Taking Care of the People Who Take Care of You

It is no secret that I have recently enjoyed some astounding success. In early 2021, a company I founded and self-funded sold for more than a billion dollars. It is an achievement I had barely hoped to dream of for myself, and I still wake up some mornings having to remind myself that it actually happened. I am incredibly grateful for the success, and fully recognize that I could not have gotten there on my own. 

Throughout my life, I have made it a priority to surround myself with people who lift me up rather than drag me down. I spoke a bit about that in my recent piece on Defining My Personal Philosophy. Essentially, I look for intelligent, compassionate, and ambitious people to surround myself with. I feed off of other people’s energy, and so I look for people whose energy, passion, and work ethic I admire. I am happy to say that it has worked out well.

My most recent entrepreneurial venture was incredibly grueling. It took years of hard work, sleepless nights, and not an insignificant amount of financial risk. While I was founding and growing the company, I leaned heavily on my support network. I asked a lot of the people around me, and they delivered. From business partners to family, to employees and friends...everyone leaned into me and contributed to this unbelievable success. 

And so it is my turn to give it back. 

I firmly believe that there has to be balance in relationships. You have to give as much as you take, but you also have to take as much as you give. I have spent the last couple of years taking ideas, compassion, support, and love from my network. In order to balance the scales, I am now looking to create value in the lives of the people who supported me. I am taking some time to reflect on each person’s individual talents and desires, and I am looking for the right niche for them that will lead to their own success. I am actively trying to benefit the lives of the people who have had such a profound impact on mine. 

Remember that it is ok to use your network. Support systems are there to do just that - support. Just remember that everything you take should be returned in spades. Do not take your network for granted. If you experience success turn around and pull them along with you. Success for one can be success for all.