Leverage Maps #8: Don't Lie To People. Or to Yourself

Back in college, freshman year, I had a team project with one of my teammates being an international student from Africa. It was his first time using Microsoft Word. He barely knew how to use a computer.

The class moved fast. He was falling behind. One day, I told it to him straight. "If you don't get this down, you're going to fall off the train."

He said, "Of course I don't know it. I've never used it before."

I looked him in the eye. "It doesn't matter. Quarter system moves fast. If you put in the work, it'll click. Not right away. But it will."

That experience helped cement what honesty is to me. It's not being nice. It's not pretending. It's not lowering the bar because the situation is hard.

Real honesty is saying what might sting now because it might save them later.

It's integrity that's not just moral. It's also practical. When people know that you'll tell them the truth, that's when the real trust starts to develop. And that trust compounds over time.

Honesty isn't about calling people out. It's about calling them up to greatness.

This post is part of the Leverage Map series. If you enjoyed this insight, follow me and Small Levers Lab for more.