Day 20 Transcript
NOTE: Today’s transcript is followed by an AI prompt that can be used with your AI provider of choice. Just copy and paste it into ChatGPT or Perplexity and it will help you answer today’s questions for your specific side hustle… the way a human teaching assistant would help you in an Ivy League university. If you’re eager for more on today’s topic, I’ve included a Secret Dessert Course at the very end — a bonus section that isn’t directly covered in today’s video but has a lot of value practical, hands-on value. That dessert also comes with its own AI prompt.
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Part 1: Turn it Up to 11.
I’ve now bought a dozen different business books that make the very convincing case that 10X is better than 2X. Now I’m no mathematician but that just seems right. So… if you want to land my next $25 and you’re thinking about writing a business book, I have the perfect title for you. 1000X is better than 10X. See…. I didn’t jump from 10X to 100X. I leapfrogged past it. Made my moonshot into a Mars shoot. Actually… an even better title: InfiniteX.
Welcome to week 3– sales week– Day 20 of starting your side hustle! We’re taking 28 Days-- 28 small steps-- to build a business that’s meaningful, impactful, and profitable. If you’ve made it this far, you’re ready to multiply the trust you’re fostering to infiniteX. If you’re a math nerd, too transfiniteX.
Ok. Mocking aside. Let’s talk about trust multipliers– the levers that turn your trust-building mindset into a force that deepens every relationship, that creates a network effect of advocacy and loyalty.
Today’s Questions:
1. What’s one small, repeatable action you can take in every client interaction that will compound trust over time? This question matters because trust through repetition and consistency– all the recurring tiny actions that show you care, that show you deliver on your word, that show you put your clients first. The right ritual– and it's different for everyone– The right ritual repeated, can turn a single sale into a lifelong partnership. It’s a great question to ask yourself because it forces you to get specific about what you personally can do—today, and every day—to accelerate trust.
Question 2– Where can you introduce unflinching transparency or vulnerability in your sales process that will proactively disarm skepticism and make you impossible to ignore? This question matters because most salespeople hide their flaws, they protect their process, they avoid tough questions. Trust Multipliers do the opposite. They invite scrutiny. They share their doubts. They turn every obstacle into an opportunity to prove their integrity. It’s another great question because it pushes you to find the moment where a little discomfort can unlock a lot of trust.
And what do we say to the god of discomfort? Today! Because the real secret to wealth– unless you’re born with it– is discomfort. It’s repeatedly failing, getting back up, learning from the punches you took– and getting back into the fight.
Ok. Take a moment and try to answer the Day 20 questions for your hustle without AI and before you listen to the next section-- the 28-Day Ivy League MBA. I personally think it's useful to try to answer questions without AI first, but if you'd rather do that: The AI teaching assistant prompt will drop with today's case study... in a couple of hours. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out Lunch Break Millionaire Day Zero... or go over to superserious.com where I’m posting daily transcripts. The AI prompts are there too. That's it. Hustle smarter.
Part 2: 💼 Aim for InfiniteX Trust: Today's Ivy League MBA Skill
We've been talking about the trust-builder mindset all week. Trust Multipliers build on that. They’re a set of practices, frameworks, and habits that are actively taught in elite business schools to leaders who want to build unshakable credibility and influence.
How does an MBA learn about Trust Multipliers? With Commitment Loops… Vulnerability Levers… Advocacy Engines… and Feedback Flywheels. Let’s turn all that jargon into plain @#$#in English– rapidfire style.
- The Commitment Loop– what is it? It’s just a fancy way of saying that every time you make a promise—big or small—and deliver on it, you create a loop of trust. The more loops you complete, the more trust compounds.
How do you use it? Make small, specific commitments in every conversation (Like “I’ll send you that by 3pm,” or “I’ll follow up on this question right after our Zoom” or “I’ll share my notes from our call”). Then, deliver—every time. It’s that easy.
Why does it work? Each loop reinforces your reliability and makes clients more willing to take bigger risks with you.
Next: The Vulnerability Lever. What is it? It’s sharing your mistakes, your limitations, your uncertainties—not as some mopey weakness– but as a sign of strength and honesty.
How do you use it? When something goes wrong, say so. When you don’t know the answer, say so. When you’re unsure, ask for input.
Why does it work? Vulnerability disarms skepticism. It builds psychological safety. It makes you more relatable and trustworthy.
And if you do it right, you throw in a couple of commitment loops.
What else? The Advocacy Engine. What is it? It's when you turn satisfied clients into active advocates by giving them the tools, the language, the incentives to refer you.
