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Do you trust me? | Jamie Miles | TEDxImperialCollege


so when I was a child money really

so when I was a child money really confused me I did not understand how you

confused me I did not understand how you

confused me I did not understand how you could give someone a piece of paper and

could give someone a piece of paper and

could give someone a piece of paper and in exchange get a mango smoothie or

in exchange get a mango smoothie or

in exchange get a mango smoothie or whatever it is that you were looking to

whatever it is that you were looking to

whatever it is that you were looking to buy I concluded that this money thing

buy I concluded that this money thing

buy I concluded that this money thing was magic paper and with this magic

was magic paper and with this magic

was magic paper and with this magic paper I think came to realize that it

paper I think came to realize that it

paper I think came to realize that it was magic because of what it represented

was magic because of what it represented

was magic because of what it represented a promise you see with money we believe

a promise you see with money we believe

a promise you see with money we believe and trust in the value of that money

and trust in the value of that money

and trust in the value of that money because other people believe that it is

because other people believe that it is

because other people believe that it is valuable I can now go into a shop and

valuable I can now go into a shop and

valuable I can now go into a shop and give them a piece of paper and you trust

give them a piece of paper and you trust

give them a piece of paper and you trust that I accept your magic piece of paper

that I accept your magic piece of paper

that I accept your magic piece of paper and I trust that you accept my magic

and I trust that you accept my magic

and I trust that you accept my magic piece of paper why is it that we trust

piece of paper why is it that we trust

piece of paper why is it that we trust these things well on that promise we

these things well on that promise we

these things well on that promise we have an institution if you take out a

have an institution if you take out a

have an institution if you take out a note in Edelen you’ll see that on that

note in Edelen you’ll see that on that

note in Edelen you’ll see that on that note it says I promise to pay the bearer

note it says I promise to pay the bearer

note it says I promise to pay the bearer the sum of five ten twenty pounds

the sum of five ten twenty pounds

the sum of five ten twenty pounds whatever that some might be I’m back in

whatever that some might be I’m back in

whatever that some might be I’m back in the day you could go into a bank and you

the day you could go into a bank and you

the day you could go into a bank and you could give them this note and then the

could give them this note and then the

could give them this note and then the clerk would after some rummaging come

clerk would after some rummaging come

clerk would after some rummaging come back with the equivalent value in gold

back with the equivalent value in gold

back with the equivalent value in gold coins but now we don’t have that now

coins but now we don’t have that now

coins but now we don’t have that now there is no gold backing up the money

there is no gold backing up the money

there is no gold backing up the money it truly is just magic paper because now

it truly is just magic paper because now

it truly is just magic paper because now we have something known as fiat currency

we have something known as fiat currency

we have something known as fiat currency as the economists say but why is it that

as the economists say but why is it that

as the economists say but why is it that that still works money is valuable

that still works money is valuable

that still works money is valuable because we value it it is valuable

because we value it it is valuable

because we value it it is valuable because we trust in what it represents

because we trust in what it represents

because we trust in what it represents buying that we have something even more

buying that we have something even more

buying that we have something even more extreme the institutions the

extreme the institutions the

extreme the institutions the institution’s behind us we have say the

institution’s behind us we have say the

institution’s behind us we have say the Bank of England and they allow us to

Bank of England and they allow us to

Bank of England and they allow us to have the trust of money and its values

have the trust of money and its values

have the trust of money and its values so entrenched within our society now

so entrenched within our society now

so entrenched within our society now that money does actually have a physical

that money does actually have a physical

that money does actually have a physical form anymore it exists as a collection

form anymore it exists as a collection

form anymore it exists as a collection of zeros and ones

of zeros and ones

of zeros and ones a server somewhere so that we can go in

a server somewhere so that we can go in

a server somewhere so that we can go in tap and walk out of the shop with our

tap and walk out of the shop with our

tap and walk out of the shop with our new book with absolutely no fear that

new book with absolutely no fear that

new book with absolutely no fear that the security guard might rugby tackle us

the security guard might rugby tackle us

the security guard might rugby tackle us for stealing but why is it that we trust

