Money compounds. So does knowledge. Reputation compounds too—but few realize it.
In a trust-based culture, reputation is the real currency—it dictates access, opportunity, and influence.
When deals are made on a handshake, your word is your collateral.
But not every culture runs on trust. Rules-based cultures, on the other hand, rely on contracts, regulations, and enforcement to maintain order.
Reputation is how others see you—the shadow of your actions, words, and choices. Integrity is who you are when no one’s watching.
When reputation and integrity align, you’re living as your authentic self—where who you are matches how you’re perceived. That’s the goal. But many people curate, sanitize, or manipulate their reputation to fit an image, rather than embodying real values.
Confidence is being sure of yourself, your abilities, and your actions.
Insecurity is the fear of not being "enough".
Those that are insecure may hide or manipulate the truth, but there is always a cost to deception — of others, and worst of all, yourself.
It’s inevitable, the debt will come to collect.
Be yourself. But first—figure out who that really is.
On the poker table, playing strangers, your actions so far are your reputation. Every bet, every bluff, every fold—people remember. And they adjust accordingly.
On the soccer field, when you play head-to-head. Who’s fast? Who can shoot? Who plays dirty? Who flops? Who can be trusted in a tough moment? You don’t tell people—they see it for themselves.
How you build and signal reputation depends on where you are.
In China, businessmen reveal less. Understatement is the norm. Strength is shown through results, not words.
In the U.S., it’s the opposite. Success is a story, and how you tell it matters as much as what you’ve done.
Silicon Valley runs on vision. If you can’t sell the dream, you won’t get to build it. A strong reputation means being seen as a bold thinker, an innovator, someone who can see the future before others do. Conviction matters as much as execution—sometimes more.
Wall Street is about credibility. Numbers don’t lie. A strong reputation means being right, managing risk, and proving you can make money. Bluffing is punished. Execution is everything.
Bide your time. Hide your strength. But know when to reveal it.