JAN 3, 2012 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Dave Horsager - The Trust Edge
The Currency of Life is TRUST. Author and motivational speaker David Horsager ignited passion and provocative fuel for thought to kick off St. Paul Rotary’s 102nd Year.
President Doug Bruce greeted the new Rotary year with assistance from:
Song Leader: David Laird
Piano: Doug Hartford 
Invocation: Steve Nyhus
Introductions: Trixie Golberg
Scribe & Happy Dollars: Jim Kosmo
Greeters: Mick White & Claude Hone
John Andrews revealed club election results, Mark Stutrud presented new member Allyson Hartle, and Bob Cardinal. introduced today’s speaker.
Everything we value in life is rooted in TRUST, according to David Horsager, a St. Paul-based author and speaker who counsels business leaders throughout the world. “Trust is not a soft skill,” he said. “Ask Tiger Woods.”
Trust, or lack of trust, affects relationships, sales and success. When news of the Penn State football program’s sex scandal exploded the University lost more than $1 million in gifts before noon and stands to take far greater losses in dollars and confidence because of a systematic breach in trust.
Horsager noted that the converse works as well. Trust may take a long time to acquire but once secured it is more valuable than money. His research revealed that people are willing to pay more for a trusted brand while “mistrust more than doubles costs.”
In his book, The Trust Edge, Horsager prescribes a formula for success in business and life through his eight Pillars of TRUST:
CLARITY
People trust the clear and mistrust the ambiguous. “When people have a clear vision they are successful,” he said. “Rotary’s Polio Plus Campaign works because we can see it clearly and there is a consistent goal. Clear vision is why people do things differently.”
COMPASSION
People put faith in those who care beyond themselves; e.g., “Service Above Self.”
CHARACTER
People notice those who do right over what is easy. “Do what you say even when no one is looking.” He noted that it is even more important to retain trust in yourself.
COMPETENCY
People have confidence in those who stay fresh, relevant, and capable.
COMMITMENT
People believe in those who stand through adversity.
CONNECTION
People want to follow, buy from and be around friends.
CONTRIBUTION
People immediately respond to results.
CONSISTENCY
People love to see the little things done consistently. People don’t like moody people and they especially don’t like surprises. “You are the sum of your life decisions,” he said. “There is no power in anything unless it is consistent.”
He stressed the need for Difference Making Actions—Listen, Appreciate and Wake Up. Listening is a critical, little used skill, he said, noting that “call waiting is the dumbest thing ever invented. Never be interrupted when you are talking to someone.”
The greatest need of humans is to be appreciated. Send notes, give heart-felt comments of praise and appreciation for small deeds, but be sure to personalize your comments.
Wake Up, be present. “We will spend most of our lives in the future, but the only place we live is now.” He pointed to the Caribou Coffee motto, “Life is short, stay awake for it” as a perfect mantra for success.
Horsager’s book and leadership tools are available through his website: www.davidhorsager.com.
Jim Kosmo, Scribe