for stealing but why is it that we trust

for stealing but why is it that we trust those institutions institutions are just

those institutions institutions are just

those institutions institutions are just collections of individuals like you and

collections of individuals like you and

collections of individuals like you and me

me

me why is it that we trust anyone do you

why is it that we trust anyone do you

why is it that we trust anyone do you trust me to trust someone is to

trust me to trust someone is to

trust me to trust someone is to understand what the risks are but go

understand what the risks are but go

understand what the risks are but go through the transaction anyway a

transaction could be something like

transaction could be something like borrowing someone’s camera or lending

borrowing someone’s camera or lending

borrowing someone’s camera or lending your camera to someone and for that we

your camera to someone and for that we

your camera to someone and for that we use different reference points to help

use different reference points to help

use different reference points to help us understand what the risks are and

us understand what the risks are and

us understand what the risks are and hopefully lower them so for instance

hopefully lower them so for instance

hopefully lower them so for instance someone might be a serial camera Smasher

someone might be a serial camera Smasher

someone might be a serial camera Smasher or they might have really sticky and

or they might have really sticky and

or they might have really sticky and gross belongings he probably won’t to

gross belongings he probably won’t to

gross belongings he probably won’t to give them your belongings to look after

give them your belongings to look after

give them your belongings to look after these are known as trust signals okay so

these are known as trust signals okay so

these are known as trust signals okay so a trust signal they allow us to see

a trust signal they allow us to see

a trust signal they allow us to see whether or not we should depend on

whether or not we should depend on

whether or not we should depend on someone and the reliability and the

someone and the reliability and the

someone and the reliability and the relevance of those trust signals depend

relevance of those trust signals depend

relevance of those trust signals depend on how far away someone is from us where

on how far away someone is from us where

on how far away someone is from us where they sit within our circle of trust and

they sit within our circle of trust and

they sit within our circle of trust and so in your circle of trust you have your

so in your circle of trust you have your

so in your circle of trust you have your inner circle you have your middle circle

