Brad Feld’s Give First and the Long Game of Generosity
It’s an easy, thoughtful read, structured around the Techstars Mentor Manifesto. Brad defines terms clearly, shares real-world examples, and gives readers a practical, human framework for mentorship that works over the long haul of one’s career.
“Give First means being willing to put energy into a relationship or a system without defining the transactional parameters. However, it’s not altruism. You can and should expect to get something back. But you don’t know when, from whom, in what form, or over what time frame.”
Give First isn’t about paying it forward in some vague, feel-good way. It’s not martyrdom. It’s not manipulation. To me it’s a way of living and working that is both strategic and generous. It works, and it feels right. And if you do it consistently, people are more likely to want to work with you, help you, and root for you.
I didn’t have a name for it at the time, but I’ve tried to operate this way for years. After I left Bitly, I started what I called a Gratitude Tour. I reached out to people I had worked with and admired along the Bitly journey, not to pitch them, but to thank them, to reconnect, and to offer help. No agenda. Just “how can I help?”
During that Gratitude Tour I reconnected with Brad. After a bunch of conversations, Brad offered me a job one Friday. He rescinded it on Monday (for all the right reasons)! And then on Tuesday, he introduced me to Scott Dorsey and the High Alpha team and told them they should start a company with me. We did start that company together. Castiron. A year later, Brad and Foundry invested. This was Give First in the wild.
That same Gratitude Tour also led to my first coaching client, someone I’m still working with today. No pitch. No ask. Just showing up, listening, and offering help, until she asked me if I could be her coach. Giving first came back tenfold.
And Brad lives this. I’ve worked with him and can attest that this is how he operates. Early on, he told me I could call him anytime about anything. And whenever I did, he would call me right back or reply almost immediately. No games. No filters. Just presence and generosity.
Reach out before you need something. Offer help without a pitch. Don’t make the first call an ask. That’s not altruism. It’s just good way of showing up and building your own personal brand. This kind of behavior builds trust. That builds reputation.
You can and should expect to get something back. That’s what makes this different from altruism. But you don’t get to set the terms. You don’t know when it will come back to you, who it will come from, what it will look like, or how long it will take. It might be an introduction you never asked for, a door that opens months later, or a reputation that quietly builds until one day it matters. The return isn’t guaranteed, but it’s real. And it almost always shows up. Just not on your schedule.
That’s why I say give, give, give. Not just because it feels good. Not just because it reflects the kind of human I want to be. It does. But because it works. It’s good business. And the world needs more of it.
That’s also why I started my podcast, Critical Moments. I wanted to give people space to tell their stories, he real ones, not the polished versions. Everyone has a moment that changed them. I wanted to give those moments the airtime they deserve.
Brad’s voice in this book is exactly what I’ve always appreciated about him. He’s real. No airs. No need to flex, even when he’s the smartest or most experienced person in the room. He speaks clearly, directly, and focuses on giving the best advice he can. That’s the spirit of Give First. And it’s why this book matters.
Bonus Offer
I’ll buy a copy of Give First for the first five people who re-share this post on Substack with your thoughts and another five on LinkedIn. No strings. Just giving first.
If this resonated, I write more posts like this each week for founders and CEOs trying to build something real without losing themselves along the way.
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