Trust is all.  I'm in Washington, DC, at this moment listening to some very smart people talk about transparency, data, government and how predictive analytics will replace investigative journalism. Each of the very smart talking heads (writer Steven Baker, technology expert Stephen Brobst, transparency expert Steve Horn from Dow Jones) is acknowledging that ultimately to be able to effectively apply information, the managers of data, or The Numerati as Baker calls them, will also need to deliver trust.  (This is at a luncheon sponsored by our client, Teradata, at their annual users' conference.)  Trust is the lifeblood of data-based decision-making, not only for rendering the information that accumulated data delivers credible but more importantly, in gaining the acceptance of real human beings to accept the conclusions that  that same data predict.
But engendering and earning trust is also one of the few guiding principles for life that one should never shirk. Because I promised Charles Green that I would help spread the word about his Trust Summit taking place this Friday in New York at the Harvard Club, and because Charles Green is not only a TheCustomerCollective featured blogger but is a walking synonym for trust in all aspects of business, I could not let him down.  (That would be like inviting Martha Stewart to your house and giving her processed food.)  I've also been asked to moderate this amazing line-up of social media and business philosopher kings, who include the legendary Chris Brogan, writer (along with Charles of The Trusted Advisor)  David Maister, and online community expert Julien Smith, which is no small honor.
Like many of you, I'm curious to see how trust, social media and online community not only make for a better planet but also create business value. Please join us, add your input, and weigh in on one of the most important issues facing businesses today.