Sunday Setup
A weekly newsletter to help get your mind set up for a positive workweek.
03.23.2025 — Take My Wife, Please
Iron Legs
It's no doubt the gig economy is here to stay, especially now that loyalty is in short supply amongst large and small companies alike. Low pay, high prices, and large layoffs have forced people to carve out new careers performing short-term, temporary projects to make ends meet. So, how do you stand out when so many are doing the same thing? You find a niche.
A 26 year-old Chinese man has done just that by offering to carry fatigued women to the top of Mount Tai, a popular tourist attraction in Shandong Province, China. Xiao Chen seized the opportunity to help 25-40 year-old women complete the 4-6 hour climb up 6,600 steps by charging $83 to serve as a climbing companion. He could probably hit American tourists with a weight-based tariff given that 42% of U.S. adults are obese, but that's a topic for another day.
Twice a day Chen walks alongside female clients, holding their hands as they ascend the mountain, until the final 1,000 steps. At that point, he throws them over his shoulder like a fireman and carries them all the way up to the summit. It's probably ok for him to skip leg day at the gym.
Instead of swiping right, Chen has been swooping up, raking in more than $6,400 a month as a riskshaw sherpa. I've been out of the dating game for more than two decades, but I gotta imagine there's an easier way to meet women these days. Regardless, as impressive as Chen's physical feat may be, what's more impressive is his ability to get random women to trust him. Forget convincing her to share her real name, this guy has to convince a woman to share her real weight.
Apparently his legs aren't the only body part metaphorically infused with a strong metallic substance.
Trust: The Process
A sign of a good relationship — personal or professional — is a strong bond of trust between the parties involved. And while that often unspoken understanding of "I know you've got my back like I've got yours" may be intangible, it can still be palpable.
When it comes to the workplace, the process of building trust is paramount to team success, and like building a new road, you gotta start somewhere. A first step may be to "clear obstacles to prime the land for construction." It may be a little rocky at first, but as you and your construction compadres continue to work together, the road eventually smooths out. After a while, when you turn around to review progress, you'll notice that short, rocky road has morphed into a long, smoothly-paved path, thanks to a rich history of respect-affirming collective experiences.
As a member of a team, you have to trust that your teammates can — and will — complete their responsibilities in a timely manner, even if they don't do things exactly the way you think they should. As a manager, you need to trust those that report to you are professional adults capable of completing the tasks they were hired to complete without being micromanaged. And as a subordinate, you have to trust that your manager can provide the necessary guidance and support to help you get the job done, and maybe even help advance your career. However, if Taylor is too overwhelmed or indifferent to see and nurture your potential, you have to trust yourself to successfully chart your own path.
Regardless of where you fall in the pecking order within your organization, there's no escaping the concept of trust. And as we all know, trust can take forever to build but be lost in an instant. The absence of trust in the workplace can heighten anxiety, lower confidence, and breed contempt. Once rampant second guessing enters stage left, quality assurance exits stage right, and that's no good for anyone.
Without trust — in any relationship — success will undoubtedly be compromised. As you approach your work this week, be mindful of the fleeting nature of trust and the role it plays in your ability to be successful. Try your best to pair candid communication with diligent execution to protect the trust you've earned and grant others the trust they deserve.
Trust me, everyone will benefit in the end — especially the intended beneficiaries of your work.