Graham Weaver

We went through a really tough period in the recession. We didn't have a fund for a number of years. So we had three years to kind of work on our business and really do some deep thinking. I hired some executive coaches. We can talk more about that. But part of that was kind of the questions you're asking. Why are you doing this? What's your goal? What are you waking up every day to do?

We went through a really tough period in the recession. We didn't have a fund for a number of years. So we had three years to kind of work on our business and really do some deep thinking. I hired some executive coaches. We can talk more about that. But part of that was kind of the questions you're asking. Why are you doing this? What's your goal? What are you waking up every day to do?

And I think we wanted to create something that was going to get us just jumping out of bed in the morning. And so we said, hey, we want to be the number one performing fund of all time. So we looked at all the data that was public on some of the pension funds websites and information. And we said, hey, if we could deliver 3x net consistently on every fund, that would put us in the conversation.

And I think we wanted to create something that was going to get us just jumping out of bed in the morning. And so we said, hey, we want to be the number one performing fund of all time. So we looked at all the data that was public on some of the pension funds websites and information. And we said, hey, if we could deliver 3x net consistently on every fund, that would put us in the conversation.

We've been outperforming that. So we increased our goal a little bit.

We've been outperforming that. So we increased our goal a little bit.

What's underneath it? You're probably a person that could build a whole variety of different kinds of businesses. Why is high-performing private equity one that's interesting to you?

What's underneath it? You're probably a person that could build a whole variety of different kinds of businesses. Why is high-performing private equity one that's interesting to you?

I never knew what private equity was until I graduated from college, so I didn't have this background. This was never a goal of mine when I started, but when I got recruited out of college to go into private equity, I just thought it was... I had a real burning interest in business, and I thought...

I never knew what private equity was until I graduated from college, so I didn't have this background. This was never a goal of mine when I started, but when I got recruited out of college to go into private equity, I just thought it was... I had a real burning interest in business, and I thought...

Once I learned what private equity was, I was thinking, wow, this is the best expression of building businesses. We get to do it over and over and over across a bunch of businesses. In terms of why I try to be the best, I guess ever since I was pretty young, I just never thought about doing anything other than trying to be the best in the world at it.

Once I learned what private equity was, I was thinking, wow, this is the best expression of building businesses. We get to do it over and over and over across a bunch of businesses. In terms of why I try to be the best, I guess ever since I was pretty young, I just never thought about doing anything other than trying to be the best in the world at it.

It's like, there's a great quote by Daniel Burnham who says, make no little plans for they have no power to stir one's blood.

It's like, there's a great quote by Daniel Burnham who says, make no little plans for they have no power to stir one's blood.

What's the earliest that you can remember having that sensation or feeling?

What's the earliest that you can remember having that sensation or feeling?

so i was 12 years old my parents went through a really bitter ugly divorce we changed schools to a new school so i didn't really have friends so the ground beneath me was pretty unsettled grew up in a small town in ohio like in the rust belt outside of toledo and i mowed lawns i mowed lawns about six hours a weekend to make money that was the best paying job i had a sony walkman and i started to listen to books on tape

so i was 12 years old my parents went through a really bitter ugly divorce we changed schools to a new school so i didn't really have friends so the ground beneath me was pretty unsettled grew up in a small town in ohio like in the rust belt outside of toledo and i mowed lawns i mowed lawns about six hours a weekend to make money that was the best paying job i had a sony walkman and i started to listen to books on tape

For whatever reason, our library had this self-help section. So I had these books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Lead the Field by Earl Nightingale, Universal Laws of Success and Achievement by Brian Tracy. So there were only like three of them, three or four. So for the next X years, I just would six hours a weekend walk around. back and forth.

For whatever reason, our library had this self-help section. So I had these books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Lead the Field by Earl Nightingale, Universal Laws of Success and Achievement by Brian Tracy. So there were only like three of them, three or four. So for the next X years, I just would six hours a weekend walk around. back and forth.