fenton

Think about the current topic via one or multiple "Fenton Frameworks" from Peter Fenton. They are… 

1. The Evolutionary Lens 
• Variation: Encourage both planned and unplanned experiments—accept that most will fail, but some will be transformative.
• Selection: Let the market and ecosystem apply pressure; don’t shield companies from hard truths.
• Inheritance: Build on what works, but don’t be afraid to let go of what doesn’t. Pass on learnings, not dogma.

2. Depth Over Scale 
• Small Teams: Keep the partnership tight (4–6 people) to maximize trust and decision speed.
• Deep Relationships: Prioritize a few, high-trust, long-term founder relationships over many shallow ones.
• Embrace Constraints: Accept that the most meaningful work doesn’t scale—and design your firm around that.

3. Sourcing for Greatness 
• Curiosity-Driven: Actively seek out exceptional people; don’t wait for them to come to you.
• Network Activation: Build a network that surfaces talent and amplifies your ability to spot outliers.
• Taste & Judgment: Develop the intuition to recognize “oceanic” founders—those with clarity, authenticity, and drive.

4. Board Work as Energy Transfer 
• Purpose Alignment: Always return to the founder’s core motivation and the company’s purpose.
• Clarity & Structure: Help founders align strategy, structure, and people.
• Energize & Deoxidize: After every board meeting, founders should feel more energized, aware, and curious.

5. Infinite Game Mindset 
• Value System First: Play for meaning and impact, not just financial incentives.
• Long-Term Commitment: Be willing to support founders for a decade or more.
• Creative Destruction: Celebrate the rise of new companies and the necessary extinction of the old.