This one is a little more personal than usual. It is about trust, and how sometimes, the trust others place in us can shape everything.
35 Years Ago, I Arrived in Australia
I was young, unsure of what lay ahead, and still finding my voice.
I had no business connections. No network. No real sense of what life here would look like.
But I had a sense of possibility, and a quiet determination that maybe, just maybe, I could make something of it.
What I did not know then was how much I would be shaped by the trust of others.
People who offered opportunities.
People who took a chance on me.
People who made room, shared knowledge, and did not ask me to prove myself before including me.
They trusted me, before I had learned to fully trust myself.
And that changed everything.
That early trust shaped how I saw myself, and how I began to show up in rooms that once felt too big for me.
It taught me to lean into possibility, even before I felt ready.
And over time, it shaped how I lead too: not by asking people to prove themselves first, but by offering trust as a way for them to grow into themselves.
We often talk about trust in leadership as something that must be earned.
And yes, in many ways, it should be.
But I have also seen the power of trust offered first. Trust that says:
“I see something in you.”
“I will give you space to grow.”
“You do not have to be perfect to be worth backing.”
It is not just about building trust, it is about being willing to trust them forward.
To extend belief before certainty.
To back someone for who they are becoming, not just who they have been.
Now, as a coach working with senior leaders and CEOs, I bring that lens into every conversation.
Leadership is not just about experience or credentials. It is about creating space for others to step forward.
So this week, I leave you with three questions to reflect on:
- Who offered you trust before you were ready?
- Who around you is quietly waiting for someone to believe in them?
- What might happen if you chose to trust them forward, not because they have earned it, but because you can see who they are becoming?
Thank you to those who trusted me 35 years ago, and to those who continue to trust me today. You know who you are.
And as always, if you invest in yourself (and those around you), the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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