Practical Examples of Trust and Verification

"Assume nothing, trust nothing, and verify everything!” If you are a testing and commissioning tech or engineer, you’ve likely heard this quote—or a similar one—from grizzled field vets or it may even be a core principle of your human performance and safety program. I recently read about an industry incident involving a seasoned protection engineer testing relays at a 138 kV substation after a CT replacement project. Confident in his team’s work, he relied on the original schematics and skipped phasing and polarity verification, assuming the CTs were wired correctly. Days later, a transmission line fault occurred. The directional overcurrent relay failed to trip, triggering a cascading outage that blacked out thousands of customers. Why? The substation crew had modified the CT circuits during an upgrade but failed to update the drawings. The engineer, assuming the old schematics were valid, unknowingly left the relay misconfigured due to incorrect CT polarities—leading to equipment damage and a localized outage. This incident reinforces a critical lesson: experience is no substitute for rigorous verification. Industry protocols now emphasize cross checking every connection, even in familiar systems. As one pro said, “Complacency is the silent saboteur of safety.” This engineer’s story is a gut-punch reminder that in protection systems, trust is earned through methodical validation, not assumptions!  Ever catch yourself or a coworker assuming on a substation job?

Reimagining Compliance, Trust and TPRM: Could Blockchain End Our Reliance on PDFs, Screenshots and Questionnaires? ⛓️ Why not use proof instead of trust. And what if instead of trusting auditors, we also trust math? 🔢 Who trusts Attestations and Certifications? 📋 SOC 2 provides trust. You also require trust. You trust that: - The vendor implemented what they claimed (lol, sure) - The auditor properly validated those claims (with screenshots, of course) - Controls haven't degraded since assessment (infrastructure never changes) - Documentation reflects reality (boilerplate policies FTW) But in security, trust isn't a strategy - verification is. Blockchain Security Validation: Trust the Proof ⛓️ Imagine replacing subjective assessment with cryptographic verification: - Configuration states are validated and cryptographically signed - Results immutably recorded on blockchain, evidence are now tamper-proofed - Smart contracts can validate controls automatically against predefined criteria - You can check historical record showing continuous compliance, - Easy real-time alerting when controls drift from attested state Rather than an auditor telling you that "encryption is used," the system would cryptographically verify that "TLS 1.3 is correctly implemented on all endpoints with no deprecated ciphers." Documentation Theatre to Verifiable Security 🎭 This transforms security attestation from paperwork exercise to mathematical proof: - Customers verify cryptographic evidence instead of reading through lengthy massaged control language - Vendors can prove continuous compliance, not just during audit cycles - Configuration drift triggers immediate alerts, not annual findings - Technical teams focus on implementation, not documentation - Customers can check control effectiveness without seeing sensitive implementation details, preserving vendor confidentiality The blockchain creates a permanent, verifiable history addressing both trust issues and point-in-time limitations of current attestations. Why This Matters 🎯 By bridging the documentation-reality gap with cryptographic proof, we eliminate the need for sample-based shallow testing. Imagine never having to answer "Do you have MFA?" again because customers can verify your MFA implementation themselves. The Path Forward 🚀 This isn't woo-woo - the building blocks exist today. We have: - Secure enclave technologies for sensitive validation - Smart contract platforms for attestation logic - API-driven cloud environments ready for integration - Zero-knowledge proofs for private verification What's missing is standardisation and ecosystem adoption. The first vendor to implement this model won't just streamline compliance/audit - they'll fundamentally change TPRM/customer trust dynamics. PS: This wouldn't work for all controls, lots of legal liability to work through, etc. #GRCEngineering

