When you create more connections, you’re bound to be more open. That’s something I love about the current state of society and the people in it.
Part of me feels that I have Facebook and Twitter to thank for making people more open. Another part realizes that it is just a beneficial byproduct of the connection economy.
Yet, I see businesses and freelancers running with their arms held close to their chest so they don’t hit anyone, so they don’t make themselves open, so they don’t seem vulnerable. This is trite and counterintuitive.
I can barely begin to tell you how many people have told me things about themselves and their lives that they would never have mentioned eight years ago. Respectively, I owe it to them to be just as open (which is in our advantage).
It’s not a matter of mutual generosity, it’s more a risk at creating a symbol of trust.
This calls for you to reciprocate that risk. When you see that others are doing or acting as you do, you feel comfortable, you feel in place, you feel more willing to trust and invest in what that person is offering.
Just the same. If you want the business of those who are very open about themselves and their lives, you need to be open too.
This is why storytelling has become the largest importance of businesses, why brand matters, why sales are made on trust, not shininess.
Stay Positive & Open Sesame
Garth E. Beyer
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