“My see” were the words my two-year-old daughter, Maggie, used as she extended her arms toward an older woman sitting in the window seat on a spring-break flight to Mexico. The adult translation of those words is “Excuse me, ma’am, your window seat is better than my middle seat. I would really love to jump on your lap so I can look out that window.”

This woman was obviously well versed in the language of baby babble and knew exactly what Maggie was saying. She pulled up the armrest, held out her arms, and without hesitation, Maggie plopped onto her lap. They then began cloud gazing while getting to know each other.

My first reaction was one of hesitation. After all, I was a product of the “don’t talk to strangers” era, and not only was Maggie “talking,” she was bouncing on the knee of a complete stranger. My second reaction was thinking there was no way that woman could want my drooling two-year-old climbing all over her. After several minutes, Maggie waved bye-bye to the woman and happily went back to her Barney video. But this was only the beginning.

Throughout the week Maggie sat in several more laps, high-fived countless strangers and waved kisses to a dozen or more people she had gotten to know. I began thinking, at what point would Maggie become weary of new faces, put her guard up and perhaps stop trusting people she didn’t know? At what point would strangers stop randomly smiling at, waving at and openly trusting her?

Then I thought, what a shame. Why does it all have to end? Well, maybe it doesn’t. While I don’t expect strangers to randomly pinch our cheeks and blow us kisses walking down the street, maybe there is something we can do that will make people want to open up to us more. Because if they open up to us more, we can then learn more, influence more and serve more. So how do we do gain access to the hearts and minds of as many people as possible?

Kid Lesson #1: Trust others as you did when you didn’t know any better.

Trust others, and they will trust you. It’s a nice little game of give and take. If your defenses are always up and you’re skeptical of others’ intentions, their defenses will be up and they will be skeptical of your intentions. So right now, think of one person you are reluctant to trust and trust him or her. Make the first move. You might get burned. But when you open your doors, more good than bad will enter. And surrounded by more good than ever, you can return to a time when, like Maggie, people felt more compelled to smile at you, laugh with you and let you know that their day was better because you helped them “look out the window and into the clouds” for a bit.

Kid Lesson #2: Put yourself “out there” by being fearless.

Sure, most kids are afraid of things such as green beans and cough syrup, but like Maggie, most have no problem “cold calling” people they don’t know. Why? Because they don’t yet have a fear of rejection. The most successful salespeople and business leaders attack opportunities that average performers deem outlandish.

So think of three business opportunities or potential customers whom others think you have no chance of getting. Then identify the highest person in the decision-making chain and make the call, pay a visit or send the creative email—just put yourself out there. And take comfort in knowing the top is not crowded. Most of your competition is too scared to take the risk that you are about to take.

Kid Lesson #3: Give access to expect access.

Kids will not only talk to anybody, but they will let just about anybody talk to them. How about you? Will you give access to just about anybody? Let’s face it, we are all busy and don’t have a ton of time to burn every day. But if you expect people to call you back (access), you better be someone who calls others back. If you expect that high-level decision maker to let you in, you better let that salesperson calling on you “in.”

IN THE END

So there you have it, kids. Let’s turn back the clock by trusting more, fearing less and opening ourselves up to those who need us. By acting in this childish manner, you will find yourself with a lot more customers, contacts and friends than you ever dreamed possible.