One of my favorite follows over the last year or so is a founder named Brent Beshore. We are in very different worlds, but he writes, shares and thinks with tremendous consideration, empathy and almost amusement that I am drawn to him, even from afar.
He recently published his firm’s annual letter where he talked about what deals they had invested in over the last year and what the future looked like. It was a more personal section about fear and love that I found to be the most compelling, though.
An under-appreciated offshoot of this mentality – of which I’m all too familiar – is to attempt heroics. Heroes act out of self-interest, not care for the other. They’re splashy and exciting, glory-seeking and unrelatable. Heroes crave praise, not justice, and ultimately control. Heroes take control from the object of their heroics, creating a victim and often more harm. The difference between heroics and meaningful help is a relationship. To truly help someone you have to really know them, including how they want to be helped.
And then every once in a while you come across someone operating from the other worldview — love.
I can distinctly remember times in my life when I was shocked by someone’s love. It carries with it an aroma so strong it’s impossible to forget. It’s sacrificial and abundant, and unconcerned with the self. It wants the best for you no matter what you offer in return. It comes from a place of relationship, connectivity, and care.
–Brent Beshore
The type of person I want to be.