Capital Conversation

Conversation is productive. Socialization is the creation of opportunity.

Since early childhood, I remember watching, or more aptly put, listening to, my father, a guru of Wall Street, at work. On long car rides, he was on the phone. On the occasions I visited his office, he was talking. If not vocalizing, he was emailing and texting. He always stressed the importance of relationships, and communicated with clients and coworkers constantly. His title stated that he worked in finance, but in practice he worked with words. 

Despite having grown up observing my father, I struggled to piece together how conversation led to creation. How could socializing lead to anything concrete? How could something so simple, something that you only needed time for, be the most important tool? 

When I joined The Fund at Hula, my eyes were suddenly opened to how important this work is. I socialized. I pushed my introverted self and kept socializing. With the help of The Fund, I introduced myself to people, and they connected me with other people, who suggested I talk with other people. I could almost see the scope of my own network broadening, like a web expanding out around me.

I talked with The Fund’s team members. I listened in on discussions where creatives, inventors, and experts in their fields shared their ideas and visions. It was fascinating and inspiring, and suddenly I was aware that my tiny state of Vermont was humming with action and innovation. A half hour meeting, that seemed to consist only of light conversation, was really the creation of a future opportunity. A simple introduction between two people meant both parties gained a new connection.

Charisma, kindness, and trustworthiness, I learned, are invaluable qualities.

Since starting with The Fund, I’ve been watching ideas sprout into companies before me, because people continue to talk with each other. The hatching, fledging, and flight of the next generation of Vermont businesses. Real evidence that conversation is, in fact, productive.

So, my advice to you is: talk to people. Connect with people. Have a conversation. Create your own web of a network, and watch how it ripples out around you.