inner circle you have your middle circle

inner circle you have your middle circle and you have your outer circle in your

and you have your outer circle in your

and you have your outer circle in your inner circle you have your friends in

inner circle you have your friends in

inner circle you have your friends in your family in the middle circle you

your family in the middle circle you

your family in the middle circle you have your friends of your friends and

have your friends of your friends and

have your friends of your friends and then in the outer circle is the people

then in the outer circle is the people

then in the outer circle is the people who you haven’t met yet the strangers

who you haven’t met yet the strangers

who you haven’t met yet the strangers which I’ll refer to as the stranger

which I’ll refer to as the stranger

which I’ll refer to as the stranger danger same now when we’re trying to

danger same now when we’re trying to

danger same now when we’re trying to figure out whether or not to trust

figure out whether or not to trust

figure out whether or not to trust someone it’s easy in the inner circles

someone it’s easy in the inner circles

someone it’s easy in the inner circles but when it comes to the stranger danger

but when it comes to the stranger danger

but when it comes to the stranger danger zone it becomes far more difficult

zone it becomes far more difficult

zone it becomes far more difficult because we don’t have the firsthand

because we don’t have the firsthand

because we don’t have the firsthand secondhand knowledge so we have to

secondhand knowledge so we have to

secondhand knowledge so we have to depend on less reliable less relevant

depend on less reliable less relevant

depend on less reliable less relevant trust signals to help us understand what

trust signals to help us understand what

trust signals to help us understand what of the risks are that we’re getting

of the risks are that we’re getting

of the risks are that we’re getting involved into things like education

involved into things like education

involved into things like education career nationality gender age those

career nationality gender age those

career nationality gender age those sorts of things we use when trying to

sorts of things we use when trying to

sorts of things we use when trying to inform

inform

inform like should I hire you should I trust

like should I hire you should I trust

like should I hire you should I trust you to vote or should I trust you to

you to vote or should I trust you to

you to vote or should I trust you to rent an apartment from me but just how

rent an apartment from me but just how

rent an apartment from me but just how reliable are those need old forms those

reliable are those need old forms those

reliable are those need old forms those classic forms of trust signals in the

classic forms of trust signals in the

classic forms of trust signals in the world that we exist in today let’s take

world that we exist in today let’s take

world that we exist in today let’s take an example so let’s imagine that you’re

an example so let’s imagine that you’re

an example so let’s imagine that you’re going to buy a book on the internet and

going to buy a book on the internet and

going to buy a book on the internet and on the internet you’re given a profile

on the internet you’re given a profile

on the internet you’re given a profile of someone so we’re going to take four

of someone so we’re going to take four

of someone so we’re going to take four dimensions of an individual that using

dimensions of an individual that using

dimensions of an individual that using these classic signals of trust so I’m

these classic signals of trust so I’m

these classic signals of trust so I’m going to share with you their drop the

going to share with you their drop the

going to share with you their drop the qualification their accommodation and

qualification their accommodation and

qualification their accommodation and their age so the job that no individual

their age so the job that no individual

their age so the job that no individual has is that they are unemployed so the

has is that they are unemployed so the

has is that they are unemployed so the individual is unemployed the

individual is unemployed the

individual is unemployed the qualifications well they didn’t have too

qualifications well they didn’t have too

qualifications well they didn’t have too many in fact they actually have none and

