Why is it said that "You must first become a trustworthy person, then wealth will follow you"?
Hello, I'm really glad to chat about this topic. That's an excellent question—it touches on a core principle behind wealth. I'll do my best to explain it clearly in plain terms.
Why Must You First Become a Trustworthy Person Before Wealth Follows You?
Let's start by broadening the concept of "wealth." It's not just money in the bank; it includes great opportunities, valuable connections, and assistance from others. But all these good things rely on one foundation—trust.
To put it simply, the flow of wealth is fundamentally the flow of value and trust. We buy a phone because we trust the brand delivers good products and after-sales service. We invest in a project because we trust the founder can succeed.
Let me break this down step by step to show you.
1. Opportunities and Collaboration Come to You
Think about it: what happens if you’re that incredibly reliable person who follows through on promises and delivers excellent work?
- People think of you first for good projects. They feel secure handing things over—no fear of you dropping the ball or messing things up.
- You’re prioritized as a partner. Collaborating with you isn’t exhausting; nobody worries about being taken advantage of.
- Customers prefer you. Faced with similar products, they’ll choose the seller known for good service and integrity.
A trustworthy person is like a magnet, pulling good resources and opportunities towards them. You don’t need to chase things down—they come to you. Conversely, someone with no credibility pushes people away, narrowing their own path.
2. Your Reputation is Your Most Valuable Asset
We often say "Character is worth more than gold." In modern society, your reputation is your personal brand — it matters more than the numbers in your bank account.
- Trust reduces costs: When others trust you, communication and collaboration costs plummet. People skip lengthy contracts drafted just to guard against you, or energy spent verifying your word. This saves you massive time and effort.
- Trust creates premium value: With similar skills, a trustworthy person commands higher pay or a better position. A trusted brand sells the same product at a higher price. That’s the premium value trust adds.
A single deception might offer tiny, short-term gains, but it severely damages your reputation. This loss is long-term and massive. Rebuilding it later requires ten, maybe a hundred times the effort.
3. Quick Wins vs. Long-Term Snowball Effect
You might ask: “But plenty of scammers out there do get rich, right?”
True, deception can bring a quick payday. But it’s like building a sandcastle—fast now, but washed away by the first wave. That kind of wealth is unsustainable and carries huge risks (legal troubles, revenge, etc.).
Building trust is like laying deep foundations and steel structures. It's slow, hard work with little visible payoff initially. But once that solid base is set? You can build towering skyscrapers on it. Your wealth compounds like a rolling snowball—growing steadily and staying strong.
The wealth Naval talks about is this kind: the "real wealth" built for long-term compound growth and freedom, not the "quick cash" here today, gone tomorrow.
4. It’s Not Just Others Trusting You, It’s You Trusting Yourself
This is crucial too. Striving to be trustworthy shapes you from within.
- You commit to your own promises—like studying, exercising—and follow through.
- Your decisions are made with integrity and a long-term view.
Doing this builds your trust in yourself—confidence. Someone who doesn’t even trust themselves will struggle to earn genuine trust from others.
A Simple Analogy: Your ‘Trust Bank’
Think of your credibility like a bank account.
- Every time you follow through, deal honestly, or do great work—you deposit into this account.
- Every lie, broken promise, or shortcut you take? That’s a costly withdrawal, often with sky-high "fees".
When your "trust deposits" pile up high, wealth (opportunities, partnerships, projects) naturally flows in like "interest." When you need help, you can "borrow big" (gain others' support) against this bank.
If your account is bankrupt? Who would dare deal with you?
To Sum Up:
"First become a trustworthy person" isn't feel-good fluff. It's an incredibly pragmatic wealth strategy. It shifts your focus from chasing money to building yourself. When you've shaped yourself into a credible, reliable, valuable "product," wealth—as the reward—comes looking for you.