they haven't grown to the point you are at yet.
Trey: The bad apples mess up the barrel for the rest of us for sure.
Jo: Right on the money with your thought.
Teresa: The base is a good visual to use to think of trust I agree.
Fran: With politics I agree who can you trust? Sometimes on different issues they are all over the map.
I agree with you 100% Gary. Trust has always been an important component in a persons overall character. These days when it's so conspicuously absent, it has become even more important.
Jesse: It's sad that trust seems the exception rather than the rule. Good that we have trusted ones like you out there.
Trust is not a word I hear often when referring to realtors. It's too bad, but I sure do appreciate and respect the ones I find that are honest and trustworthy.
Gary, great thoght to start off the weekend.
Trust has to be earned, even among friends and family members, And it can easily be broken by lies and secrets. So if trust is so hard to earn even among those closest to you, how can we expect our clients to immediately trust us?
In the short time we are interacting with them in a transaction, we have to be honest, professional and knowledgeable and let them feel that we are doing what's best for them.
We do need to trust. I know in my heart that everything will be all right. We can choose to have God with us through this challenge or decide to be alone. I am trusting in HIM.
Hi Susie: Realtors being in another "salesperson" category are typically at the bottom of the list for trustworthiness. It is a guilt by association with a handful that we just have to deal with.
Linda: Good point how trust is even difficult with those closest to us at times, so with clients it easily van be a bigger hurdle. Our actions of high integrity should show them we have their best interest at heart.
Hey there Cathy: Faith in God is a rock you can trust.
Gary - I agree with you that as Realtors we are guilty by association of others that they do not trust. I always put the clients interests first!!!
Gary: Trust is going to be hard for the government to convey to me, banks too. I really don't trust that the executive branch has got a gun to Congress' head about this bail out. Makes me wonder what they might uncover upon a two or three week investigation. It's coming to light that some very prominent economists are worried about too much, and too hasty, intervention here. We seem to preach free market economy...until it has a free market down turn.....then it's all about regulation. The solution is actually scarier to me than the actual problem. Government intervention is not so easy to take back later.
Trust is harder and harder for us this days - not just with institutions.....but with people....its hard not to be skeptical....or cynical........how badly we all want to be able to trust...to feel safe in someone elses promises........
Hi Sharon: If we keep giving our good example out there to the world, our clients will forget those "others" that are less than stellar in the industry.
Hi Chris Ann: Trust in institutions I agree is something more often than not we shouldn't do. Even trust in our elected representatives seems tough to swallow at times. I agree that regulations and solutions put forward can be worse than the problem. The frustrating thing about the whole financial mess is so much of this seems out of control for the little guy out there. Once laws are in place or new regulations implemented they can't be undone over many, many years.
Liz: I agree, that to be cynical seems to be the more "natural" way we want to feel nowadays, and not trusting. It comes from what we see and experience.
Gary, I always enjoy visiting here and reading your wonderful posts. I, too, am in the camp for not intellectually trusting human nature, but my senses tend to... I try to trust/ leani on the sustaining INFINITE... I am, by nature, a very trusting person. Most of us are, which is something that also makes us all vulnerable. I do try and stay in tune with my inner guidance though. Sometimes I miss the mark, but I think it would take a lot more energy & be an empty experience of life, to go around NOT trusting as an M.O.
Hey Mara: Trusting DOES make us vulnerable. But with a new situation we should trust and not be cynical. Using common sense and our inner guidance from experience is helpful but we should trust.
Gary, Trust is something many hold dear to them. Once broken, it is difficult to get it back.
Gary I love scrabble I carry a travel version with me. During my vacation I spent a lot of the time playing scrabble and taking photos.
You are right being trustworthy is important, that is a quality I seek out in anyone I want to do business with.
Gary-What happened to a prayer and a handshake were all you needed? The group ALABAMA sings that. Times have changed and now it is very important to get everything in writing and then hopefully trust will not become an issue. It would be nice if everyone could be trusted.. Thanks for another good post.
Thanks, Gary. Now I T-R-U-S-T you'll accept my move with S-P-L-I-N-K (x=4; y=12) ;-)
Gary, The trust that people put in us to help them is something that is earned and is rewarded with their show of appreciation when they refer a friend to us. I value that trust and work even harder to maintain it.
Reminds me of when business was done with a hand shake. Personal Integrity was everything. Now no one's trusted until it's in writing. It's nice to remember how "good" things used to be.
Tim and Pam: The more important to keep trust together the best we can. It is earned for sure.
Jennifer: I remember those travel versions of Scrabble. Makes long trips fly by.
Laura: Everything now IS in writing so true. The world has changed.
Hi Mara again: I know not to play brainy you in Scrabble ; )
Don: Great trust does add to the referrals. An excellent point.
Trunda: No verbals anymore, right? Much more trust in the old days I think.
With those letters you could also have spelled:
Rut
Strut
Sturt
Tut
Us
Ut
Gary - unfortunately, the word often is only used in the game of Scrabble.
But hardly in the game of Life
Trust is so important yet many people cannot trust each other these days. Lengthy contracts have not always been around. There was a time when people could trust each other by a simple handshake or verbal agreement. You are right, it is important to be a trustworthy person regardless of the actions of those around you.