You gain trust when you deliver results.

“You gain trust when you deliver results.” So declared Shinji Kagawa, the craftsman of the football field, whose words shine with wisdom beyond the stadium. In this saying, he touches upon an eternal truth of life and leadership: that trust is not won by promises, nor by empty words, nor by appearances—it is won by results, by the proof of deeds, by the visible fruits of labor. Just as a tree is known by its harvest, so is a man known by the works of his hands.

The ancients taught this truth as law. Words are light as air, but deeds are heavy as stone. To build trust is not to speak of what one will do, but to accomplish what one has vowed. The farmer does not ask for trust in spring, when he sows his seeds; he earns it in autumn, when the barns are full. So too with men and women in every field of life. Promises may charm, but only results endure. This is the wisdom Kagawa, seasoned by the discipline of sport, offered to the world.

History is filled with examples of this principle. Consider Julius Caesar. When he marched across the Rubicon, many doubted him, many feared him. Yet he delivered victory after victory, not only in war but in governance, reform, and vision. Whatever men thought of his ambition, they trusted his ability—for he proved it again and again through results. Contrast him with leaders who spoke boldly but achieved nothing; their names vanish into dust, while his endures, because trust clung to him through deeds, not words.

In a different age, we see this in Florence Nightingale. She entered the Crimean War with little more than conviction, facing doubt and ridicule from officials. But when she reduced death rates in the hospitals, when the soldiers saw her walking the halls by lamplight, bringing care and order, she won their trust forever. She did not ask for loyalty—she earned it, for she delivered what none expected. Her results built faith, and her faith became legacy.

The meaning of Kagawa’s words is clear: trust is not a gift; it is a currency. It must be paid for with action, with perseverance, with achievement. Empty boasts and hollow gestures may impress for a moment, but when trials come, they collapse. Only those who have proven themselves in the fire of action stand firm, because their results testify in their defense. Thus, trust is not merely spoken into existence—it is built, stone upon stone, by deeds fulfilled.

The lesson for us is both stern and empowering. Do not seek trust by begging for it, nor by dressing in appearances. Seek it by doing the work, by completing the task, by standing firm when others falter. Whether in family, in friendship, in labor, or in leadership, your results are your true voice, louder than promises, more enduring than flattery. Deliver them, and trust will come of its own accord, as surely as day follows night.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, remember this teaching: trust is earned, not granted. Do not rest upon words alone. Let your actions be your proof, your achievements your shield, your results your testimony. Strive diligently, follow through, complete what you begin—and you will find that loyalty, respect, and trust will gather around you like an unbreakable crown. For the world believes not in what you say, but in what you do.