No matter which way you turn, trust is a key factor in life.

From face-to-face interactions to the courses you buy, coaches you hire, and sports you play—trust plays a vital role in every aspect of our lives.

Merriam-Webster defines trust as “reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”

Trust is much more than a feeling because you’re investing time, money, and part of your life in someone else.

Does Your ‘Yes’ Mean ‘Yes’ or Just ‘Maybe’?

It may sound far-fetched to say trust means you’re investing part of your life with someone —but it is a fact that applies in many different ways.

For example, every time I go scuba diving, I put my life in my husband’s hands (aka my dive buddy). Why? Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will use his experience and good judgment to make sound decisions during our time underwater. 

When you partner with someone in anything, you’re trusting that their ‘yes’ means ‘yes’ and their ‘no’ means ‘no.’

Whenever someone buys from you, they are trusting that you will deliver on what you’re offering.

Can you imagine what would happen if my husband promised to share his spare air with me during a dive, but when I needed it, he refused to do what he said? That would suck — literally.

Too Good to Be True

Imagine ordering a delicious meal when you’re hungry. What the waiter described sounded so delicious that your mouth watered just hearing about it. But when it arrives, it looks and tastes awful. Or maybe it looks good, but when you take a bite your mouth puckers.

Now, imagine buying an online course, coaching program, or certification that sounds incredible, and then you find out — after you’ve paid — that it was too good to be true.

What if you partnered with someone who never shows up on time and doesn’t follow through on their commitments?

From meals in a restaurant to online goods and services—buying a bunch of promises and pipe dreams that don’t deliver leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

I’ve walked a mile in those shoes and know how uncomfortable it feels to be on the receiving end.

If you think about the times you were duped in a transaction, relationship, or promise—then it makes it easier to understand why most people have trust issues these days.

Trust is Critical to Anyone’s Success

Trust has been important throughout the history of the world. Some people have kept their word time and time again, while others have not.

Those who stick to their guns build credibility that follows them throughout their lives and businesses.

Consider how Abraham Lincoln earned the nickname “Honest Abe” as a young store clerk in the 1800s. Why’d they call him that? Because time after time, he would walk a long way to return a customer’s overpayment for something they bought at the small store where he worked.

Abraham didn’t have to go those extra steps, but he followed a strong moral compass that served him well.

He built a reputation for being honest that many—like me—seek to emulate in our own lives and businesses.

Building credibility comes from building trust with others over time consistently.

Building Credibility to Stand Out

Finding ways to stand out in today’s fast-paced, online world might seem like a daunting task.

With all the grandstanding and “copy my blueprint” mentality that is offered by others in droves, you may wonder if you’ll ever find a way to draw the right people into your world and business.

What if you focused on writing and talking about whatever you sell by being genuine, real, and authentic?

What if you built a reputation for letting your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no?’

What if you stood tall by making sure the words you use to market did not use hype, exaggeration, or manipulation?

If you did that over and over again intentionally—others would naturally reference your credibility and trustworthiness when they talk about you.

Certifiable and Credible

Most of you already know—or at least realize—that I beat to my own drum.

One way I do that is by exploring the depths of the ocean as a scuba diver and underwater photographer whenever possible.

But there is something else that makes me stand out.

I possess an innate drive to write words and deliver communications strategies that are trustworthy.

While I’ve earned numerous certifications and participated in many coaching from a variety of industry leaders, a recent certification pulled me in as soon as I read about it.

The path to obtaining this new moniker was a lot of hard work, but the pay-off was worth it.

As of Jan. 2020, I officially became a Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Certified Service Provider.

This certification means a lot of things in different ways, including the fact that anyone who works with me can trust the credibility of my services and offerings.

This new certification validates what I stand for when I work with secular and faith-based businesses alike.

A Challenge to Be Different

Today’s reality provides an opportunity for us all to become introspective and find ways to stand out and set ourselves apart from others.

Are you up to the challenge? Are you ready to find ways to be different?

Or are you okay looking and sounding like everyone else?

If you’re game, there are many ways for you to build trust and credibility.

Do you want to uncover unique ways to do this in your life and business?

Are you eager to describe what you offer in an authentic way that doesn’t read of used car salesmanship? Let’s talk.

Are you interested in learning free insights for building your business? This free virtual summit I’m speaking at next week might interest you. Check it out here.

No matter what you do, remember what Zig Ziglar once said, “If people like you, they will listen to you. But if they trust you, they’ll do business with you.”