On the analog face-to-face fronts, I cannot begin to tell of all the times where I felt betrayed by a ranging cast of characters who seemingly have behaved like devils (e.g., attorneys, friends, mentors).

Humans. We are an imperfect bunch by design, but somehow there's perfection in all the noise of screwups.

This section is not about being right or wrong. It is my best advice on learning how to sift through the masses and find those individuals on whom we can count on.

It is very easy to be swayed by looks, personalities, intelligence, degrees, resumes and/or contacts. Yet, years ago, one mentor left me with advice that has served me ever since. To a great extent this man was like Star Trek's Mr. Spock. He operated purely on logic. A venture capitalist had suggested we meet, so after a couple of phone calls (pre e-mail days), we got together for pizza and beer.

"Chuck, I've done business from all corners of the world with all sorts of people from all kinds of backgrounds. These people claimed royal heritage, government licenses, and so forth. Today my approach is to accept them at face value. Whoever they say they are, or whatever they claim to have done or know, etc., I accept it all. Yet, before we part from our meetings, I will make sure that both of us agree to do something, anything. It really doesn't matter. I'll agree to do A, and they B. I'll go home and do my A, and then wait to see if they do their B. I don't care what excuse they throw on the table. If they didn't do their B, I pack up my cards and call it quits. If I can't count on them in the beginning, it only gets worse as we migrate down the path."

At the same meeting, this gentleman also declared his insistence on prompt timing as a guide to validating judgments of others. My dad laughed at me when I got home and told him about my encounter. "Boy did you get lucky," he retorted, knowing that I have a tendency to lean towards Latin American, the indigenous, and concepts of Divine time.

Actually, I totally disregard the concept of timing as a guide to character. Again, it's too easy to get fooled here with people who are always prompt but don't deliver.

I once knew this guy who was heavily into all things about appearances and about power plays. "You seem to have a problem with time," he once stated to me when I showed up five minutes late at his office, in which I had volunteered my time. I smiled and said, "I'm always just in time." This same guy has bounced checks on me and has lied. No, I don't think he is mean-spirited. For whatever reason, he just can't stick to his decisions. Regardless of the reasons, like my mentor advised, this guy just simply does not walk his talk. The last time I saw him, I had done my A's but he had failed to do his B's. Yet, he'll show up on time, every time, or so he claims.   top