I’m writing from the tropical storm side of Hurricane Helene where the rain isn’t too heavy and the tornados are small. Here’s hoping you are dry, safe, and unscathed.

This week has been full of meetings with advisors and other technology leaders who are all seeking to make businesses, operations, and impact more effective. The ambition for better is palpable.

This week I’m focused on the ways we make paths for people, opportunities and the future of our space.

Here’s this week’s Connected Advisor.

1. The Power of Building Paths, Not Walls

2. Bookmarks

   • Mammoth Launches with Vident & Blue Trust

   • WordPress Community in Disarray

   • The New American Football Album

3. Milemarker On the Road ✈️

Let’s go.

The Power of Building Paths, Not Walls

Last year, I saw kids cutting through my yard from the woods behind my property line. I wasn’t surprised. I was that kid once, finding shortcuts wherever I could. What I didn’t realize was just how many kids were using my yard until my own kids showed me that Snapchat’s Map tool created a path due to the number of kids who came that way. We were the new neighborhood shortcut.

At that point, I had two options:

1. Build a wall - keep my grass from getting mashed down by the feet and bikes and scooters and wait for Snapchat to forget about this specific shortcut.

2. Build a path - prepare the ground for the amount of traffic by properly grading and filling in and rocking the space where lots of people could travel home, to school, to the library, or to get snacks from the convenience store.

I chose the path.

Next up, was figuring out how to build it. I found some tutorials online about different kinds of paths to build and got my family involved. I could’ve hired someone, but that would’ve missed the point. It wasn’t only about the final product—it was about creating a way forward.

Now, our yard path is well-known on Snapchat, and people stop by to make sure it’s okay they use it or to just thank us for the shortcut.

Walls or Paths: Your Leadership Landscaping

In business, we face the same choice: build walls or create paths.

When I told Eric Clarke I was leaving to start my own business in 2015, he could’ve thrown up a wall. Instead, he laid out a path for me. I’m still so thankful for that kindness. Real leadership isn’t about hoarding knowledge or blocking others’ growth. It’s about sharing your experience to help others succeed.

Ambition Meets Real Leadership

Walls—both imagined and real—are designed to hem people in. It’s our job as leaders to knock those walls down and clear the way for others.

When a top team member has big ambitions, do you put up a wall of “company needs” or do you help them forge their path? The latter is where the magic happens.

Saban: College Football’s Ultimate Path Builder

Look at Nick Saban. Yes, he’s known for winning national championships, but his true legacy is the paths he’s built for others.

The Kirby Smarts, Steve Sarkisians, and Lane Kiffins of the world didn’t just happen by chance. They were cultivated by Saban, who didn’t just teach them the X’s and O’s, but showed genuine care for their careers and lives.

Take Steve Sarkisian as an example. When Sark was struggling, Saban stepped in—not just as a coach but as a mentor. That intervention didn’t just revitalize Sarkisian’s career; it literally saved his life when doctors discovered a life-threatening heart condition. Saban went the extra mile to ensure his staff was okay on and off the field.

Leaders Who Build Paths Drive Greater Impact

And it’s not just anecdotal. Research backs this up: leaders who invest in developing others see stronger business results. Companies with robust leadership development programs outperform peers by 15% in revenue growth (American Management Association). The return on investment isn’t just financial—it’s cultural, relational, and long-lasting.

Building Paths in Business

In business, it’s no different. We need to build on-ramps for the next generation—especially for those who don’t look like us or come from the same backgrounds. Whether through hiring, leadership development, or client support, the paths we create today will shape the future of our companies and industries.

So, the question is: Will you build paths or walls?

Are you helping your team, your clients, and your community find their way to greater success? Don’t let the fear of someone else’s success keep you from helping them grow. There’s room for everyone to win.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about our own journey. It’s also about who we help along the way.

________________________

Bookmarks

Blue Trust Selects Vident, Brightlight, and Mammoth Technology to Launch Revolutionary Faith-Based Private Investing Platform

I’m proud to be part of the team at Mammoth where we are working to solve the connectivity and experience problem that exists with private investments. Mammoth is making great progress and this week, it announced a key partnership with Blue Trust, Brightlight and Vident.

If you’d like to learn more, just reply and I’ll intro you to the team to set up a demo.

Blue Trust selected Vident Asset Management (“Vident”) to build a new platform for Blue Trust advisors and clients that provides specialized due diligence and state-of-the-art technology. This platform is designed to provide a unique opportunity for advisors to offer their clients investments that align their financial goals with their faith and values. This first-of-its-kind platform is set to transform the landscape of private investing by offering a comprehensive, faith-driven approach. Brightlight and Mammoth Technology were invited to participate due to their capability of providing a highly curated catalog of private investment funds designed for Blue Trust clients on an innovative technology platform.

Blue Trust Sought Due Diligence that Ensures a Faith-based Alignment of Values

Due diligence on each private fund is performed by Brightlight, an industry leader in investment research and analysis. Brightlight is renowned for its ethical evaluation processes, ensuring that all investment opportunities meet the highest standards of impact-driven criteria. Its expertise provides an added layer of trust and integrity to the platform, making it a reliable choice for advisors when working with their clients to pursue aligning their money with their faith.

Technology Powered by Mammoth

Mammoth Technology brings cutting-edge technology and innovative processes, enabling seamless workflows and user experiences. The flexibility of its platform allows for a variety of funds to be offered through a unified experience while keeping the costs low for end investors and optimizing the process for the advisory firms that manage the investments. Mammoth works alongside each firm's tech stack to ensure accurate reporting and improve the confidence and scalability of allocating to private markets.

WordPress At Risk

Late last week, a controversy hit the WordPress community related to licensing and contribution to the broader open-source community. WordPress founder Matt Mullenwig decided to target WPEngine, seeking to extract a 7-8% annual licensing fee for the use of “WP” in their brand.

Up until last Thursday, WPEngine had operated by all of the community standards as part of the WordPress community.

This issue is causing a massive rift in an open-source community that powers 40% of the web, and the long-term ramifications are TBD.

WPEngine has been my host of choice for 12+ years and is ultimately who I am siding with in this matter.

American Football

The band American Football is a classic for me and over the next few weeks they will be progressively releasing a covers album.

If you’re looking for something different to add to your playlist, this listen may be for you.

Milemarker on the Road

Catch our team on the road at the following events or cities:

1. October 6-10 - Arlington, TX

2. October 23-24 - Nashville, TN

3. October 25 - Charleston, SC

4. October 28-30 - San Francisco, CA

5. November 4-5 - New York, NY

6. November 11-12 - Charleston, SC

7. November 12-13 - San Diego, CA

8. November 12-14 - Arlington, TX

9. November 18-20 - San Francisco, CA

10. November 21-22 - Omaha, NE

11. December 4-5 - New York, NY

12. December 9-11 - Las Vegas, NV

If you’re in any of those cities and want to arrange a meeting time, reply to this email, and we’ll get something on the calendar.

Jud Mackrill