Let honesty become your competitive edge

In 2004 I launched my first blog post with trembling hands: an article on stock-picking that cited every guru I’d studied—Buffett, Lynch, Zweig—yet I still feared people would call me a copycat. So I named each source, linked to their interviews and books, and shared my own twist on the method. Some readers sketched their own portfolios; some sent me feedback on what worked for them. My traffic doubled overnight—not because I had invented a new theory, but because people sensed I respected both the giants who’d taught me and the new readers I was trying to reach. I learned then that honesty isn’t just moral high ground; it’s the fastest way to build a loyal following. Behavioral studies on trust show that admitting vulnerability releases oxytocin in your listeners’ brains, paving the way for collaboration. Over time, my “borrowing” turned into original insights, but the foundation remained the same: radical transparency.

Start by acknowledging the experts whose work informs yours—cite one in your next article or pitch, then add your new angle. Be crystal-clear about what you charge and your deliverables so clients know there are no surprises. At your next meeting or blog post, admit one recent mistake and ask for feedback. When you share failures alongside successes, you spark trust faster than any marketing claim ever could. Give it a try in your next conversation.