Top insights for driven-minds

What Does "Give First" Mean?

Brad defines "give first" elegantly: it means putting energy into something without knowing what you'll get back. It's not altruistic—you do expect a return, but you don't know from whom, when, over what time period, or of what magnitude.

This approach has been fundamental to Brad's success across multiple ventures and is a cornerstone of effective mentorship.

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The Mentor's Mindset

When mentoring founders, Brad emphasizes several key principles:

1. Provide data, not directives - The hardest part of mentoring is resisting the urge to say "do this" or "do that." Instead, share experiences as data points that founders can incorporate into their own decision-making.

2. Commit fully or not at all - As Brad says, "Decide to mentor or not." Don't "try" to mentor—either fully commit or decline. This clarity benefits both mentor and mentee.

3. Ask questions rather than giving answers - Help founders work through problems aloud by asking thoughtful questions rather than prescribing solutions.

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Building Thriving Startup Communities

Brad's "Boulder Thesis" outlines four essential principles for creating vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems:

1. Entrepreneurs must lead - Founders and instigators, not organizations, drive successful communities

2. Take a long-term view - Think 20 years ahead, not quarterly

3. Be inclusive - Welcome anyone who wants to participate

4. Maintain consistent activity - Host regular events that engage people in entrepreneurship

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Pull vs. Push: A Lesson from Techstars

One of Brad's key insights from scaling Techstars is the importance of responding to "pull" rather than "pushing" products. The most successful expansions came when community leaders pulled Techstars into their ecosystems with specific needs, rather than Techstars pushing predetermined offerings.

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Beyond the North Star

Brad challenges the common "North Star" metaphor for business direction. Instead of focusing on a fixed destination, he encourages founders to:

• Understand your "why"

• Keep learning and evolving

• Listen to all feedback, regardless of how it's delivered

• Run continuous experiments, learning from failures and scaling successes

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In Summary

The "give first" philosophy isn't just about altruism—it's a powerful framework for building relationships, communities, and companies that create lasting value. As Brad demonstrates through his decades of entrepreneurship and investment, when you focus on helping others succeed without immediate expectation of return, the long-term benefits can exceed anything you might have planned.