Relationships Are the Foundation

Yesterday reminded me of that in a way I didn’t expect. I was walking the dogs, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Teddi (My number 3). She’s creative. She’s sweet. She has a huge heart. She is very different than me.

On that walk, I felt like I’d missed something. Like I hadn’t loved her the way she needed to be loved. Not out of neglect. Not because I don’t care. Just because it’s easy to love people the way that feels natural to us.

So I did something simple. I recorded a short voice memo. Nothing polished. Nothing fancy. Just me telling her how special she is. How proud I am of her. How much she matters. The day went on.

Work. Meetings. Life.

At some point, I felt like it was time. I handed her my phone and asked her to listen to something in her room.

A few minutes later, she came out crying. Gave me the biggest hug. And just like that, everything shifted. That moment reminded me of something important:

• It’s not my job to love people the way that’s easiest for me.

• It’s my job to love them the way they need to be loved.

With Scooby, love looks like wrestling, teasing, pushing, and challenging. That works for him. That’s how he receives love.
That’s not Teddi. She needs words. She needs reassurance. She needs to feel deeply and be allowed to express it. And if I don’t slow down enough to understand who I’m loving, I’ll miss how to love them well.

Here's what also stood out to me:

The rest of the day, she was different. Calm. Open. Willing. Present. Whatever I asked, she was all in. Not because she was trying to please me. Not because she felt pressure.Because she felt safe.
Because she felt seen.
Because she felt loved.

That lesson doesn’t stop at home. This is why relationships are the core value of Master Networks.

• You can’t manufacture trust.

• You can’t rush connection.

• You can’t skip past relationship and expect real commitment on the other side.

People lean in when they know you have their back. People listen when they know you care. People show up when they feel valued as humans not transactions.

Teddi challenges the way I see the world — not by arguing, but by being herself. The way she interacts with the world is different than the way I do, and that difference is a gift. It’s one of the quiet miracles of parenthood. And it’s also a reminder I need often:

If we want stronger teams, stronger culture, and stronger results, it starts with how well we love, serve, and understand the people around us.

Relationships first. Everything else follows.