October 24, 2026

@michaelokun

I had the opportunity to hear Adam Grant interviewed by Nayeema Raza at the Masters of Scale Summit, discussing his new book, Vibe, and what resonated most with me was his message that the way we make people feel may matter as much as what we accomplish together. Grant challenged us to be more thoughtful about the energy we bring into a room, reminding us that creativity flourishes when people feel comfortable being themselves. I especially appreciated his discussion of friendships and the importance of community. He described how we sometimes overestimate what our friends expect from us, when what they may really want is simply a friend. He also distinguished between temporary and permanent conflicts, noting that some disagreements are about preferences, while others reflect deeply held values. His advice was to approach conflict with curiosity, ask questions, and resist the temptation to script every interaction. One particularly memorable suggestion was to ask friends about their favorite childhood memories, a simple way to create deeper connections. As someone who spends much of my time building teams, mentoring young professionals, and caring for persons w/ disease, I left thinking about how much our relationships depend on the environments we create for one another. The best leaders, colleagues, and friends may not be the ones who always have the right answers, but the ones who make others feel valued, connected, and comfortable enough to be themselves.