Trust, But Verify A Firsthand Look at Oil & Gas Investment Due Diligence In the world of alternative investments, trust is essential—but verification is non-negotiable. You should never be a passive investor, especially before you write a check. It’s your responsibility to do your homework and perform due diligence. Go beyond just reviewing the pitch deck or attending a webinar. Dig into the material, ask hard questions, meet the people behind the deal, and—if possible—visit the site. There are a lot of things you should do before committing your capital, and the more thorough you are, the better your investment decisions will be. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit an oil field firsthand to verify the details of an investment opportunity. This wasn’t just about reviewing projections or reading geological reports; it was about seeing the operation, speaking with field experts, and assessing risks on the ground. What I Looked for On-Site 1. Production Infrastructure & Maintenance – A well-run site reflects operational efficiency. Are the wells in good condition? Are the pipelines and equipment well maintained? 2. Geological & Engineering Reports vs. Reality – Reports tell one story, but do the reserves, drilling plans, and production rates align with real-world conditions? 3. Operator Track Record – The experience and integrity of the operators matter. Have they successfully managed similar projects? Are they transparent about potential risks? 4. Regulatory & Environmental Compliance – Permits, environmental safeguards, and adherence to state regulations are critical indicators of long-term viability. Why This Matters for Investors Too often, passive investors rely solely on pitch materials and financial models. While these are important, they don’t tell the whole story. Physically verifying an investment—or ensuring your investment partner does—can be the difference between a calculated risk and an uninformed gamble. This visit reinforced an essential principle: A great investment isn’t just about numbers—it’s about execution, management, and integrity. Final Takeaway: Be an Active Investor with the goal of passive income. If you’re investing in oil & gas, multifamily, or any alternative asset class, ask yourself: ✅ Who is managing my investment? ✅ Are their assumptions backed by reality? ✅ Have I (or my trusted partner) verified the details firsthand? The best deals stand up to scrutiny. Trust, but always verify. Would love to hear from fellow investors—what’s your approach to due diligence? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Be careful who you trust. Sugar and salt look the same. The cost of misplaced trust? → A startup founder loses everything when their "visionary" co-founder vanishes with company assets → A seasoned exec gets blindsided by a mentee they advocated for, who just orchestrated their replacement (!) → A family office loses $50M when a trusted nephew's "guaranteed" investment turns out to be an elaborate Ponzi scheme → A leader's reputation gets shattered by confidential information leaked by a "trusted" colleague Here's what psychology & neuroscience reveal about trustworthiness (beyond my usual "ALWAYS trust your gut" advice): 𝟴 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀: 1. Watch for micro-expressions during surprise. Studies show genuine surprise lasts 0.5-4 seconds. Anything longer? Likely performative. 2. Notice their follow-through on small details People who regularly "forget" minor commitments (returning calls, sending promised resources) have a 70% higher likelihood of major accountability issues. 3. Study how they talk about others' success Research shows those who can *genuinely celebrate others have higher empathy & lower dark triad traits. (Know the difference when that smile is fake and through gritted teeth, listen to the tone of voice - it says everything). 4. Observe their behavior under MINOR stress The coffee spill test: Their reaction to small inconveniences reveals more than their pitch deck. 5. Track their consistency across contexts Harvard research: Truly trustworthy people maintain the same core values whether talking to the CEO or the custodian. 6. Notice their relationship with mistakes The most reliable predictor? How quickly they own their errors vs how creatively they explain them away. When someone starts dancing through a straight answer with me and falling over their words - I know they are full of sh*t. (I just let them dance in it). I ask a few questions, let them continue to dance. Listen to every word said. Analyze. 7. Monitor their information sharing patterns Trustworthy people respect boundaries - they don't trade others' stories for social currency. 8. Pay attention to their promises vs patterns Psychology shows past behavior predicts future behavior 80% more accurately than promises. Trust isn't about eliminating risk - It's about making calculated decisions with clear eyes. The most expensive real estate isn't in Manhattan or Miami. It's the space you give people in your inner circle. Choose wisely. ***** ➕Follow Dawn Marie La Monica, JD for more evidence-based insights on leadership, legacy & psychology ♻️Share if this helped you think differently about trust 🤓Curious about this cat? check out the Featured section of my profile for how I help family offices & corporates