many in fact they actually have none and

many in fact they actually have none and when it comes to their accommodation

when it comes to their accommodation

when it comes to their accommodation they are living in style they actually

they are living in style they actually

they are living in style they actually live with their mom houses parks she

live with their mom houses parks she

live with their mom houses parks she still cooks with you for you but will

still cooks with you for you but will

still cooks with you for you but will forgive them for this because they are

forgive them for this because they are

forgive them for this because they are only 12 years old do you trust this

only 12 years old do you trust this

only 12 years old do you trust this individual would you buy a book from

individual would you buy a book from

individual would you buy a book from this individual probably not but what

this individual probably not but what

this individual probably not but what about if I were to tell you instead that

about if I were to tell you instead that

about if I were to tell you instead that this person had a status of ebay

this person had a status of ebay

this person had a status of ebay powerseller and they had a hundred

powerseller and they had a hundred

powerseller and they had a hundred percent positive feedback and they were

percent positive feedback and they were

percent positive feedback and they were had thousands of reviews that said you

had thousands of reviews that said you

had thousands of reviews that said you know what this book is incredible

know what this book is incredible

know what this book is incredible I do hope that you would trust this

I do hope that you would trust this

I do hope that you would trust this person because this was me this is me

person because this was me this is me

person because this was me this is me when I was 12 and I’m still living at

when I was 12 and I’m still living at

when I was 12 and I’m still living at home with my mother T st. judgment and

home with my mother T st. judgment and

home with my mother T st. judgment and so I was at the age of 12 I’d set up a

so I was at the age of 12 I’d set up a

so I was at the age of 12 I’d set up a business selling a book that taught

business selling a book that taught

business selling a book that taught people how to play a popular video game

people how to play a popular video game

people how to play a popular video game really really well but really well but

really really well but really well but

really really well but really well but you could be a boss at this game if you

you could be a boss at this game if you

you could be a boss at this game if you read my book that’s what one of the

read my book that’s what one of the

read my book that’s what one of the reviews said my favorite and so with

reviews said my favorite and so with

reviews said my favorite and so with that I was able to generate a source of

that I was able to generate a source of

that I was able to generate a source of income it was able to unlock opportunity

income it was able to unlock opportunity

income it was able to unlock opportunity for me that previously would have been

for me that previously would have been

for me that previously would have been prevented because I would have been

prevented because I would have been

prevented because I would have been judged by the fat

judged by the fat

judged by the fat I was living with my mother and I was 12

I was living with my mother and I was 12

I was living with my mother and I was 12 years old and so what we now have are

years old and so what we now have are

years old and so what we now have are these more reliable and more relevant

these more reliable and more relevant

these more reliable and more relevant forms of trust signal that were able to

forms of trust signal that were able to

forms of trust signal that were able to use and the curse of that we’re able to

use and the curse of that we’re able to

use and the curse of that we’re able to open up a whole host of new

open up a whole host of new

open up a whole host of new opportunities but it does call into

opportunities but it does call into

opportunities but it does call into question the validity of the old trust

question the validity of the old trust

question the validity of the old trust signals before when we’re judging people

signals before when we’re judging people

signals before when we’re judging people by their age their career their

by their age their career their

by their age their career their nationality their gender etc we live in

nationality their gender etc we live in

nationality their gender etc we live in a world that excludes far more people

a world that excludes far more people

a world that excludes far more people and doesn’t judge them based on the

and doesn’t judge them based on the

and doesn’t judge them based on the quality of their work

quality of their work

quality of their work so taking another for instance the other

so taking another for instance the other

so taking another for instance the other side of the story the buyer side rather

side of the story the buyer side rather

side of the story the buyer side rather than the seller side one of my friends

than the seller side one of my friends

than the seller side one of my friends was desperately looking for a house

was desperately looking for a house

was desperately looking for a house sitter she was about to go on holiday

sitter she was about to go on holiday

sitter she was about to go on holiday but unfortunately she asked her friend

but unfortunately she asked her friend

but unfortunately she asked her friend she asked her family and absolutely no

she asked her family and absolutely no

she asked her family and absolutely no one was available to help her out and so

one was available to help her out and so

one was available to help her out and so she had to venture into the stranger

she had to venture into the stranger

she had to venture into the stranger danger zone the stranger danger zone

danger zone the stranger danger zone

danger zone the stranger danger zone online looks slightly different to the

online looks slightly different to the

online looks slightly different to the stranger danger zone here in the

stranger danger zone here in the

stranger danger zone here in the physical world because online your stage

physical world because online your stage

physical world because online your stage is not your immediate community it’s the

is not your immediate community it’s the

is not your immediate community it’s the entire world your stage is now global

entire world your stage is now global

entire world your stage is now global and so to draw it a bit more to scale

and so to draw it a bit more to scale

and so to draw it a bit more to scale the stage things only looks a bit more

the stage things only looks a bit more

the stage things only looks a bit more like that and your central heart is more

like that and your central heart is more

like that and your central heart is more in the middle far smaller when it came

in the middle far smaller when it came

in the middle far smaller when it came to the stranger danger zone being this

to the stranger danger zone being this

to the stranger danger zone being this large some of you may be worried but

large some of you may be worried but

large some of you may be worried but that’s what opportunity looks like my

that’s what opportunity looks like my

that’s what opportunity looks like my friend had a host of far more people

friend had a host of far more people

friend had a host of far more people that she could look into and then find

that she could look into and then find

that she could look into and then find her perfect house sitter she could go

her perfect house sitter she could go

her perfect house sitter she could go into websites like trusted house sitters

into websites like trusted house sitters

into websites like trusted house sitters calm and then he see whether or not

calm and then he see whether or not

calm and then he see whether or not there was anyone that she would trust to

there was anyone that she would trust to

there was anyone that she would trust to look after and feed her pet iguana and

look after and feed her pet iguana and

look after and feed her pet iguana and there was a perfect match there are a

there was a perfect match there are a

there was a perfect match there are a whole host of these services now that

whole host of these services now that

whole host of these services now that are allowing you to access services that

are allowing you to access services that

are allowing you to access services that are far more bespoke and have far richer

