“Decide where you’re going to give the money before you make it” Robert Gauntt

I observed my friend and mentor Robert Gauntt,  founder of Capital Creek Partners, impart this wisdom to a startup founder he was investing in ( the above-mentioned founder did not heed this advice in any significant way as of the writing of this post).

Proactive generosity is life-giving ( both to the giver and the receiver) and is a clear sign someone sees the world as a place of ample possibility. I believe Robert is extremely successful because of this posture of the heart. Now that I’ve quoted him, I need to actually interview him after talking about doing it for years.

Four years ago, I shared an idea with my closest friends. My wife Deb, Robert, Brandon Knicely, and a few others. I wanted to start a program that would equip kids with mentorship in character, computer skills, and the English language. My idea for Ascend Academy was to go to the poorest of the poor in Maputo, Mozambique, which I knew well from spending my childhood there.

We didn’t have the money, the partnerships, the legal entity - but we decided that whatever resources we would get, this is where we would direct them. It’s hard to overstate the joy of seeing those kids, those smiling faces soaking in the love, instruction, and skill provided by our amazing volunteers in Maputo.

If you want to make a difference, don’t default to not having the money or time. It’s almost never about lack of resources and more about lack of resourcefulness.

So decide where you’ll give the money before you make it. Proactive generosity is where it’s at if you ask me. Learn more about the Ascend Academy here: www.Ascend.Academy