Take the Call...Take the Meeting
I barely remember what life was like before I had it all figured out. How’s that for a statement drenched in hubris and completely devoid of humility? This is 2026, isn’t it?
Okay, in all seriousness and given the world swirling around us, I have very little clue what’s really going on, and I increasingly wonder what I’ve actually figured out at this point.
However, to the extent I do know some things it’s because of the people who were willing to “take the call” or “take the meeting” with me over the years. It turns out we learn so much from others, one conversation at a time. The experiences others share about their successful and unsuccessful decisions, and the full story surrounding each, become crucial roadmaps we tap into on our own journey.
Throughout my life I’ve been fortunate to meet many people and have benefited immensely from thousands of conversations, most all of which were granted out of the kindness of someone willing to take the time to help me. A few examples:
Learning how the “business of sports” works across the complex ecosystem of rights owners, rights holders, sponsors, and audience (thanks Rudy)
Learning the multiple layers of how venture capital works, and how startup companies evolve (or don’t) based on how well they are able to extend runway with each round (thanks Kevin)
Learning how to treat people and raise kids (thanks mom, dad, and my four grandparents)
When I receive a request to have a chat with someone I try to say yes as much as I can. I’m not gonna say my hit rate has been 100%, but it’s pretty high. Why? Because a lot of people said yes to me and I absolutely know how much those conversations helped me.
Recently, I met with someone over lunch and listened closely to what they were trying to figure out next in their life. I heard them asking for a conversation with someone closer to the leap they were contemplating. Then I got to do something really fun. I got to reach out to two other folks I’ve had the opportunity to help in the past and ask if they would be willing to chat with my lunch guest.
Not surprisingly, both instantly said “yes!”, and I made text intros and know two more important conversations will happen (or likely have already happened). I don’t need to know more than that. This is the multiplier effect of “taking the call” or “taking the meeting”.
Actually, right after both text threads quickly turned into calls being set up, I realized something. What gets said in any one conversation still matters. But the bigger impact might actually be paying it forward, adding another link to the “take the call” chain. Because the more links that get added, the more real learning gets shared around.
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