are far more bespoke and have far richer

are far more bespoke and have far richer a far more reliable trust signals that

a far more reliable trust signals that

a far more reliable trust signals that you can then use to determine whether or

you can then use to determine whether or

you can then use to determine whether or not you want to go through with the

not you want to go through with the

not you want to go through with the transaction whether it’s trying to find

transaction whether it’s trying to find

transaction whether it’s trying to find good investment opportunities or

good investment opportunities or

good investment opportunities or really trying to find someone to teach

really trying to find someone to teach

really trying to find someone to teach you how to play an instrument or do

you how to play an instrument or do

you how to play an instrument or do graphic design for you or quite simply

graphic design for you or quite simply

graphic design for you or quite simply if you want someone’s dog to borrow you

if you want someone’s dog to borrow you

if you want someone’s dog to borrow you can then go online and find someone’s

can then go online and find someone’s

can then go online and find someone’s puppy to play with if when you really

puppy to play with if when you really

puppy to play with if when you really need that as a form of therapy so with

need that as a form of therapy so with

need that as a form of therapy so with this as the new stage on which that were

this as the new stage on which that were

this as the new stage on which that were operating on how do we use these trust

operating on how do we use these trust

operating on how do we use these trust signals to have a seismic effect on our

signals to have a seismic effect on our

signals to have a seismic effect on our society how is it that we drive adoption

society how is it that we drive adoption

society how is it that we drive adoption you see a trust signal is very similar

you see a trust signal is very similar

you see a trust signal is very similar to money a trust signal becomes valuable

to money a trust signal becomes valuable

to money a trust signal becomes valuable because we value it I know the dog is

because we value it I know the dog is

because we value it I know the dog is very cute and so if it is that we

very cute and so if it is that we

very cute and so if it is that we collectively buy into this idea of these

collectively buy into this idea of these

collectively buy into this idea of these trust signals then what we’ll be able to

trust signals then what we’ll be able to

trust signals then what we’ll be able to do is carve out a far more meritocratic

do is carve out a far more meritocratic

do is carve out a far more meritocratic world a world in which we do not use the

world a world in which we do not use the

world a world in which we do not use the old proxies because we have far better

old proxies because we have far better

old proxies because we have far better ones far more relevant ones far ones

ones far more relevant ones far ones

ones far more relevant ones far ones that are closer to the inner part of our

that are closer to the inner part of our

that are closer to the inner part of our trust circle with that we’ll be able to

trust circle with that we’ll be able to

trust circle with that we’ll be able to stop excluding people and biasing our

stop excluding people and biasing our

stop excluding people and biasing our opinion through things such as the old

opinion through things such as the old

opinion through things such as the old proxies of Education career location and

proxies of Education career location and

proxies of Education career location and instead use the far more relevant ones

instead use the far more relevant ones

instead use the far more relevant ones the ones that judge someone based on the

the ones that judge someone based on the

the ones that judge someone based on the quality of their work

there’s a hidden value to doing this and

there’s a hidden value to doing this and it’s one that you don’t actually realize

it’s one that you don’t actually realize

it’s one that you don’t actually realize exists until you take the leap of faith

exists until you take the leap of faith

exists until you take the leap of faith and that’s the kindness of strangers

beginning of this year I became an

beginning of this year I became an Airbnb host and I was terrified I was

Airbnb host and I was terrified I was

Airbnb host and I was terrified I was suddenly strangers into my house and the

suddenly strangers into my house and the

suddenly strangers into my house and the Warriors went through my mind of my

Warriors went through my mind of my

Warriors went through my mind of my common burning down my books being

common burning down my books being

common burning down my books being analyzed or my plants being murdered you

analyzed or my plants being murdered you

analyzed or my plants being murdered you laugh but the the plan that I have I was

