“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.” -Dale Carnegie

Today, many believe science and technology, alone, will solve the world's problems. But while science can inform us what is possible and technology can increase productivity, neither can be counted on to tell us definitively if our actions are either right or wrong. Whether or not something is good or bad or supports or impedes human flourishing can only be determined by wisdom and empathy to appreciate any unintended consequences. Without wisdom, knowledge, profit and efficiency become ends in and of themselves, leading to an impersonal, transactional society in which people are treated as numbers, not individuals. To avoid this impersonal and transactional approach towards life we must seek to understand human nature, how human relationships work, suffering and death, and most importantly the character of the creator Himself.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” -Harry S. Truman

John Maxwell’s famous quote about teamwork is well known in most business circles. What many often overlook is Maxwell’s warning that a vision can quickly become a nightmare if “a big dream” is carried out by a bad team. Today’s market is dynamic and ever-changing, requiring businesses to always up their game while remaining agile and ready to adapt. Although not everyone agrees on how to stay ahead, there is a consensus that teamwork has never been more critical.

“Regardless of economic conditions, our firm will keep our head on a swivel, aggressively trying to move the ball downfield and score; while not taking unnecessary ‘deep shots’. Like any good quarterback, we will trust the process and take what the defense gives us, over and over again.” -Weatherford

On a day-to-day basis, investment managers compete against their peers to win deals, raise funds, and attract top talent. While the marketplace has perhaps never been more competitive, one opponent we all share in common is the market itself.

“Success in any endeavor requires that you stay true to your values and truly love your audience, be it your customers, colleagues, or anyone else. The upshot is that you will both gain true fulfillment in your work and also make a lasting difference in the world. Success will come, but it will be a byproduct of finding a true calling in the service of others." -Mike Ullman.

In our daily labor, each of us desires to make a positive impact. The Bible references work as soon as it begins "God created..." That’s how important and fundamental our vocations can be to finding fulfillment in our lives. We may not realize it amid the sweat and toil of our individual jobs, but once we’ve created or achieved something of lasting significance little if anything is ever more gratifying. This is simply our way of “imaging” God, whether we realize it or not.

“Nothing is as fast as the speed of trust.” -Stephen Covey

We believe that the depth of our relationships not only make a difference in business, but are among our key differentiators. Jack Welch perhaps said it best when he observed that “trust means confidence.” When these characteristics – be it assurance in yourself or faith in the team behind you – underpin the pursuit of any objective, most discover that no goal or mission is ever too big to be out of reach. We’ve found this to be true whether in business, sports, public service, or in cultivating one’s faith. The catch, however, is that trust is far more difficult to foster and secure than most realize, which is why we don’t pay lip service to it in our efforts to create meaningful relationships.

“Together, we can accomplish more, making a positive impact on the world.” -Weatherford

There is a school of thought that says purpose statements should be aspirational. The problem -- when you look across an industry with more than 7,000 private equity firms, each competing for talent and new deals – is that these statements proclaiming either a firm’s mission or its values all start to sound the same. Yet we at Weatherford Capital are quite different from the more traditional PE fund managers.