Seven years ago you would have found me surrounded by children living in extreme poverty in Tibet. Five years ago you would have found me rebuilding a community in rural Mongolia. Three weeks ago, you would have found me working with Tibetan Refugees, a pickaxe in hand, and knee deep in the rubble of a 300 year-old Buddhist Monastery located in a village called Chairro tucked away in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. Today, I’m on the 2nd floor of a San Francisco high-rise working on investments for Meltwater Group. What’s the connection, the common link, the motivation? The answer is: The world’s best high-five.

For those of you who have experienced hard manual labor in a developing Asian country, you know that there is a natural phenomenon that occurs on day 5 or 6….As you begin to tear down and rebuild a physical structure there comes a moment when you stop caring about all the dirt you’re inhaling and the sore muscles you have earned. You begin to notice your environment; the majestic mountains, fresh incense, and chanting monks take you into a Zen-like meditative state where you ponder…..”Seriously….who the hell would I have to talk to in order to get a burrito and a hot shower?!?!”

As I now look back on my experiences, I realize that whether it’s developing a sustainable fishing farm in Peru or sitting in a finance class to complete my MBA at Stanford, I am continually learning how to invest and how to get a solid Return on Investment (ROI). The fascinating part is that I am always investing in two things: myself and other people. Each experience allows me to give to others, but I am always amazed by the benefits I get in return.

When I came to interview with Meltwater New Ventures, my interest level was about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. I didn’t really know what they did. Heck, I didn’t even remember applying! What I did know was that I had a number of financial concerns that my current projects were not covering. When I left the group interview, my interest level was closer to an 8. I started to think that I was interviewing with a very unique company that was potentially presenting me with a great opportunity. By unique I mean, is this a Boiler Room?

As I went through the relatively long interview process, I realized Meltwater was a company that had the ambitious goal of changing the entire Software as a Service (SaaS) industry with an intriguing model: Culturally driven success powered by intense human capital. As with any ambitious challenge, I would never take it on without the right team. Ultimately, I took the job because I was intrigued by the challenge and impressed by the team.

Now inside, I feel I have an interesting vantage point from the New Ventures group. Not in sales, not in customer retention, but hired to invest and execute on the strategic vision of the company. Close enough to see and appreciate what drives the company, but distant enough to foresee the obstacles Meltwater will need to overcome. What I have learned is that Meltwater is justifiably confident that they will continue to succeed at a fast pace, but they are becoming more aware of the challenges that come with success. Will Meltwater surpass its ambitious goals? I would bet yes, but I am not 100% sure. What I do know is that it will be a very interesting ride. If Meltwater continues to succeed, it will be because of its highly motivated, unified team. If it doesn’t, it won’t be without a massive 700+ army fight.

I am once again investing in people (700 of them) and I feel like people (700 of them) are investing in me. At the end of the day, it’s a very high ROI. Don’t take my word for it, just come in and experience the Meltwater high five (all deals, accomplishments, and general “hell yeahs” are followed by a high-five).

Whether I was working with a team of Tibetans, growing up playing football in Texas, or acknowledging someone on the sales floor at Meltwater, a high five is the universal ROI and Meltwater is home to the world’s best. It might come with a hug, a pat on the back, or even a fist bump, but it happens often and it is packed with all the good stuff.

Here are some pictures from some of my world travels:

In Nepal on a rebuilding project

In Nepal on a rebuilding project

In Tibet on a rebuilding project

Visiting some Tibetan kids while on a rebuilding project