We hear a lot about competition in business in very graphic terms: stomp on them, beat them, leave them in the dust, take market share, among other like terms. However, the real key to doing great business is to pay it forward. We seldom hear about it, but in my neighborhood – Silicon Valley – it's a way of life. Here's how it works.

Ethos: Greek For "Custom" Or "Habit"

I recently met with a friend who is the founder and chairman (and former CEO) of a consumer electronics company to talk about what was next for him. He's a classic Silicon Valley tale: founded a cool company, got it funded, built the product, and then hired a CEO to take it to the next level while he guided the company from the board.

At that point, founders typically begin something - a search for what's next. Like a sales "navigation" process, they investigate stories in the media and meet with respected mentors and colleagues. As areas of interest come into focus, they begin to call appealing companies, sometimes with introductions, sometimes without.

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