Trust . . what’s it really good for? Huh, absolutely . . everything.

Facebook reminded me yesterday of a cool event that happened about a year ago.  A well known local alternative radio station was putting on a  “Trust Us” series of shows.  Basically, they didn’t announce the headliner, but said “Trust Us” you don’t want to miss this show.  The tickets were $10 and the show was at The Basement in downtown Columbus in July.  It was the first time they had tried this.

The show sold out in a couple weeks.  And we got this:

Now, I had been listening to this station and conversing over the phone from time to time with the program director.  She was awesome on the air, responsive on social media, and always seemed to have the next cool band and song playing on the station.  When I talked to her over the phone, she was always polite and friendly, and always, always super PASSIONATE about music.  You knew she cared about ALL of it.

In short, I had come to trust this person with very little direct interaction at all.  How does that happen?  Since the show sold out pretty quickly, it was obvious at least 300 other people felt the same way.

Her credibility in the music scene probably had a great deal to do with that . ..and it was built over 10 plus years of the same consistent hard work, effort, and display of passion for the music industry.

Trust is also a matter of faith.

Sometimes, we just need to trust that everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed.  In fact, if my experience has taught me anything, that’s the only thing that works.  Faith based on the knowledge that things will work out.  Trusting that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing right now, even if it doesn’t make sense.

If I don’t have faith and trust, pain usually follows.

The pain is sometimes extreme, sometimes it’s just bent expectations and disapopintment.  The funny thing is, it’s up to me how it works out.  If I have trust, then I find myself feeling a lot better no matter what the outcome was.

In this case, my trust was “rewarded” with an up close and personal show with Wolf Alice, a rising band out of England.  I put “rewarded” because frankly I’m not sure what happened was good or bad.  All I know, is that by trusting what happened, I ended up right where I was supposed to be, doing what I was supposed to do.  Not sure why.  More will be revealed later.

But I had a great time seeing this:

And I’m glad that I trusted that program director and radio station putting on this show.

It makes me think how people can trust me, but only if I’m consistent with my actions and approach over a LONG period of time.  And also explains why people don’t trust me right away when they meet me, even when I know my intentions are good.  After all, I’m just a dude from the internet.  Some guy that randomly showed up with a smile on his face and a friendly attitude.  How are people supposed to know what my intentions are?

By my actions, that’s how.

If I show trustworthy actions over time, I may be able to gain people’s trust.  People that have trusted me have done things for me based on very little information, or at risk to themselves, or have done me favors, or given me things I can never repay.  But it’s not all about taking, right?  Giving first is the beginning of a trusting relationship, and those trusting relationships are how I live a meaningful life, which is EVERYTHING (to me).

Speaking of actions and trust, I’ve got some things to do for other people that I said I’d do.  Time to go build that trust!!!

Have a  great Saturday!

-Just a Dude