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"Everybody you meet in this world is either a fountain or a drain." Years ago, Travis Kelce's college football coach said this to him. He went on to say that what he needed was a fountain, and that Kelce was being a very big drain.
That simple observation had a profound effect on Kelce, as these things sometimes do when they land at just the right time. "Changed his life," one of Kelce's closest friends confided to the Wall Street Journal. The rest of the article goes on to recount the many ways that the Kelce of today is indeed a fountain--supporting a local nonprofit that serves children living in poverty, gathering his oldest friends to share his triumphs and defeats, committing to his team, his adopted city, and the game itself despite the numerous injuries and surgeries that have left the 34-year-old in constant pain.
The fact that he's so much more fountain than drain is likely why Taylor Swift is dating him. Likes him so much, in fact, that she often travels to Kansas City to see him, and was perhaps at his house, waiting for him, as he and the Journal reporter wrapped up their interview. Swift, too, is more of a fountain than a drain--she seems to make the choice to be generous with almost everything she does.
While the choice to be a fountain does not in itself explain Swift's or Kelce's outsize success, it's a valuable lesson for every business leader, not to mention every human being. The more you fill people up, the more you support them and their needs, the more they'll want to spend time with you, work with you, buy from you, and invest in you. The more you act as a drain, the more you'll drive those same people away.
You might be thinking that--of course--being a giver more than a taker comes easily to this pair of successful, wealthy, and outlandishly lucky people. I believe the opposite is true. As Kelce told the Journal, neither he nor Swift can go anywhere without being tailed by crowds of photographers, and drones watching them from overhead. It's the kind of intrusive attention that helped drive Harry and Meghan away from the royal family, and contributed to the death of Harry's mother, Princess Diana.
That kind of constant hounding can turn the most saintly person into a grouch, and one of the things Kelce admires about Swift is that she takes it all in stride. "The scrutiny she gets, how much she has a magnifying glass on her, every single day, paparazzi outside her house, outside every restaurant she goes to, after every flight she gets off, and she's just living, enjoying life," he told the Journal. Beyond that, when agents, publicists, journalists, and an infinite number of fans are constantly telling you that you're the most special person in the world, it can be hard not to start believing it yourself, and behaving that way. This is why pop stars other than Swift and football stars other than Kelce are not generally known for being polite, kindly, or level-headed.
In truth, I don't think Kelce's college coach was completely right. Yes, everyone you meet is a fountain or a drain, but that's only who they are at that moment. I think most of us are both at different times and in different situations. The real question is, can you spend more of your time giving and less time taking? Can you choose to be a fountain when it really matters--when a partner, friend, family member, or employee--needs you to be your best self?
There's a growing audience of Inc.com readers who receive a daily text from me with a self-care or motivational micro-challenge or tip. Often, they text me back and we wind up in a conversation. (Want to learn more? Here's some information about the texts and a special invitation to an extended free trial.) Many are entrepreneurs or business leaders and they know how important it is to be the fountain whose team members, customers, and partners depend on them to make the right choices. Choosing to be a fountain as often as you can is one great way to do that.
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In 1 Sentence, NFL Star--and Taylor Swift Boyfriend--Travis Kelce Taught a Huge Lesson About Success
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03.12.2023
This Entrepreneur Grew His Company Nearly 300 Percent in 3 Years by Sending Cold Emails
When and How to Curse at Work
Here Are the Top DEI Trends of 2023 -- and What They Mean for the Year Ahead
How to Better Support Mental Wellness at Work
The Biggest Business Fails of 2023
"Everybody you meet in this world is either a fountain or a drain." Years ago, Travis Kelce's college football coach said this to him. He went on to say that what he needed was a fountain, and that Kelce was being a very big drain.
That simple observation had a profound effect on Kelce, as these things sometimes do when they land at just the right time. "Changed his life," one of Kelce's closest friends confided to the Wall Street Journal. The rest of the article goes on to recount the many ways that the Kelce of today is indeed a fountain--supporting a local nonprofit that serves children living in poverty, gathering his oldest friends to share his triumphs and defeats, committing to his team, his adopted city, and the game itself........
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