Trust signals improved conversions by 30% in 2 weeks. Here’s how we turned skepticism into sales in just 14 days. Our partner, a company selling innovative hunting gear designed to cloak the wearer’s bioelectric signature from prey, was facing a major hurdle. Their visitors didn't trust their product. Their product (while effective) was met with a ton of skepticism, especially on first contact. This was affecting their conversion rate, largely because their website wasn’t prominently showcasing reviews, security badges, or other trust signals that could reduce hesitation from potential buyers. To tackle this, we focused on one key element: building trust with their website visitors. We took the following steps: 1. Added customer reviews and testimonials directly on product pages to establish credibility. 2. Displayed security and payment assurance badges throughout the site to reassure users of safe transactions. 3. Conducted an A/B test to measure how these changes impacted the conversion rate. What we implemented was simple, yet incredibly effective. We made reviews and trust signals easily visible and strategically placed across key areas on the website. The results were almost immediate. In just two weeks, we saw a 30% increase in conversion rate. This led to a 34.5% increase in revenue per visitor, amounting to an additional $30,000 in revenue per month. A large number of their skeptical visitors became confident, paying customers. This case is a perfect example of how crucial trust signals are in e-commerce. By addressing hesitation head-on and showcasing credibility, we saw tangible results. A simple reminder: Keep reviews and security badges visible, and eliminate skepticism wherever possible. Have you implemented similar strategies to build trust and improve conversions?

#TechTuesday: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴? Let’s take a real-world example. An ultrasound machine, not the technician or hospital staff, issues a Verifiable Credential (VC) with a timestamp, the scan report, and a signature tied to its own Decentralized Identifier (DID). This one small shift reduces tampering, removes unnecessary human handling, and establishes machine-originated trust at the source. No paperwork trails. No misplaced files. No fraudulent insertions. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: • Proof of pregnancy, issued directly by the scanning device. • Vehicle behavior data, auto-issued by the telematics chip • Water or power usage, attested by the smart meter, not someone reading it manually. • A coffee machine dispensing based on the number of beverages allotted to an employee per day. 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚 𝙑𝘾𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: • Even in blockchain-based systems, fraud can enter before the data hits the chain.  • If the source of that data is compromised or manually faked, it doesn't matter how secure the ledger is. That’s why we need a layered trust model:  ✅ Machine-issued VCs  ✅ Human attestations  ✅ Cross-verification with other devices or registries 𝙀𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙩. We’re not far. The tech is already here. The real question is: are our institutions ready to let trust begin at the machine level? #TechTuesday #IoT #VerifiableCredentials #DID #DecentralizedIdentity #DigitalGovernance #MachineTrust #Soulverse

We often hear that integrity is foundational to building trust, but how do daily, seemingly minor actions or omissions affect this dynamic? Here are everyday scenarios showcasing how a demonstration of integrity breeds trust, while a lack thereof plants seeds of distrust: Reporting Errors: • Trust: Promptly admitting to a mistake in a monthly report before it affects the team. • Distrust: Choosing to hide the error, hoping no one will notice. Handling Confidential Information: • Trust: Keeping a colleague’s disclosed personal situation confidential, even when not explicitly asked to. • Distrust: Sharing sensitive information about a colleague in a team chat, underestimating its personal value. Meeting Deadlines: • Trust: Communicating proactively about a potential delay in a shared task, giving your colleague time to adjust. • Distrust: Repeatedly missing deadlines without forewarning, causing your colleague to scramble last minute. Supporting Each Other: • Trust: Publicly crediting a colleague for their idea that contributed to a project’s success. • Distrust: Taking full credit or neglecting to share credit for a project’s success when it was a collaborative effort. Managing Workload: • Trust: Volunteering to help a swamped colleague with their workload without being prompted. • Distrust: Watching a colleague struggle with an overload and not offering to help, prioritizing personal ease. Acknowledging Input: • Trust: Acknowledging receipt and thanking a colleague for their input on a document even if no major changes were made based on it. • Distrust: Ignoring a colleague’s contribution, making them feel undervalued and hesitant to contribute in the future. Each example underscores small yet profound ways integrity, or the lack thereof, can subtly influence the fabric of trust within a team. It’s clear that integrity is not just about the monumental moments but is often most meaningful in the everyday. So, let’s hear it: How do you ensure your actions build rather than erode this trust? https://lnkd.in/e7SRH9Cx