Equal on deck

This is one of Dave's lessons that is difficult to put into words. Some of it has to do with Dave’s casual way of making people feel at ease in his company, no matter where they came from or what walk of life they followed. He truly believed everyone was equal, and no level of status or experience—nor the absence of either—changed the way he treated people. On the boat, long-distance sailors or super-successful racers were given the same welcome as those setting foot on deck for the first time.

That’s not how most boats are run. There’s probably no better place to observe top-down management in action than on a vessel at sea. (Well, maybe the army.) So the fact that Dave held to this principle made him stand out. It’s also why there was never a shortage of people eager to crew for him.

Of course, there were many who only wanted to sail in good weather. Others preferred to show up for drinks once the boat was tied up. Some liked the idea of sailing but always backed out at the last minute. It didn’t matter. He never took it personally. He kept inviting them anyway, even if they didn’t share his deep enthusiasm for being out on the water.

Conclusion: stay true to your beliefs.