Life Lessons and Investing Strategies with Grant Johnson - Managing Director Benevolent Capital

Show Notes: 
Grant is a graduate of Brown University and is finishing his executive program at Harvard Business School. He is a Young President’s Organization (YPO) Member. He is the managing director of Benevolent Capital.

• Montgomery Securities – Institutional sales program 
•  First non-MBA member to be hired in the program. 
• “Sometimes it is about timing. Sometimes it is about who you know more than anything else!” 
• Venture Capital is for very early-stage companies to help them get off the ground. 
• Private Equity is generally for later-stage companies looking to grow or transition. 
• Grant became a “Sherpa” at Montgomery Securities  
• (9:00) One of his first tests early in his career was to see if he had the ability to tell people that he didn’t know the answer. Always tell the truth and be honest. 
• Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs where you don’t have all the skills. Skills can be taught. Hiring managers are looking for character, integrity, honesty, interpersonal skills, and communication skills.  
• (12:45) Grant highlights a learning experience as the captain of his crew team when he lost a position in the first boat. 
• “Sometimes out of the bad comes the great!”  
  • You really learn about yourself and life when things go wrong. 
  • Covid presented a learning and growing opportunity for us all. 
• (17:45) Why is tenacity so important? 
• Why did Montgomery Securities start by only hiring Athletes? 
• (24:00) When Warren Buffet is wrong he is barely wrong but when he is right BIG and for a long time. 
• Why did Grant leave Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City? 
  • Wanted a state with no state income tax 
  • A friend told him to check out Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN
  • Chattanooga was voted “Best small town” in America twice. 
• (34:45) Grant’s advice to his daughters “Free to be you, free to be me.” 
• (40:00) “Our country needs the ability to have more debate.” 
• (43:10) “You feel like we are fighting and arguing and I feel like we are finally communicating.” Grant uses a quote from the movie Jerry McGuire to help demonstrate a point on modern-day politics. 
• Do we believe in free speech and diversity and inclusion or do we not? Today many only believe in this as long as you agree with them. 
• (54:00) How to build a company with a billion in revenue? 
  • The importance of a robust board 
  • Your customers are raving evangelists for your product or service 
• “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast.” – Peter Drucker 
• (55:00) How is Grant training his daughters to have success in life? 
  • Mixed Martial Arts  
• Best Day Brewing – Non-Alcoholic Beer and Athletic Brewing – Are two of the companies that Grant’s firm has invested in. 
• An SPV – Special Purpose Vehicle for each investment in Benevolent Capital 
• They charge NO management fees for the investments in their fund. (The Traditional "2 and 20")... 
• Plus they give all investors a 100% preferred return before they get paid. 
• This is very different from most investment firms. 
• For us to make an investment in a company we n