laugh but the the plan that I have I was

laugh but the the plan that I have I was particular concerned about was my palm

particular concerned about was my palm

particular concerned about was my palm tree I could spike I mean he’s a pitcher

tree I could spike I mean he’s a pitcher

tree I could spike I mean he’s a pitcher spike

fortunately Spica still alive and the

fortunately Spica still alive and the guests I’ve had today had been

guests I’ve had today had been

guests I’ve had today had been absolutely wonderful and the very first

absolutely wonderful and the very first

absolutely wonderful and the very first guests that I had we ended up having a

guests that I had we ended up having a

guests that I had we ended up having a conversation over dinner and we were

conversation over dinner and we were

conversation over dinner and we were exchanging stories and one of the

exchanging stories and one of the

exchanging stories and one of the stories that I shared was about how when

stories that I shared was about how when

stories that I shared was about how when I was a little boy my dad would call me

I was a little boy my dad would call me

I was a little boy my dad would call me jam instead of Jamie because I used to

jam instead of Jamie because I used to

jam instead of Jamie because I used to love having loads of strawberry jam on

love having loads of strawberry jam on

love having loads of strawberry jam on my toast I used to just kick it on and

my toast I used to just kick it on and

my toast I used to just kick it on and the day that my guests checked out I

the day that my guests checked out I

the day that my guests checked out I came home and sitting on my kitchen

came home and sitting on my kitchen

came home and sitting on my kitchen table waiting for me was this little pot

table waiting for me was this little pot

table waiting for me was this little pot of strawberry jam

of strawberry jam

of strawberry jam and when I look up at my whiteboard and

and when I look up at my whiteboard and

and when I look up at my whiteboard and on the whiteboard

on the whiteboard

on the whiteboard I saw something the previous night I

I saw something the previous night I

I saw something the previous night I told the gasps my favorite animal was a

told the gasps my favorite animal was a

told the gasps my favorite animal was a fox and that my new year’s resolution

fox and that my new year’s resolution

fox and that my new year’s resolution which I’m sort of sticking to is to

which I’m sort of sticking to is to

which I’m sort of sticking to is to learn French to get better at French

learn French to get better at French

learn French to get better at French beyond my GCSE and they’re waiting for

beyond my GCSE and they’re waiting for

beyond my GCSE and they’re waiting for me on the whiteboard was a hand-drawn

me on the whiteboard was a hand-drawn

me on the whiteboard was a hand-drawn picture of a fox that said thank you so

picture of a fox that said thank you so

picture of a fox that said thank you so much for hosting us so well with every

much for hosting us so well with every

much for hosting us so well with every guest that I hosts with every leap of

guest that I hosts with every leap of

guest that I hosts with every leap of faith that I take into the stranger

faith that I take into the stranger

faith that I take into the stranger danger zone I’m reminded of the kindness

danger zone I’m reminded of the kindness

danger zone I’m reminded of the kindness of strangers and it’s being powered by

of strangers and it’s being powered by

of strangers and it’s being powered by these richest signals of trust every

these richest signals of trust every

these richest signals of trust every single gesture has small plots of

single gesture has small plots of

single gesture has small plots of strawberry jam – every single hand-drawn

strawberry jam – every single hand-drawn

strawberry jam – every single hand-drawn Fox if we as a collective take a leap of

Fox if we as a collective take a leap of

Fox if we as a collective take a leap of faith and buy into these neutral signals

faith and buy into these neutral signals

faith and buy into these neutral signals and apply them to multiple areas of our

and apply them to multiple areas of our

and apply them to multiple areas of our lives that previously we weren’t you

lives that previously we weren’t you

lives that previously we weren’t you will uncover a world of far more choice

will uncover a world of far more choice

will uncover a world of far more choice you will unlock a world of far greater

you will unlock a world of far greater

you will unlock a world of far greater opportunity from people all over and

opportunity from people all over and

opportunity from people all over and you’ll discover that the world that we

you’ll discover that the world that we

you’ll discover that the world that we live in

live in

live in it is far kinder than it is scary thank

it is far kinder than it is scary thank

it is far kinder than it is scary thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

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