Bud invited me to sit in the 6th row at the Sixers game last night. Our mom’s also joined us and the main reason for that is that Chris was able to acquire the tickets. It’s funny how in your 30’s when your mom’s are joining you for a game is a much different feeling than not being caught dead with your parents in your teens. Either way, we saw a competitive game that Joel Embiid, once again, put the Sixers on his back in the final minutes.

Bud and I have been friends for a long time. Probably my longest friend as we were neighbors growing up from birth. I write this post to outline how 2 people with varying personalities end up with the same core. More wildly that we lived next door to each other and if that had an effect on the outcome.

I can’t remember getting into too many fights with Bud. Aside from the John Elway Quarterback punch, I’d label Bud as a pacifist. Avoid arguments and go with the flow. I’m honestly trying to remember another incident where we were mad at each other and can’t think of it. This is unusual as we spent our entire childhood together playing sports and video games.

His dad used to quarterback our games for touch football and would “purposely” throw interceptions to me. The games of baseball in the yard with this razor thin wooden bat and run the bases were always electric. Who can’t forget the 1v1 basketball games (who could create Monk Heeson?) on the 6ft hoop and then graduating to whichever neighbor oddly had that half court basketball hoop in their back yard. My point is, that we spent a lot of time outside of the other events that were organized like travel baseball, intramurals, and GA basketball camp.

We are not the same person though. I drink and gamble and am undoubtedly more risky with my decision making. I’ll make a million and lose a million. His life arrow will slowly progress up and mine will be all over the chart. I think this balance though is why we are able to stay friends for as long as we have.

This one example though is why I’m writing this post. I treated to cheese steaks at the game because they graciously gave us the seats. We go to the seats and we forgot napkins and ketchup. I say I’ll run to grab some and Bud says he’ll go. To me, that’s just the kind of guy Bud is so I was like, “ok”. He comes back with 3 small ketchup paper souffel cups (had to Google) and says, “I didn’t want any, here you go”. I envision him questioning how many he should bring to me so I won’t get upset. That’s Bud and the answer was 1.

I share this because our core values are similar. Most people in that instance would have let me get the ketchup. That value though of putting other people first is instinctive to people who understand that value in it. Perhaps it’s conceited to think that I also have this quality as it sort of undermines the topic, but I wouldn’t have got as far as I have in business without it. Personally, I’m sure I could do a better job, but as your network grows, it’s impossible to give the attention everyone deserves. It’s odd to me that two people, with entirely different ways of life, can shake hands and say “let’s be friends”.

That style in the early ’00’s is classic. The cargo shorts. The traditional golf shoes. XL polos. I remember this course slightly as we were on a West Virginia golf trip. I didn’t play well on this course as it had a lot of contours as you can see on that fairway. On that trip though I shot my lowest round ever at an 81 or so. I can’t remember exactly. It’s amazing I have only gotten worse as time went on.