Return Investment: Putting Stock in People, Places, and Things That Reciprocate

If you were shopping at a store and their customer service was lousy, you'd stop shopping from them.

Makes basic sense, right? If a restaurant gave you fish when you ordered steak, and the steak was tough when they gave it to you, overcharged you and underperformed, they would most likely lose your business. Unfortunately, when it comes to our emotions, we are not the same sound investors that we are with our money. Sometimes we want certain situations and people to work out so bad that we don't know when it's time to cut our losses; more importantly, we miss out on opportunities and people that could result in big gains. Before pursuing my writing and entrepreneurial goals, my first job was working at mutual fund powerhouse Vanguard. Vanguard taught me priceless principles on investing, portfolio building, and monitoring the market. Coincidentally, some of the same tactics it takes to keep a successful portfolio apply to our daily lives, including our relationships, passions, and goals. To find success in them is to practice giving time and love to things that offer a positive return.

One of the early and most important lessons learned during studying investments was about synergy. Synergy is the interaction of two or more agents which produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. In certain retirement plans, there's an option called company match. This is where an employee puts in a percentage of his paycheck and their employer will match the percentage (up to a certain point; they don't love you that much).

In Boomerang, Eddie almost gave up his return investment. He had to get
slapped, give up the drawers to Lady Eloise, and get "scrait up" embarrassed.

In this example, there is an agreed effort from both parties; without contribution from each side, the earnings are not as fruitful. Our intimate and personal relationships require the same. Whether dating or spending time with the crew, everybody brings something to the table. If the relationships become inconsistent with your goals, they must be DESTROYED. Sounds harsh, but the show doesn't stop, and a true friend or mate wouldn't put you in positions to fail. Kyrie Irving started reading the writing on the wall in Cleveland. He saw LeBron keeping a shadow on his shine, and started screaming out like David Bowie in the song "Fame": "TRAAAAAAAAAAADE!" 

Your relationships should be your inspiration, your truth serum, and your equilibrium; they keep you balanced. My fiancee occasionally asks me what convinced me she was "the one". My response never changes: it was evident that she was as interested in me as I was interested in her. Approaching my lady wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard, and it shouldn't be. If two people are upfront with their intentions, and they match, the ball should get rolling; and if a relationship grows, the effort should grow as well. It's not always that smooth though. Before "Future" (Bae's new nickname that I just came up with), there was a lot of time and work put into people even when it was evident they weren't matching "dollar for dollar". Giving all your loving and receiving pennies back on the goodness is not a recommended lifestyle, not even for my biggest player hater. Yes, we all can be on the sliding scale sometimes; occasionally we don't give our best. Admittedly, I am commonly guilty of putting more focus into my business than my friendships and relationships. When you're on the sliding scale, make the adjustment; don't lose good people. The people willing to be there for you in a meaningful capacity are not as common as it seems.

Through supporting childhood friends like marketing exec Maverick Carter (r),
Lebron James has built incredible wealth for himself and his circle.

We witness firsthand how important good support truly is when we pursue passions or special goals in our lives. As the owner of a record label and brand consulting company, I spend countless hours with artists and business owners defragmenting how their closest "friends" and family are unwilling to click a link, hit the "Like" button, or (God forbid) share or promote their work. No, it's not anyone's Facebook fiduciary responsibility to help you become a star or boost your business. It is telling, however, that people are happy to promote their friend or associate once that person accomplishes something, then look for handouts even before the artist/owners reach a position of financial success. Even if they have, that's still not "support"; that's leeching.


Creatives and entrepreneurs are often instructed to leverage their network for initial support, only to learn that many of their friends' version of "support" is nothing to lean on. If that is the circumstance, establish a precedent of support and plan accordingly. It's simple enough to use some of the standard definitions of support:

1. to maintain by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for.
2. to uphold by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.
3. to maintain or advocate.

One or all of these meanings qualifies as supporting someone in chasing their dreams, passions, or life goals. As a man with dreams, passions, AND goals, something dawned on me last week. I shared it with my brother, rising star rapper Johnny Quest The Rebel, during one of our "meaning of life. supposed to stick to business" calls: people who don't respect you or your gifts do not deserve any part of you. I don't want to talk to you about the growth I'm making if you decline the opportunity to participate on your own. In fact, I don't want to talk to you. No, I'm not liking your pictures with your breasts all out. I'm not giving your insignificant posts about "Power" and "Insecure" life, when you don't return serve about the things that mean most to me. It's called the "CIRCLE of Life"; you better act like you know who Simba is. While it sounds cruel and selfish, we have to nurture our passions. We cannot prosper using fertilizer that will not grow our goals.

Our goals are investments, as are our relationships. When we contribute to them, we want to see them flourish. Surrounded by negative elements, their chance to reach their maximum profit is hindered; our own chances to reach our potential are hindered as well. If Prime Jesse Jackson was a mutual fund investor, he would probably iterate that your investments should be "inspected, selected, and protected". If not, they will be "misdirected, disrespected, and eventually, rejected". As you invest in yourselves and your passions, place your remaining contributions in people willing to invest in you. With that strategy, you can net profits Prudential couldn't predict.