his whole life and I'm grateful to be able to share this foreword to a tremendous book that has the potential to shift your thinking and impact the rest of your life. Not only am I related to David, but I've also worked with him in a variety of capacities, and I truly trust him. Not only because of our shared parentage. Not only because he has sterling character. Yes, character is essential to credibility but so is competence, and David offers towering competence– his unique insight, capabilities, perspective, and expertise. Those who have worked with and for him routinely describe him as the best leader they've ever encountered. Plus, he is such fun to be around! David is very real, cares profoundly for people, and makes everything so enjoyable.
Stephan is a French Texan with a deep soul and strong propensity for Smart Trust. I lovingly call him the International Man of Mystery because he has traveled so much, seen so much, and quietly done so much to improve people and organizations all around the world. He is David's equal in character and competence, and he has a curator's instinct for what's distinctive and insightful. Let me share a story that illustrates Stephan's can-do beliefs and strong abilities to trust wisely. When launching The Speed of Trust, I met with Stephan to explore having his company distribute our program internationally. Stephan listened closely, asked a couple of questions, and extended his hand, saying, “This will be big. Let's do this. I trust you. We'll figure it out.” That was it! No long drawn-out negotiations and endless cycles of back-and-forth legal agreements. (Yes, we did later work out the details of a business decision that was founded on this short, 30-minute meeting.) My experience with Stephan powerfully confirms the principles that are expressed in my work regarding trust.
Together David and Stephan are a great team and have been for years. This book is a product of their complementary strengths. They are both “make it happen” people. Both consistently deliver results. Both have an entrepreneurial edge, great business instincts, inspiring leadership skills, and the ability to naturally extend trust. They believe in people and balance a propensity to trust with good thinking and analysis, resulting in wise judgment. It doesn't surprise me they would write a story to illustrate the principles that will help you succeed in your work and life – both men value fewer words, greater action, and learning fast and forward.
Now let me tell you about the marvelous read you're about to experience.
To avoid a trap you need to see it. You will vicariously experience the awakening of the main character, Alex, as he comes to realize through the coaching of a family friend, Victoria, that he has foolishly been caught in what David and Stephan have termed “The 7 Hidden Obstacles to Success.” The impact in Alex's world is not only felt in his career – it affects him even more in his personal and family life. These 7 Traps are seductive, enticing, and not always obvious. Fortunately, Alex chooses to extricate himself from these traps – but the purpose of the story isn't to experience the relief of Alex's change – it's to shine a light on how these common 7 Traps may enslave each of us.
You may not have fallen into all of these traps, but unaware, you – or someone you care about – may wander into them and be imprisoned, harmed, or limited. At a minimum, you or they will be knocked off the path of achieving what you could accomplish and become. Like Alex in this story, you will see that it takes time to escape from these traps, but it is possible to make your way out.
For each of the 7 Traps they've identified, David and Stephan reveal a corresponding “epiphany breakthrough.” For followers of our father Stephen R. Covey's work, it's another term for what he called a “paradigm shift” – and I know that paradigms can shift. These epiphanies are not just moments of clarity – they can transform every succeeding moment. Our father used to reference Thomas Kuhn's book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and how most breakthroughs in science were truly “break-withs” – that is, they were a courageous break with traditional ways of thinking. And that's precisely what David and Stephan have done with these traps: rather than lean on current conventional wisdom, they offer eureka-like approaches to help you see – and choose – a new way forward so you can both get out of the traps and avoid them in the future.
You might wonder where these 7 Traps and their corresponding epiphanies come from. What if you could read hundreds of books on improving human and organizational performance? What if you could talk in depth with their authors? What if you could participate in their programs? What if you could interview hundreds of independent business owners in dozens of countries about the challenges they face in growing their businesses and impacting their communities and nations? Stephan and David have done just that. They are partners in a business, SMCOV, that helps authors and training companies take and scale their ideas and approaches (through both books and programs) to global audiences. This remarkable experience, combined with past senior leadership roles at FranklinCovey, DOOR International, and Raytheon Learning, provides a very practical approach to the vital challenges that beset so many of us today.
You are in good hands with these two. They know what they're talking about. The 7 Traps are real and will capture the unaware and foolish. It reminds me of my work with trust and how people don't realize its importance until they experience it themselves. I believe you'll find that this story, and the traps it illustrates, will truly affect your behavior, your joy, and thereby the outcome of your career and life.
Perhaps the greatest gift of this book is hope. If, like the protagonist of this story, you find yourself in one or more of these traps you may wish you had never fallen into it, it's important to realize that you can get out. And stay out. And help the people you care about do the same. In the process of doing so, you will earn the dividend of increased self-confidence – greater self-trust – enabling you to become and give to others a truly great gift: a person they can trust.
PART 1
ALEX'S STORY
THE STORY BEGINS
An irrepressible smile spread across Alex's face as he lightly tapped the accelerator of his brand-new luxury convertible. The shiny black car leapt smoothly from 0 to 60 mph with a burst of power that sent his head reeling.
“Now this is really living,” he mused as he merged into the fast lane on the interstate. “Nothing quite like the smell of new leather.”
The Southern California sun blazed, and the wind whipped through his hair as he put the top down with one click of a button. Catching a glimpse of himself in the rearview mirror, he was struck by his reflection. Looking good. He felt younger than he had in a long time.
The drive home ended all too soon. In no time at all he pulled his sparkling new acquisition to a stop in front of his home in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood. Wouldn't his wife and kids be thrilled with his flashy new purchase! He couldn't wait to see their reaction when he boasted about his latest coup – a deal that had been too good to refuse. One minute he had been on a test drive, the next he was talking about a down payment…before he knew what had happened he was driving his new car off the lot!
Alex bounded up the front steps and through the front door with the energy of a man half his age.
“Kim, kids, get out here, there's something I've got to show you!” he exclaimed.
His two teenagers, lounging in the front room, barely raised their heads to acknowledge their father. Kim looked up from the desk where she was seated, poring over the family's finances, with an inquiring look on her face.
“What's all the excitement about?” she asked.
“Come on, you've got to see this,” he said. He grabbed her hand and nearly dragged her out the front door.
He
