Trusting others means you may take a bullet

Trust is a huge factor in passing really nice referrals.  Hazel Walker’s recent blog (click here to read it) highlights lessons that many of us have learned the hard way.  Then I received the following quote in an email from my friend, Randy Brunson:

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” 
-George Washington 

[A quick aside: Randy has a short, weekly email commentary that mixes financial and moral viewpoints...click here to visit his site...just email him and request it.] 

Here’s the rub.  We guard our best clients and contacts very closely, and our associates must prove themselves before being introduced.  AND with newer clients or contacts we don’t know well, we’re still unsure about introducing a new associate.  BUT…especially if you’re in a closed networking group together…people need to jump in and try the new member out.  Likewise, you want them to try your services or products. 

Give them a try personally.  It’s probably safe to guess that you’ll be thrilled 20% of the time, that service will be average 60% of the time, and that you’ll wish you had kept your money the remaining 20% of the time. 

You may have to “take a bullet” to find out.  Here’s my horror story…  My wife and I hired a handyman in our group who had received many positive reviews to remove wallpaper and paint our master bathroom.  His new employee tore into our sheetrock, tried to paint over wet primer, and spilled paint in our tub, shower, and floor grout.  The insurance claim was several $thousand, and I had to rebuild the bathroom during my wife’s 9^th month of pregnancy.  Sweet. 

Such extreme “bullets” are hard to take initially.  But in most cases, giving a person a try has many benefits: 

1. In most cases, the business boosts your group immediately.
2. You find out if you can recommend the person.
3. That person will (hopefully) reciprocate.
4. You provide your group with positive or negative feedback that over time will help strengthen the group…whether through trust or removal. 
5. Everyone speeds up the trust process.   Speed has its own value. 

You allowed the person to join your group, so go ahead and risk a flesh wound.