Annual Letters

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday.

I am responding to a previous thread to include those that are new to the firm.

This is my favorite time of the year. For a brief moment the world stops. The days feel longer and more intentional. I try my best during this time to be introspective as I have found that the more I look inwards the more clarity I have over my priorities and values. I have been reflecting on all that has happened over the last decade and I am eager and excited for all that lies ahead.

This coming summer will mark the ten year anniversary of the founding of Thrive. While I am certain that it is only the beginning it is important that we never lose sight of how far we have come in such a short period of time. What we have accomplished as a team is nothing short of extraordinary. I truly feel grateful every day for all that Thrive has become.

While it is important to have gratitude I believe that nostalgia can lead to complacency and mediocrity in the present. Our culture has led us to where we are and will ultimately be the determining factor in our success over the next decade. The values that we share will make the difference between success and failure.

The next ten years will likely look different but the path to success should look the same...

• We must continue to maintain humility and self awareness. We are a small fraction of our potential. We must continue to focus on our imperfections to learn and grow together.
  
  

• We must continue to approach every opportunity with grit and tenacity. We must always remain the underdog and outwork our opponents. We must always listen more than we talk.
  
  

• We must continue to pave our own path. We must remain unconventional through independent thought. Sometimes the most unpopular actions can lead to the most popular accomplishments.
  
  

• We must continue to ignore the noise. Neither our failures or successes are anything other than data points that we can learn from. We must always have a long term orientation to everything that we do.
  
  

• We must continue to work as a team. Our willingness to support and learn from each other will ultimately determine the difference between greatness and insignificance.
  
  

• We must continue to win with kindness. "Life is short and life is long. The world is small and the world is large. Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do in ANY circumstance. Being kind and honest is not just right - it is also good business."
  
  

• We must continue to never take a day for granted and feel gratitude for the position that we are in to enable change.
  
  

• We must never forget who we work for and that when we do well the causes that our limited partners support do well too.

Finally...

We must continue to prioritize the things that are most important in life. My parents always said that the key to a successful life is to be "excited to go to work and excited to go home." Over the next decade our families will grow and it is important that we always put them first.

Wishing everyone the best for a decade filled with love, health and happiness.

yours,
Josh