One of the questions I keep coming back to while writing The Builders is deceptively simple: what actually makes someone a Builder? At first, I thought the answer was straightforward — a Builder creates value. But over time, I realized value creation is only the byproduct. The real distinction runs deeper.
In this BuilderBulb, I reflect on the people who shaped my understanding of the idea — from Warren Buffett and Sergio Marchionne to Pixar, Berkshire Hathaway, and even my own experience building investment vehicles around businesses I believed in. This piece explores ownership, mission, soul in the game, and why the greatest Builders aren’t driven purely by wealth or status, but by the desire to leave people, organizations, and systems better than they found them.