How do you use it? After you successfully engage a client– do what every call center employee on the planet does: ask for feedback. Ask your client to share a testimonial. Offer them a simple way to refer others (like “Who else do you know who’s struggling with this?”).
Why does it work? Someone else talking for you is the ultimate trust multiplier. When your clients become your sales team, trust spreads exponentially.
And finally: The Feedback Flywheel. What is it? It's you…actively seeking, acting on, and sharing feedback in real time.
How to use it? After every interaction, frame your ask to be about your value to them. (like “What would make this even more valuable for you?”) And then, the hard part: actually implement the feedback and show the results.
Why it works: Feedback loops signal that you’re committed to growth and improvement, and they create a sense of co-ownership in the relationship.
Will that get you InfiniteX? No. It won’t even get you 10X because 10X itself is marketing bs. But every one of these practices we just talked about is worth your time. They’re cardio for the trust building muscles you’re growing. It’s how you hustle smarter.
Part 3: Pay Permission Forward: The 28-Day Case Study
This is Day 20, Part 3 of Lunch Break Millionaire. This is the segment where we #BuildinPublic– where I answer the daily questions every hustle should– using the MBA skills we just learned– and showing my work– sharing how I’m building my hustle from scratch-no filters, just the real journey. You don't need to actually like or subscribe. I'm not doing this for the clicks. But if you’re leveling up from other creators you follow or know, introduce us. I want to learn from them and help them level up, too. We all deserve better than just making rich people richer.
Going off format today. Because I keep thinking about Seth Godin’s idea of “permission-based marketing” and how I would have loved a followup book called permission-based sales.” And how that imaginary book would read like everything we’ve talked about this week.
I think Seth Godin flipped a switch in my brain when he said, “Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them.” I didn’t take that as a marketing tactic. It was spiritual.
This entire week, we’ve been living that idea. Every day, we’ve been learning how to earn trust. Not to ask permission for it. But to earn it.
We’ve been learning how to be the kind of person others want to hear from– the kind of person who is relevant and real.
Today’s “trust multipliers” aren’t tricks. They’re habits. They’re the little things you do every day to show up, to listen, to deliver. They’re the way you treat people when no one’s watching. They’re the way you pay permission forward—by giving before you take, by helping before you ask, by building relationships before you need them.
That’s the real lesson today. That’s the real lesson of this entire week. It’s not about you. It’s about them. It’s about the people you want to serve, the people you want to trust you. And when you get that right, everything changes. You don’t have to chase leads. You don’t have to beg for attention. You don’t have to kill trust.
You get to be the person people invite in. You get to be the person people want to hear from. You get the privilege of permission—the kind of permission Seth Godin dreamed about, the kind that turns strangers into friends and friends into customers.
Ok. How do I wind down this post?
I could take this to a cheesy place and say “Trust is the currency of the future” but that would ignore that trust has always been the currency of business. The bar was just a lot lower in the past because everyone’s standards were higher.
I could take this to a cheesy place and say “Permission is the privilege you earn” but again that would ignore that permission has always been earned. It was just a lot more expensive in the past. You’d buy it with TV commercials.
I could take this to a cheesy place and claim that the only way to win when all the bars are as high as they are and all the standards are as low as they are and you’re priced out of everything your parents could afford… is purpose…. It’s building a business that matters. Is that cheesy? I’m not sure. It’s certainly true. Purpose and trust are [fingers crossed]. That’s how you win. That’s how you turn your lunch break into something way bigger than just another sandwich.
Prompt #1 - Amplify Your Impact and Deepen Relationships
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Prompt #1 - Amplify Your Impact and Deepen Relationships ○
Today, you’ll discover how to use simple, powerful actions to multiply trust in every interaction—so your relationships with customers, partners, and collaborators grow stronger and more resilient. You’ll be guided by the writings and frameworks of Ivy League faculty whose research is foundational in trust-building, ethical leadership, and relationship-driven business:
- **Professor Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School:** Authority on psychological safety and team trust.
- **Professor Francesca Gino, Harvard Business School:** Expert in behavioral science and the impact of honesty and generosity.
- **Professor Adam Grant, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania:** Specialist in reciprocity, authenticity, and building lasting professional relationships.
**What Today’s Coaching Will Help You With:**
You’ll identify the small, repeatable actions that build trust faster and deeper—so your hustle becomes known for reliability, generosity, and genuine connection.
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### Step 1: Reflection Questions
Please answer these questions in a few sentences each:
1. **What’s one small action you’ve taken—or could take—that made a customer or collaborator feel truly valued or supported?**
- Think about follow-ups, surprises, acknowledgments, or going above and beyond.
