“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment unless you trust enough.” — Frank Crane

​I have been lately thinking how trust and the lack of it there off affects the overall business and people relationships. I have burnt my fingers due to trusting the wrong people but also, I have made headways by trusting as well. So, the main question is, is there a formula to help one decide who to trust and who not to trust? What can we learn from past trust success and bad experiences?

​ Below are some of the things I have learnt:

​When it comes to financial matters and when you are dealing with third parties, despite trusting make sure you have worked on the documentation and that you are well covered Always get the right professionals involved when drafting some of these documents so that they can point out any possible blind spots.

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​Trust but verify: It is always better to be looked at as difficult but in as much as possible ensure that you are covered. People come from different points of views and can be mistaken either rightfully or otherwise. Ensure that you do your due diligence well with the aim to understand the transactions and the counter party.

​Seek information and do your due diligence: I have found myself in a situation where I was asked “but you did not know that so and so is a con” for me I have always believed that people are good but lately my learning is that people could be good but maybe circumstances make people bad and so just do your due diligence.

​Despite the fact that some of us have burnt our fingers out of trust we need some level of trust for us to move on with life. Therefore, the aim is to balance and ensure that we trusted ourselves and in so doing we shall attract the right people around us.

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