RECIPROCITY AS HUMAN SOURCE CODE
“reciprocity is source code. you can't turn it off. use it on yourself.”
The Lesson
Reciprocity is like the source code of human behavior. We are wired to reciprocate. If someone does something for you, it creates a feeling that you should do something for them. Salespeople use this with free gifts and lunches. Even knowing it's manipulation, it still works. You can't turn it off. Key insight: when having a bad day (depressed, anxious, sad), do something for somebody else you care about. The reciprocity circuit activates and improves your state. Helping others is the fastest way to help yourself.
Real-World Example
A founder is having an anxiety spiral before a big pitch. Instead of trying to calm down directly, they text a friend struggling with job search: some specific advice and an introduction to a contact. Within minutes, their own anxiety decreases. The reciprocity circuit doesn't care that they did it strategically. It still releases the feel-good chemicals. They go into the pitch calmer and more grounded.
Watch Scott explain this lesson
Watch Lesson on Locals →