Get live statistics and analysis of Kevin Dahlstrom's profile on X / Twitter

Years ago I worked for a CEO who insisted on paying all of our vendors' invoices the day we received them. It's the opposite of how most companies operate so I asked him why. He said... "I want to be all of my vendors' best customer." Over time I saw the brilliance in this simple tactic. We got... —Better pricing (often the vendor would volunteer it to show their appreciation!) —Priority service (hugely valuable when there's an urgent need) —Lots of intangible benefits and goodwill I adopted this tactic in all of my businesses and in my personal life and I can tell you that it's one of the highest ROI things you can do.

I drank water from a garden hose but my kids need a pellet ice maker for their Hydro Flasks.

At a coffee shop this morning the tip screen defaulted to 5/10/15%—a breath of fresh air! I cheerfully selected 15% and complimented the barista on the modest amounts. He responded: “Oh, there’s an automatic 20% tip—that’s an additional tip. (2 lattes and scones = $10 tip)

I’ll admit it, I’m a water snob. We have Mountain Valley Spring delivered in 5 gallon *glass* bottles and use it for all drinking and cooking. I endorse this list.

I think about this place often. My friend paid $150k for this flat in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, “the Switzerland of France”, then put ~$50k into renovation. —World class ⛷️ 🚴‍♀️ 🧗‍♂️ —Great weather year-round —50 steps from the local market —1 hr from a beach & airport in Nice

They don’t build ‘em like this any more. Due to the airline meltdown I stayed overnight in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. It’s an architectural gem from the early 70’s. Its signature feature is a massive brutalist atrium. Two more fun facts…🧵

In 1989 I randomly sat next to a cute girl at college orientation. I mustered the courage to say hi. I’ve been married to that girl for 26 years. In 1999 a friend invited me to try rock climbing. I said yes and discovered a life-long passion. In 2017 while sitting in a board meeting I had an epiphany: This isn't the life I want. I quit my job and moved the fam to Boulder with no plan. The rest is history. Here’s the crazy thing about life: One action, one decision, one pivotal moment can change everything (for better or worse). But here's the trick: You don’t know beforehand which action will be the game-changer. That’s why it’s important to have a strong bias toward action. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Make that phone call you’ve been putting off Push through when you feel like quitting Have that uncomfortable conversation Introduce yourself to that cute guy/girl Check out that church or faith group Ask for that promotion or raise Apply for that new job Sign up for that class Start that side hustle Post that tweet Take that trip The world belongs to the bold. Be a seeker, open to change and opportunity. And most importantly... Shoot your shot.

🧵 How to build a great life (17 things I’ve learned) I’ve run hard my whole life—always charging forward, rarely looking back. But 50 hits you different. It’s caused me to pause & reflect. ⬇️

The most fun I ever had negotiating a salary: Years ago I hired a guy to a junior marketing role. He was a bike mechanic with no relevant experience, but he had an engineer’s mind and was funny as heck. I asked him to call me to discuss compensation…

This is what $150,000 gets you in Saint Martin de Vesubie, “the Switzerland of South France”. —World class hiking, cycling, skiing, and climbing —Sunny & mild weather year-round —75 min to Nice (beaches & international airport) It’s a good life.

I'm at an age (51) when the divergence in biological age is extreme. Some of my peers are as healthy as 20-somethings and others look & act 70. It’s the result of a million little choices compounded over decades. Make good choices a habit—your 51 year old self will thank you.

My wife and I recently had dinner with a billionaire couple. When they got married the guy was dead ass broke. His business—which he funded with credit cards—had just failed. I asked his wife what she saw in him. Her answer was immediate and just one word: “Character.” She went on to say she had observed him coaching a youth basketball team and that told her everything she needed to know. She met him at his lowest point—when character was *all* he had—but she believed it would prevail over time. It turns out she was right… but here’s what I think: It was self-fulfilling. Her belief in her husband WAS the unlock for the billion.

I can’t stop thinking about it. Robinhood’s CEO whiffed on what may have been the *biggest PR opportunity in business history*. He could have become a legend overnight, creating the Tesla of financial services by playing a different game. Here’s how he should have handled it 👇

At 54, here’s something I think about a lot: The good old days don’t feel like it at the time. It feels more like struggle. From the age of 25 to 45, you’re in the thick of it—building a career, raising kids, trying to get ahead (or just keep up with life). It’s so easy to lose perspective and forget that… You’re in the sweet spot. One day you’ll look back on that struggle as the best of times. Every season of life has its pros and cons—triumphs and challenges—but there’s nothing quite like the prime adult years. So what are we to do about it? Simply recognize that you’re living your good old days right now. Slow down. Savor it. Smell the roses. Because I’m here to tell you… The days are long, but the years fly by. 🎥: First flight for my younger daughter. I thought I was climbing the mountain—little did I know I was standing on the peak.

I’ll admit it, I’m a water snob. We have Mountain Valley Spring delivered in 5 gallon *glass* bottles and use it for all drinking and cooking. I endorse this list.

At a coffee shop this morning the tip screen defaulted to 5/10/15%—a breath of fresh air! I cheerfully selected 15% and complimented the barista on the modest amounts. He responded: “Oh, there’s an automatic 20% tip—that’s an additional tip. (2 lattes and scones = $10 tip)

Years ago I worked for a CEO who insisted on paying all of our vendors' invoices the day we received them. It's the opposite of how most companies operate so I asked him why. He said... "I want to be all of my vendors' best customer." Over time I saw the brilliance in this simple tactic. We got... —Better pricing (often the vendor would volunteer it to show their appreciation!) —Priority service (hugely valuable when there's an urgent need) —Lots of intangible benefits and goodwill I adopted this tactic in all of my businesses and in my personal life and I can tell you that it's one of the highest ROI things you can do.

