Where Timing Shapes the Relationship
Matthias was attending a conference in Nashville, and we stepped away for a walk. Standing on the Veterans Bridge over the Cumberland River, we found a quiet moment for a meaningful conversation.
Matthias and I were introduced to each other a number of years ago through a mutual colleague. At the time, his organization was evaluating a few potential investments, and I was brought in as a potential technical expert. It was one of those situations where you are asked to help assess the truth beneath the numbers.
We spoke on the phone numerous times and then met for the first time in person in Los Angeles, where his office was located. I still remember taking the train from San Diego to LA for that meeting. The beauty of the coastline was an unexpected and powerful part of the journey.
It was formal on paper, diligence, analysis, risk, opportunity, but relational in practice. We talked through the business, the technology, the people and the probability of success. We got along not in the performative way but through shared curiosity, direct questions, and mutual respect.
We continued to talk over time recognizing that in mergers and acquisitions, timing and circumstance ultimately determine whether a relationship made sense. Some opportunities moved forward. Others didn’t. That’s the nature of the work.
Our connection is an acknowledgement that many of the most meaningful professional relationships don’t follow a straight line. They form at the intersection of curiosity, competence, and opportunity, and sometimes timing is the only variable you can’t control.
Dialogue Miles™ reminds me that not every conversation is about closing a deal. Some are about opening a door that may matter years later. Some are simply about learning from another person's perspective. Matthias is one of those people.
A Few Things That Stayed with Me
Resilience shows up in business and in life.
Generating returns in private equity requires persistence in shifting markets. Life can demand that same resilience. Matthias shared the story of losing his home in the Pacific Palisades fire and beginning a new chapter in Florida.Not all connections have immediate outcomes.
Relationship building takes time—and that’s okay.Trust compounds quietly.
The most honest, unforced conversations are often the ones that last.M&A tests people, not just models.
How someone shows up in uncertainty tells you more than how they show up in success.The long arc matters.
Many relationships reveal their value over time—not immediately.
Grateful for the walk, Matthias, and for the kind of relationship that continues to evolve with time, perspective, and experience. Looking forward to the next conversation.
