Trust Issues

I recently had a 10-minute conversation with a chatbot
… and didn’t realize it.

Not super proud to admit that publicly, but at least the thing was polite. Helpful. Quirky, even.

But when it revealed its bot-ness, I felt weirdly... betrayed.

[ Like I just told my life’s problems to a toaster. 😝 ]

It got me thinking: how many times in the past week have you second-guessed whether a voice, video, photo, or review is real?

***

We’re living through a full-blown trust meltdown right now.

AI is everywhere. Fake content is cheap. Deepfakes are frighteningly good.

And if you’re running a business in this new landscape, here’s the uncomfortable truth: If you don’t actively earn trust … you’ve already lost it.

No, friends, that doesn’t mean just slapping a glamour shot on your About page or writing “real human” in your bio.

It means showing up. Saying what you mean. Caring enough to follow through.

***

Think about that last one for a sec.

How often are you genuinely surprised when someone follows through without a reminder, nudge, or a follow-up email rife with polite guilt?

Yeah. Same.

These days, consistency feels like a superpower. Like something awe-inspiring and worthy of praise and admiration.

But here’s the thing: it used to be the baseline.

Once upon a time, “I’ll call you Tuesday” meant — you’d get a call on Tuesday.

Now? It means maybe an email next week. If you remind them.

People have gotten so used to flakiness — companies that vanish, launches that delay, products that promise but don’t deliver — that showing up on time and prepared feels revolutionary.

***

And THAT is precisely your opportunity.

Doing what you said you’d do, reliably and with thoughtful intention, makes you an outlier.

Want to build trust in a world where no one knows what’s real?

Start here:

• Be ruthlessly consistent. Pick a pace you can actually keep — and treat it like a promise. [ Like this newsletter cadence, for example ]

• Say what you mean. Not just your “brand tone.” Your actual thinking. Even if it’s unfinished or messy.

• Don’t disappear. If plans change, say so. If you forget something, own it. Silence breaks trust way faster than mistakes do.

• Be familiar. Use the same name, face, and vibe everywhere. It’s not just about branding, it’s about legitimacy.

• Say less. It’s not about how MUCH you share — it’s how TRUE it feels.

Consistency is your quiet proof of life. And of trustworthiness.

And it’s exactly what REAL humans need more of.

Victory Points

By: Mike Shary
( my board-game-loving, copywriter extraordinaire and mentor, Dad ❤️ )

Like a lot of people, I’ve always secretly wanted to fly a plane.

Sky Team lets you do exactly that — and it’s shockingly realistic.

Sky Team is a two-player, cooperative, game where you and your teammate must land a plane together using only dice placement, deduction, and trust. One player is the pilot, the other the co-pilot, and every turn is a test of coordination and calm.
 

 
From managing altitude and speed to balancing the rudder and deploying the landing gear, you and your co-pilot will feel like you're actually in the cockpit, making split-second decisions under pressure. The only thing missing is the seatbelt sign.

Here’s the twist: you can’t talk.

Each round, you roll dice in secret and then assign them to different cockpit functions — flaps, speed, altitude, even coffee (which, yes, is essential). But without discussing your plan, it’s up to both of you to read the situation and act with consistency. Missteps lead to chaos. Smooth execution leads to a perfect touchdown.

And that’s the magic: Sky Team doesn’t reward heroics. It rewards reliability. It’s not about bold moves. It’s about doing the right thing, at the right time, over and over again.

In business, trust isn’t built by grand gestures. It’s built by showing up, knowing your role, and delivering — especially when no one’s watching.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of flying a plane (and proving your value through quiet consistency) Sky Team might be the most thrilling way to keep both feet on the ground.

If you’re ready, here’s a few ways we can work together:

Free Brainstorming Session
Stop overthinking and start executing. In this bite-sized strategy session, we'll identify your biggest growth opportunities and ways to implement them immediately.

One-on-One Deep Dive
Ready for real transformation? Let's spend 60 minutes mapping out your business evolution. We'll tackle your biggest marketing challenges and create a customized, actionable roadmap for growth. Ideal for entrepreneurs who are done waiting on "perfect."