When a Stranger Flies 4,000 Miles Just to Give You Back Your Past

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When a Stranger Flies 4,000 Miles Just to Give You Back Your Past

The Extraordinary Baseball Story That Reveals the Hidden Power of Trust

Picture this: A man in England finds a 1970s Chicago White Sox jacket on eBay. Through careful detective work, he realizes it belonged to former player Eric Soderholm. But here's where the story gets remarkable—instead of trying to profit from his discovery, he flies from England to Chicago for one purpose: to return the jacket to its rightful owner.

No strings attached. No payment expected. Just one human being going to extraordinary lengths to do the right thing for another.

This is what trust in action looks like.

The Trust That Changes Everything

On this week's episode of "Awake in the Network," host John St. Augustine shares this incredible story—and it perfectly illustrates why trust isn't just nice to have in your network. It's everything.

As John discovered through decades in media and business, "Trust is the fundamental piece that keeps you awake in the network. Where destiny happens."

The Hidden Truth About Your Network

Most people think networking is about collecting contacts. They're wrong.

Real networking, what we call Networlding, is built on a foundation so powerful that it can collapse entire marketing cycles, create opportunities out of thin air, and connect you with people who will transform your life.

That foundation is trust.

Why Trust Matters More Than You Think

Consider this: Every time you drive, you're trusting that the person coming toward you—separated only by a thin line of paint—knows what they're doing. You do this automatically, without thinking.

Yet in business and relationships, we often forget the incredible power that trust holds to keep people together.

The Three Types of People in Your Network

Research reveals a startling truth: When surveyed on busy Chicago streets, people reported having far more "Takers" than "Givers" in their networks. But here's what's different about the most successful connectors: they've learned to become "Exchangers."

Exchangers don't just give or take. They build mutually beneficial relationships that generate transformational opportunities for all parties involved.

The Moment Everything Changed

John shares a deeply personal story about when he voluntarily ended his radio show at the height of his career to care for his daughter. In the depths of depression that followed, something remarkable happened: trusted people in his network, like Wayne Dyer, Cheryl Richardson, and Bob Green, reached out to him.

One conversation changed everything. Cheryl Richardson told him, "The problem is you confused what you do with who you are."

The magic happens when you trust the process, even when you can't see where it's leading.

Your Network is Your Net Worth—But Not How You Think

The real value isn't in the number of connections you have; it's in the quality of those connections. It's in the quality of those connections. It's in the depth of trust you've built with people who know you, like you, and are personally invested in seeing you succeed. And when trust becomes the foundation of your network, extraordinary things become ordinary.

The question isn't whether you can afford

Connect with Melissa @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagwilson/
Connect with Billy @ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billydexter/
Connect with John @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-st-augustine-1b3192/