Read the post here
🔍 Episode Summary:
In this episode, we explore the hidden collapse beneath the headlines—what I call a trust recession. It's not just about economics. It's about broken promises, fading clarity, and the emotional cost of leadership that stops listening.
We begin with the RKYC framework—Really Know Your Customer (or Citizen)—and how Trump’s early success came from doing just that. But when leaders stop updating their understanding of the people they serve, trust erodes one micro-moment at a time.
Through the lens of the 12 Utilities, we map how people measure whether an experience, product, or policy is worth their time, energy, and belief. We then explore the PERMAH model—a breakdown of human flourishing—and how its decline mirrors our current cultural and psychological exhaustion.
Finally, we reverse-engineer the Admiration Equation, unpacking how awe can shift to fear, and what happens when spectacle becomes a threat, not a source of wonder.
🧠 RKYC
🔧 The 12 Utilities
🌱 PERMAH and the collapse of flourishing
🌟 Admiration vs. fear—why emotional leadership matters more than ever
🎧 Takeaways:
Trust is measurable.
Fear masquerading as awe is unsustainable.
Admiration is not optional—it’s the emotional ROI of leadership.
To rebuild, we must listen again. Not for applause, but for alignment.
🧩 Referenced Frameworks:
RKYC: Really Know Your Customer (or Citizen)
The 12 Utilities: How people mentally score trust and usefulness
PERMAH: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement, Health
The Admiration Equation: Skill, Goodness, Awe, Gratitude
📘 Quote to Remember:
“There’s a thin line between awe and fear. Awe pulls us into something bigger. Fear repels us from it.”
💬 Let’s Discuss:
Where do you see trust breaking down in your own life or work?
What kind of leadership evokes awe without fear?
What does it mean to really listen right now?
🎧 Subscribe for More:
This is the first in a series on emotional economics, transformational leadership, and the future of trust. Up next: The Cost of Uncertainty.
Share this post