What is the ultimate price of distrust?
I used to think that the price of distrust was disharmony.
Distrust creates animosity, ill-will, and inefficiency. Distrust creates distance.
TRUE THAT!
And the price of disharmony is attrition, apathy, and anger. Disharmony creates environments that we repel, that make us shrink, that makes us hide.
Those are COSTLY things. In some cases, those “effects” of disharmony can cause bankruptcies and ultimate failure.
And, yet, I don’t think that is the ultimate price of distrust.
The ultimate price of distrust is that it keeps us from ever being able to be who we were meant to be… it keeps us from being able to achieve what we are capable and worthy of achieving.
In our country,
In our company,
In our families,
And in ourselves…
Distrust ROBS us of our best self!
HOW?
1. Distrust keeps us from being able to make the necessary bold and courageous decisions that greatness requires.
2. Distrust diffuses and consumes our energy across numerous irrelevant or low priority items.
Think about gun control or the national debt. The distrust between our two political parties makes any meaningful decision impossible. Distrusting and disagreement are different beasts.
When I disagree with people that I trust, I can ultimately embrace their conclusions, even if I disagree.
When I disagree with people that I trust, I know that over time, we will both give and take, so I am willing to give.
When I disagree with people that I trust, I know that my disagreement is respected, and I don’t “lose face” if I give in.
When I disagree with people that I trust, I know that, if we cant reach a compromise, we will sometimes choose my path.
In a world of trust – I am ok making a mistake – because I know you wont rub my nose in it, and my occasional misstep will not harm me forever.
None of that is true with our government, and our extremist debate. Every battle is a win-lose, so I fight to the death, so that even I win, I am battered and bruised and occasionally beaten.
So, the advances that we make on topics like “gun control” by the time they reach “mutual agreement” are worthless.
I heard on NPR this morning that Chicago’s Mayor wants to take a strong stand on guns, so he is working on passing a gun law that would LIMIT THE PURCHASE OF GUNS, to ONE PER MONTH PER PERSON.
Are you kidding ME? It sounds like an SNL skit!
The “tough law” on guns will limit bad guys to only 12 guns per year.
I FEEL SAFE!
The debate between gun control and mental health becomes an OR debate. In a win-lose world success becomes about fixing either ONE or THE OTHER.
In a world of trust, you can consider GUN CONTROL AND more investment in MENTAL HEALTH.
With respect to the Federal Debt – there is no debate about bold and courageous steps to get back to break even. The only debate that we are able to engage in is how to REDUCE the BLEEDING from massive hemorrhaging, to almost massive hemorrhaging.
GREATNESS requires boldness… and BOLDNESS REQUIRES TRUST.
How will we look back on these decades in the future? We knew where we were headed, but the distrust in our government, and in our media, make resolution to these important issues impossible.
It’s truly scary …. and sad… and real!
The same dynamics occur in companies.
How does distrust show up in your executive team? In your reporting relationships? In your colleagues?
What are the bold and courageous moves that you must be willing to make to achieve greatness, and how does distrust keep you from making them?
Think about it… honestly.
How does distrust in our own marriages, or in our own hearts keep us from making the bold and courageous moves that I need to make to achieve greatness?
Distrust keeps us from our own greatness…
And, there is no greater price to pay…
So, what is the ultimate price of distrust – It is the opportunity cost of our own dreams…. and possibly that of future generations.
Harmony says the only way to possibly impact it – is one moment, one person at a time. Embrace the absolute truth of distrust – and move it forward.
Start with your self, with your spouse, with your friends…
Where do you distrust?
Where do you pay with the possibility of your own future?
Yours in trustful harmony,
Nestor