Give Give Give Ask

We built PIRATE to build something that matters. Purpose over profit. That doesn’t mean we don’t like profit. We do. We just believe that profit isn’t a goal in itself. It’s what allows us to pursue our purpose.

Generosity is not only a wonderful virtue - the act of giving feels good for the giver, too. To understand why we value it so highly, look at our roots. We were born out of the startup ecosystem, which has a strong pay-it-forward culture. That is one of the main reasons we love it.

If you work at PIRATE, we expect you to live that culture. The first intent when meeting someone should always be: “What can I do for you?” That same standard applies with colleagues, customers, partners, and just about anybody.

Being generous is surprising someone with goodwill and requesting nothing in return. It may be your time, your attention, or your money. We give what we’re expected to, and then some. We might make an introduction even if we don’t benefit directly. We might say yes even if the customer expected a no. If the request is reasonable, grant it. Sometimes saying no is the right thing. That’s okay too. Don’t feel guilty about it.

We refuse to believe in a win-lose world. When negotiating a deal or partnership, we strive for the 49:51 rule - always give a little more than the other side. Negotiation is not a duel to win. It’s a puzzle to solve together. We care about both results and relationships. On top of that, it feels good.

Being a giver doesn’t mean you have to be on the giving end of every interaction. You can receive in a spirit of generosity too: be thoughtful when you ask, grateful for what you receive, and willing to pay it forward.