I had a friend who would always leave a dollar bill on the floor of his office and give people time in his office alone.

He told me that he was often amazed at who stuck the bill in their pockets – essentially stealing – and who would put the bill on his desk.

When he applied the same test with the same people, substituting a TEN-dollar bill, the same thieves still stole, and the same honest people still put the bills on his desk.

Being the Best You Can Be at All Times

Successful people know that details are important, and that small actions are clues to big choices.

Quite soon after I married Rika, she was in hospital for an operation, and even while she was still woozy from the anesthetic, she was fixing her hair, wiping her mouth, and arranging her bedclothes.

That tells you a lot about someone – not how they behave under normal circumstances, but how they behave under pressure and the small things they notice and do.

Every Detail Counts as Clues

Jill Brock wore gold shoes to the seminar I presented in Edmonton, because she knows I like gold.

How comfortable would you be with an accountant who arrived late, forgot his files, or didn’t return phone calls promptly?

• Body language,
• punctuality,
• personal grooming and dress,
• spelling mistakes in e-mails,
• website links that don’t work,
• foul language on Facebook

– all clues.

I sent someone an important e-mail to which I received no reply, however I noticed that he took the time to participate in infantile, mindless games and “look alike” sessions on Facebook.

The Little Matters = The Big Matters

Peoples’ choices and actions reveal their values, beliefs, and priorities, and predict how they will behave and what choices they will make when it comes to serious money and events.

Someone who can steal ten dollars from you can also steal a few thousand dollars from you: faithful in little, faithful in much.

If someone lacks the self-respect and self-discipline to honor their word and fulfill their obligations in small matters, they will definitely let you down when it comes to large matters.

Testing and Evaluations

Test in a small way before spending big.

Give people a few small tests and evaluate their performance. Don’t believe a word they say, but believe everything they do.

I once told someone,

“You might not respect time and money, but I do. We can’t work together.”

I saw a young man in the airport the other day kick a dime that was lying on the floor. Even if it was one cent, I would have picked it up. I respect money. This young man probably had his daddy paying for everything, so he had no respect for money.

He will never make money if he doesn’t respect it, and I would never work with someone like that.

Allow Others to EARN Your Trust

Like the words of that old song go,

“And there she was, kissin’ on another man – and now I know what Momma meant, when she said, ‘Son, take time to now her, it’s not an overnight thing. Take time to know her; please, please don’t rush into this thing.’”

People who are faithful in small things reveal their motives and character.

We went deep-sea fishing off Cancun, and I was impressed to see how protective and caring my friend, Doctor Kumar Ramlall was when another of my friends was seasick.

Watch how people treat:

• animals,
• waiters in restaurants,
• security guards,
• their family,
• and other peoples’ possessions.
• If they allow their kids and pets to invade other peoples’ space and break their stuff

- you know you should avoid doing business with them.

Respect and honor are demonstrated in deeds, not words. Allow people to EARN your trust over time.

Many people who overlooked the implications of Obama’s choice of his friend and associates are now kicking themselves.

Whom you consistently spend time with tells me all about you.