Why the rush to deplane? Why do you walk so fast? Why are you always in a hurry? I've heard it my whole life and used to think maybe they were right. Then I realized that operating with urgency is a superpower and a hallmark trait of high performers. It's just how we roll.

I drank water from a garden hose but my kids need a pellet ice maker for their Hydro Flasks.

I have a dream... ...and Midjourney says it looks like this. There’s a perfect storm of opportunity for a moonshot in housing: 1) Home affordability in major metros is out of control 2) There are 40 million remote workers in the US with "portable" income equal to the GDP of Australia. (📍Think about that for a moment—a group of like-minded remote workers has the power to pick a spot on a map and create a local economy from nothing.) 3) There's a growing desire for a simpler, healthier lifestyle & sense of community. 🌊Why not build a new kind of village that surfs these mega-trends? —Inspiring location with great weather, world-class outdoor access, & a regional airport within a 90 min drive (the western slope of Colorado comes to mind) —Beautifully designed, right-sized homes for $500k (no mansions or keeping up with the Joneses) interspersed with… —Affordable (even subsidized) multi-family rental housing for service workers, young & lower-income people, and owners of… —A curated collection of restaurants & shops (individually owned by residents) —Walk & bike only inside the village —Lightning fast internet and co-working space —Hybrid private/home/online school (teachers are residents) This would be the real deal—not a Disney-esque “new urbanism” development in the burbs. The best of old-world Europe meets the best of modern America. Think Telluride or Alys Beach without traffic or tourists. It’s a big, audacious idea but only 1% as audacious as projects already underway in Saudi Arabia (e.g. The Line). I believe there’s huge pent-up demand for this. Heck, I'd leave my beloved Boulder to be part of it. Who’s in? (Share this and let's see how much interest there is.🚀)

I think about this place often. My friend paid $150k for this flat in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, “the Switzerland of France”, then put ~$50k into renovation. —World class ⛷️ 🚴‍♀️ 🧗‍♂️ —Great weather year-round —50 steps from the local market —1 hr from a beach & airport in Nice

This is what $150,000 gets you in Saint Martin de Vesubie, “the Switzerland of South France”. —World class hiking, cycling, skiing, and climbing —Sunny & mild weather year-round —75 min to Nice (beaches & international airport) It’s a good life.

$1.2 million. (not mine, my neighbor’s)

🧵 How to build a great life (17 things I’ve learned) I’ve run hard my whole life—always charging forward, rarely looking back. But 50 hits you different. It’s caused me to pause & reflect. ⬇️

Deals on Teslas are unbeatable right now. I leased a Model 3 for my daughter for $1600 down, $250/mo. $7500 Tesla incentive $5300 CO credit $1500 referral credit Amazing car, 370 mi range. (If you’re in the market my referral link is in comments below—limited to 10.)

The most fun I ever had negotiating a salary: Years ago I hired a guy to a junior marketing role. He was a bike mechanic with no relevant experience, but he had an engineer’s mind and was funny as heck. I asked him to call me to discuss compensation…

“A healthy man has a thousand wishes, a sick man only one.” Only a handful of people know (until now) that the last 5 weeks have been some of the toughest—and most humbling—of my life. On March 6… (short 🧵)

In 1989 I randomly sat next to a cute girl at college orientation. I mustered the courage to say hi. I’ve been married to that girl for 26 years. In 1999 a friend invited me to try rock climbing. I said yes and discovered a life-long passion. In 2017 while sitting in a board meeting I had an epiphany: This isn't the life I want. I quit my job and moved the fam to Boulder with no plan. The rest is history. Here’s the crazy thing about life: One action, one decision, one pivotal moment can change everything (for better or worse). But here's the trick: You don’t know beforehand which action will be the game-changer. That’s why it’s important to have a strong bias toward action. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Make that phone call you’ve been putting off Push through when you feel like quitting Have that uncomfortable conversation Introduce yourself to that cute guy/girl Check out that church or faith group Ask for that promotion or raise Apply for that new job Sign up for that class Start that side hustle Post that tweet Take that trip The world belongs to the bold. Be a seeker, open to change and opportunity. And most importantly... Shoot your shot.

A true story: In 1989 I met a girl named Megan at a college event where we were lined up alphabetically. There was an electricity I’d never felt before. Shortly afterward, I asked Megan out. She said she was busy that weekend. I tried again. Same answer. I moved on. Over the years our paths crossed a few times and eventually we became friends. We waterskied and hiked and fished together platonically — as I said, I’d moved on and was dating other women. One evening—after an epic waterskiing session at Town Lake in Austin—we sat on the dock as the sun set. Megan asked me if I’d met my soul mate. I said no, completely oblivious to what she was really asking. We graduated, I moved away, and we lost touch. A couple more years passed. I took a new job in Dallas, betting my career on this new thing called “The Internet”. One evening I felt especially lonely, so I wrote Megan a long letter, baring my soul. A few weeks later we had our first date. 3 months after that we were engaged. A year later we married. We’ve been married for 27 years. The letter I wrote to Megan now hangs in our house. The moral of our story is… Don’t go through life always wondering what could have been. Say what’s on your heart and don’t mince words. Do you need to write a letter to someone today? (PS: To this day Megan insists that she didn’t turn me down when I first asked her out in 1989. She’s probably right—I was listening to my insecurities and not her actual words.)