Why does Naval mention, "Trust is built slowly, and destroyed in an instant"?

Hey, that's a great question! Naval said something that really resonates deeply, because it points to a harsh truth we all experience in life.

Let's break this down to make it easier to understand.

1. Why is Trust "Built Slowly"?

Think of trust as an "account in the bank of your reputation." In relationships – with friends, colleagues, or partners – this account starts empty.

How do you make deposits?

Being punctual once: You agreed to meet at 9:00 AM, and you arrived at 8:55 AM. Ding! You just deposited a coin.
Keeping a promise once: You said, "I'll handle this," and you actually did it—and did it well. Ding! Another coin.
Being honest once: You made a small mistake, owned up to it instead of blaming others. Ding! Deposit another coin.
Keeping a secret once: A friend shared something private with you, and you didn't tell a soul. Ding! Deposit a big coin.

See? Every single small, positive interaction is like putting a coin into this account. This process can't happen overnight. It requires a significant amount of time and countless repetitions of trustworthy behavior to validate your reliability. You're essentially proving, through your consistent, predictable actions: "Hey, I'm dependable. You can count on me."

This process is gradual, even tedious – like building a wall brick by brick. That’s how you create something strong and sturdy.

2. Why Can it "Collapse Instantly"?

Let’s stick with the "bank account of reputation" metaphor. Imagine you've diligently made deposits over a long time; the account is now quite full. Then, one thing happens:

A significant lie: You deceive the other person about something important.
A betrayal: You share a secret they entrusted you with, using it as gossip or a joke.
A major broken promise: You commit to something utterly vital to them, and you fail to deliver.

Any one of these actions is not like simply withdrawing a few coins. It's like grabbing a hammer and shattering the entire account with one loud CRASH!.

Why is the impact so severe?

The foundation is shaken: A major betrayal makes the other person instantly question everything that came before. They think: "If you could deceive me like that now, how many of the things you said or did before were true? Was our whole relationship built on a lie?" This kind of doubt is devastating. It wipes out all the previous positive deposits at once.
The Brain's "Negativity Bias": Psychologically, our brains are wired to be hyper-sensitive to negative information. It's an evolutionary survival instinct – remembering one danger (like a snake bite) is more critical for survival than remembering a hundred safe experiences (like walking through grass without incident). Hence, the pain and shock of one betrayal will overwhelmingly eclipse a hundred acts of minor kindness.
Repair is extremely difficult: Once the account is shattered, you can try to pick up the pieces and glue them back together. But the cracks will always be there. Once trust collapses, rebuilding it requires significantly more effort than building it originally, and things might never be fully restored. The other person will always carry the memory: "This person betrayed me once."

Summary

With this statement, Naval is actually reminding us of a core principle of reputation and relationships:

Building reputation (trust) is playing a "long-term game," requiring continuous investment. Destroying it merely requires one short-sighted, foolish decision.

It's like playing a game. You earn +1 point, +1 point, +1 point for each good deed... but one bad act? It's an instant -1000 points, or worse – your account gets suspended.

So, cherish the trust others place in you – it's hard-earned. And in your interactions, treat your own reputation like the rarest of treasures. That's the profound wisdom, wrapped in simple words, that Naval likely wants to convey.