Trust: The Invisible Foundation of Success
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Before we begin, Cede Labs is a fast-growing startup focused on becoming the infrastructure for all money settlements, starting with crypto. Backed by GSR and Ledger, they’re building asset management tools for CEXs and are now looking for two top-tier talents to scale to the next level – Fullstack Dev – Sales/BD.
A few weeks ago, I realized the trust I had in some former partners was slowly crumbling. Their storytelling no longer matched reality, and after a few discussions, it became clear that our visions of business were worlds apart. Reality had collided with a world overly crafted through stories. This experience got me thinking about something central to every entrepreneur’s life: trust.
Here’s my take on it, how I approach it, and why it’s the cornerstone of any sustainable business.
Why Trust Matters
In business, trust isn’t optional; it’s the cornerstone. We operate in a world flooded with information asymmetry. Intentions, skills, and promises are often hard to verify. Amid this chaos, the only reliable compass is the trust we give - and inspire - in our partners, colleagues, and investors.
Without trust, no deal gets signed, no partnership lasts, and no team thrives.
In fact, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer (2023), 61% of people choose to work with a company based on their trust in its leaders and practices.
Trust: The Accelerator of Speed and Results
Stephen Covey nailed it when he said: Business moves at the speed of trust.
And he wasn’t kidding. When trust is present, everything speeds up: decisions are smoother, conversations are productive, and collaborations turn into results.
For a young entrepreneur, building legitimacy is about cultivating trust. But here’s the catch: trust isn’t given freely — it’s earned.
It’s built on a foundation of:
Expertise forged through experience.
Authenticity that shines through in interactions.
Total transparency when it comes to challenges and failures.
Today, though, too many LinkedIn profiles are packed with shiny, exaggerated success stories that lack substance. A storytelling-first approach may get attention, but if it’s untethered to reality, it will eventually fall apart. So, how do you build genuine trust in a world where appearances often trump truth?
The Pillars of Trust
For me, trust stands on three unshakable pillars:
1. Transparency
Nothing destroys trust faster than a lie. Own your mistakes, failures, and even your pivots. In a world that’s chaotic and unpredictable, perfection is suspicious. Transparency builds strong, durable foundations.
2. Empathy
Business is, first and foremost, about people. Step into the other person’s shoes, understand their concerns, motivations, and doubts. Empathy also means owning your vulnerabilities. These moments of authenticity are what create real, human connections. In fact, 90% of managers say empathy boosts leadership and workplace engagement, according to Catalyst (2022).
3. Tangible Proof
In a world overwhelmed by storytelling, actions speak louder than words. Bring facts, measurable results, and hard evidence to the table. Personally, I always do a quick due diligence before any deal — just a few phone calls can confirm (or debunk) what’s been said.
Living Trust Daily
Stop chasing a “perfect” story. Your LinkedIn doesn’t need to look like a fictional CV from a student applying to an Ivy League school. Embrace your journey, with all its ups and downs. A real, imperfect, but honest story inspires far more trust than a polished narrative that feels too good to be true.
In your daily life, live by the 3 C’s:
Clarity: in your message and intentions.
Consistency: with your core values and personal “why.”
Connection: through genuine interest in others.
Trust isn’t declared — it’s demonstrated and lived. Build your credibility step by step with honesty, attentiveness, and integrity.
💡 Conclusion
Trust is an intangible yet incredibly powerful asset. In a noisy world filled with half-truths, it’s the lever that turns ideas into successes and relationships into lasting partnerships.
So, choose transparency, nurture empathy, and back your actions with evidence. Because at the end of the day, trust is the key that opens every door.
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Great article! I really enjoyed your insights on the importance of building trust in business through transparency, empathy, and proof.