I wrote this article for Threeek - the best advice I ever received - follow them here.
Behind every worthwhile endeavor you will always find people, but many times it is easy to get distracted and forget about this important truth. One thinks of the amorphous concept of a government, a business, or an institution, sometimes forgetting about the people behind it.
Photo Credits:
Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash
One of my most esteemed investors, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist in his 80’s named Arthur Epstein said to me: “Put your people first, it’s all about people” and this has stuck with me throughout the years.
Putting people first and acting with empathy allows you to focus on what truly matters. Whether in business or in your personal life, you will always face hard decisions and these normally involve people.
For me, making sure to think about every individual involved and putting them first has been a recipe for success, it simplifies everything. Doing this gives me the context of the real implications that my decisions have. There is a concept in game theory of a single stage game vs. a multi stage game, and for each of these, there is a different recommended strategy. Life is a multi stage game, where your reputation and long-term thinking are key to your success.
On top of this, given the finite nature of our existence, the positive lasting impact that one can have in the world meaning its people, is the only thing that matters. If you fast forward to your 80’s and look back at the decision you’re making today, how will you feel about it? Borrowing a phrase from the late Clay Christensen, “How will you measure your life?” or put another way, what measuring stick will you use to evaluate your success?
Sticking to core values matters a lot to me and putting people first for me is tied to something I adopted from a program I did at a startup accelerator called Techstars: Give First. Giving can take many forms: attention, time, energy, support, resources, etc. and not only does it feel good - if you haven’t done it lately, try it - but the compounding long term effect of influencing those around you in a positive way builds momentum towards your own success. To me putting people first is at the core of how I think and how I behave.
I believe this advice has led me on a path of fulfillment and one that I hope I will be proud of many years into the future.
Photo Credits:Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash