The Power of People
Reflections on the past. Timeless tales with an eye towards the future.
I spend a lot of time reflecting on the people, the ideas, the books, the thoughts, that have helped change and shape me. It is impossible to pinpoint the one that stands above the rest, but that gives me solace knowing how blessed I have been for there to be too many possibilities. With an open mind and an open heart truly anything is possible.
Enjoy…
In my lifetime as an entrepreneur, both in business and in being, I have encountered a number of characters. For me, part of “going after it” means being open to people of different backgrounds, races, identities, and ideologies. The simple truth is that everyone has their truth. Though it may not resonate with you or it may be completely counter to your beliefs, keeping an open mind should only work to expand your mind.
With that said, in these characters I have met pioneers, artists, visionaries, vagabonds, and unfortunately some crooks. Many of these people may seem unremarkable to the naked eye but once unraveling them you find beauty so remarkable that they will never leave your mind. Indeed many of those I have met on this journey called life I am blessed to call my friends. You never know where life will take you.
A constant that appears continually in those that have crossed the threshold to friendship is their love and appreciation for the bigger picture. Sure, one-off business relationships may be frequent, but from what I have found and believe has yet to fully materialize is that the relationships that bear the sweetest fruit in all aspects are those that are groomed and cherished over many years. It is through those years that grit is formed. Ups and downs, career and life changes, life-cycle events… you become a part of them and they become a part of you. In a sense, your being expands to create a more unified whole.
It is with this that I share some thoughts from a book I read called The Tree of Life and Prosperity by Israeli venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg. Being both an entrepreneur and someone with strong ties to Israel, I had been a follower of Eisenberg and his venture fund Aleph for some time now. As an early investor in companies such as Lemonade and WeWork, I frequently looked to his Twitter feed for business and worldly insights. It was also a no-brainer that I would purchase his newest book which is the first in a series of books on business principles from the Torah, this one being from the Book of Genesis. Funny enough it was recommended to me by a few friends though it was already on my reading list.
I dove into reading on a weekly basis, 12 weeks spanning the 12 chapters in which the book was broken up by, corresponding to the 12 parshiot of Genesis (this is why you may have noticed its frequent appearance on the section of this newsletter of books I am reading). Eisenberg wove through the stories of Genesis, pointing out unique insights on topics such as negotiation, automation, rest, and work.
One section that stood out to me was actually the last chapter of the book, where he discusses the symbiotic relationship between the Hebrew tribes of Zebulun and Issachar. Traditionally, as Eisenberg points out, the relationship is described in more spiritual terms. However, Eisenberg gives a beautiful explanation in the form of an entrepreneur-manager relationship. As an entrepreneur, something I often struggle with is a grounding in reality. Surely this lack of grounding is one of the most important facets to have as an entrepreneur. Both because you have to take big risks and bring ideas to life. What helps to balance this out, as Eisenberg points out while explaining the Zebulun/Issachar relationship, is an effective manager. Someone with a firm foundation that is able to take an entrepreneur’s lofty vision and bring it down to earth, both in product and execution, is a key to success. As I continue to navigate my own career and keep on meeting incredible people, this is an idea that I am holding close by.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who is interested in business and is keen to view things from a different lens. Whether you generally find value in the Torah and its stories or not, the messages in Eisenberg’s book hold tremendous worth. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-Prosperity-Business-Principles/dp/1637580703
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Books I’m currently reading:
Token Economy: How the Web3 reinvents the Internet by Shermin Voshmgir
The Ego and the Id by Sigmund Freud
Quotes/Ideas:
“Spend your time doing only what you can uniquely do.” - Naval Ravikant
“I can’t do it just means you don’t want to do it.”
Until next time…
O