Absolutely, building genuine relationships takes time and effort, but the authenticity and trust you gain are invaluable in the long run. While shortcuts might offer quicker results, they often come at the cost of credibility and reputation. It's about playing the long game and leaving a positive legacy.

if you've been around any length of time in this space then you've had an opportunity to do something shady or wrong to make some quick and dirty money

what you do in those situations is what your reputation becomes here - don't ruin your future earning power and relationships by trying to make quick money

Think of your reputation as your online credit score.  Don't burn it for a quick buck - the interest rates on "shady" loans are astronomical! 
