Would you ever do a $100,000 contract on a handshake?

Curious.

What would have to be already established for you to be comfortable shaking that hand?

You would have to know the person sitting across the table, right? And not just casually, like “know who they are,” but you would have to know. who. they. are.

You would probably need to trust them, but not in the usual sense. Rather, you would need that kind of trust that can only be built over decades (this goes hand-in-hand with knowing them).

You would probably need to feel like they are playing a long game such that this transaction is simply another in a long history and a long future.

The point?

The important part of this is the “what would have to be already established” part. Contrary to what you might believe, the primary importance of the work you are doing today is not realized today. It’s realized tomorrow.

Today’s effort should be used as another chance to build relationships and trust, and to demonstrate character.

And why we would we choose to do this each day?

Because it creates better tomorrows.

Relationships, trust, and character compound.