In Give and Take, Adam Grant describes three ways people tend to operate: givers, takers, and matchers. Matchers—the category I long identified with—approach relationships through reciprocity. If someone helps them, they help in return. It’s a fair and practical way to navigate the world.
What surprised me most from Grant’s work is that both the highest and lowest performers are often givers. Some givers burn out because they continually put others before themselves. Others, however, learn to give while maintaining healthy boundaries. These individuals create immense goodwill, build stronger relationships, and often achieve the greatest success.
Over time, I’ve found myself moving away from the matcher mindset. I used to think strategically about every interaction, measuring inputs against outputs and planning for specific outcomes. While that approach served me well in many ways, I’ve come to believe that the greatest value comes from giving without expecting anything in return.
When I reflect on the people who have had the biggest impact on my life, they are rarely those who kept score. They are the ones who gave generously, offered support without conditions, and created positive ripples that extended far beyond a single interaction.
Today, my goal is simple: to become a better giver.
As part of that commitment, I have allocated funds in 2024 to cover tuition for five students in the Philippines. Over time, I hope to expand these efforts to China and the United States. I am also shifting my business toward a Family Office model—one designed not only to create financial value, but also to create meaningful value in people’s lives.
My goal over the next five years is to make a meaningful impact on 100 people, regardless of whether anyone knows my name. Over the next twenty years, I hope to reach 1,000.
I often return to a question attributed to the late Sam Zell:
“Did we leave something on the table?”
For me, that question is no longer about business opportunities. It’s about generosity, kindness, and the positive difference we can make in the lives of others. My hope is to leave behind not just financial success, but a legacy of meaningful impact.
