25 Years Ago, I Made a Phone Call That Changed My Life.
I had just come across an article about a man I had never heard of, but whose company was already legendary: Patagonia.
The article described how multiple U.S. Presidents had sought mentorship from its Founder, a quiet, unassuming entrepreneur named Yvon Chouinard, to help instill the right values into their administrations.
I was 28 years old, about to launch my first truly significant venture: University of Dreams. I didn’t just want to start a company. I wanted to build a mission-driven organization. The idea of core values guiding that journey really resonated with me.
So I did something bold.
I picked up the phone and called Patagonia’s headquarters.
To my surprise, someone answered. And even more surprisingly, after introducing myself and sharing why I was calling, they didn’t brush me off.
Instead, I was invited to have lunch with Yvon Chouinard at Patagonia’s world headquarters in Ventura, California.
When I arrived, I was greeted with a full tour of the campus. My guide treated me like I was the most important person in the world that day. At the end of the tour, he gave me a piece of advice I’ll never forget:
“Eric, when you have lunch with Yvon, remember his commitment to the environment, and only use one napkin. It’s a bit of a pet peeve of his, and things will go much smoother if you use only what you need.”
That moment said everything about the culture Yvon had created.
At lunch, Yvon didn’t talk at me. He asked deep, meaningful questions about why I wanted to start my company. He shared his philosophies on values, culture, and leadership, not as theories, but as principles lived out in the DNA of Patagonia.
He didn’t rush. He was present, thoughtful, passionate.
At the end of our time together, he asked if I had a little more time. When I said yes, he walked away and came back with a member of his Executive Team.
“Eric,” he said, “I’ve asked our executives to clear their schedule for the next hour. They’re going to walk you through Patagonia’s core values, how we created them, and more importantly, how we live them every single day. Would that be OK with you?”
It was the easiest “yes” of my life.
That session turned into a two-hour masterclass in values-based leadership. I walked away with ten core values for University of Dreams, values that would guide us for years to come. My little start-up would become a global company guided by the core values we developed that afternoon.
That day wasn’t just a meeting.
It was a turning point.
It was a lesson in humility, mentorship, and leadership by example.
For Yvon, maybe it was just another Tuesday.
But for me? It was one of the most formative days of my entire life.
This is a call to action: Whatever greatness you have within, pay it forward!