2. **How could you make trust-building a habit in your daily hustle—not just a one-off gesture?**
- Consider routines, rituals, or systems that reinforce trust every time you interact.
3. **What’s one “trust multiplier” you could test this week to see how it impacts your relationships?**
- This could be as simple as a handwritten note, a quick check-in, or sharing a resource unprompted.
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### Step 2: MBA Skill – The Science of Trust Multipliers
Today’s MBA lesson is about the science behind trust multipliers—actions that compound trust over time:
- **Reliability:** Show up consistently. Deliver on your promises, no matter how small.
- **Transparency:** Be open about what you know, what you don’t know, and what you’re learning.
- **Generosity:** Give before you ask. Share insights, resources, or support without expecting anything in return.
- **Acknowledgment:** Recognize others’ contributions and celebrate their wins.
- **Follow-Through:** Close the loop on every conversation. Let people know you’re listening and acting on what you hear.
These habits don’t just build trust—they multiply it, creating a ripple effect that strengthens every relationship in your network.
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### Step 3: Coaching & Trust Action Plan
After you reply, I will use the writings of Professors Edmondson, Gino, and Grant to:
- Help you identify your most effective trust multipliers and how to make them a regular part of your routine.
- Guide you in turning trust-building from a tactic into a mindset—so it becomes second nature in every interaction.
- Suggest ways to measure the impact of your trust multipliers, so you can double down on what works.
- Offer examples of real businesses that have grown faster and stronger by making trust their signature strength.
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**How to use this prompt:**
- Respond with your answers to the reflection questions and your idea for a trust multiplier to test.
- I’ll help you refine your approach, suggest new habits, and offer next steps for making trust your competitive advantage.
- Remember: The best hustles don’t just build products—they build relationships. Trust is your most valuable asset.
Secret Dessert Course
Trust is multiplied in the quiet moments when you give without keeping score. So use the permission-paying prompt below to establish a practice– a habit– to share opportunities and resources when it’s least expected but most needed. Today’s dessert course is your toolkit for turning generosity into gravitational pull—because the strongest relationships are built on you having the courage to say, "I see you; here’s what you deserve; and I expect nothing in return."
Prompt #2 - Pay it Forward
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Prompt #2 - Pay it Forward ○
**Today’s Focus: Permission-Paying Blueprint**
**Ivy League MBA Coaching by:**
- **Professor Francesca Gino, Harvard Business School:** Expert in reciprocity, generosity, and the psychology of "giving first."
- **Professor Adam Grant, The Wharton School:** Authority on "give and take" cultures and the science of meaningful generosity.
- **Professor Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School:** Specialist in psychological safety and how vulnerability builds enduring trust.
**What This Prompt Will Help You With:**
You’ll design a step-by-step plan to "pay permission forward"—giving value freely to customers, collaborators, or strangers to build trust that compounds into advocacy, loyalty, and unexpected opportunities.
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### Step 1: Identify Permission-Paying Opportunities
**Reflection Questions:**
1. **Who in your orbit (customers, peers, strangers) needs a "permission boost" right now?**
- *Example:* A new creator struggling to find their audience; a customer facing a setback.
2. **What unique asset can you share?**
- Your network, a skill, a platform, or even public affirmation.
3. **What’s one thing you can give *without* expecting reciprocity?**
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### Step 2: Build Your Permission-Paying Plan
**Action Framework:**
1. **Select 3 people to invest in this week.**
- Mix: 1 customer, 1 peer, 1 "underdog" (e.g., someone starting their journey).
2. **Define your gift for each:**
- *Customer:* "Share their project with your network + explain why it matters."
- *Peer:* "Offer a warm introduction to a contact who can accelerate their goals."
- *Underdog:* "Publicly endorse their potential before they ‘deserve’ it."
3. **Deliver it freely:**
- No strings attached. No "Hope this helps!" with a hidden agenda.
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### Step 3: Track the Ripple Effect
**Accountability Prompts:**
- **After 7 days:** Note shifts in these relationships. Did trust deepen? Did opportunities arise?
- **After 30 days:** Reflect: How did giving first change your own opportunities or mindset?
- **Key Insight:** Permission-paying works because generosity is contagious—but only when it’s authentic.
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### Step 4: Coaching & Insights
**After acting, reflect:**
- **What surprised you about the act of giving without expectation?**
- **How can you make "permission-paying" a habit, not a tactic?**
- **What’s one way to scale this beyond individual relationships?**
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**How to use this prompt:**
Copy these steps into your journal or AI assistant. Use it weekly to identify, act on, and refine your permission-paying practice.