Peter D. Kaufman

Do you think we can bank on that?

Well, 100% we can bank on that.

Simple does not mean simplistic.

A principle verified across 13.7 billion years of evidence is as solid as knowledge as we can get.

And Peter uses what he calls the elevator example to illustrate mirrored reciprocation.

So you're standing in the front of an elevator, the door opens and inside walks a stranger you've never met.

So you step in.

You have three choices in that moment.

Choice number one is you can smile and say good morning.

Peter claims that in California, 98% of the time a stranger will smile and say good morning right back.

Choice number two is you can scowl and hiss at the stranger for no reason.

And 98% of the time, the stranger will scowl and hiss back at you.

And choice three is you do nothing.

And this is the choice that most people make.

And you almost always get nothing back.

Whatever you put out, you get back.

But, and this is the crucial insight, you have to go first.

Peter connects this to a pattern he sees everywhere.

This is why these bars are full of people at 2 a.m.

drowning their sorrows.