BECOME The Rising Tide That Lifts All Boats

How to benefit everyone around you

Wednesday, August 13th, 2025

Writing to you from Uruguay

An important conversation 2 days ago opened up a topic which is rarely talked about, but is absolutely necessary to the betterment of you and I, as well as everyone around us.

I had heard my father say it in the past, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

It’s a phrase generally used to describe how overall economic prosperity benefits everyone involved - even indirectly benefiting some. But, that’s never how my father used it. Instead, what he really meant by it was: “a rising tide” - you (as a person making strong personal progress) - “lifts all boats” - improve those around you.

Unconsciously, I have been using the phrase in that meaning ever since, and didn’t realize it until the other night when I was questioned about it…

The Problem

Someone had come to me with a problem. One which was similar (but not exactly the same) as the problem I faced two years ago before I started The Preparation. Two years ago I was completely lost - angry at the world, disappointed with myself for being lightyears away from the man I want to be, and completely unsure of what to do with my life as my 18th birthday was fast approaching.

Anyway…

The person who came to me about this problem isn’t lost themself, but someone they love is. For reference, everyone mentioned (myself and the two others) are all about 20 years old and none of us go to college. Meaning it’s high time to grab life by the horns and get to it.

The question from this person was: should they try to help the person they love get on their feet by paving the way for them (continuously helping them learn/do new things).

“No”, I said.

“But, you always say, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’…”

“Yes, but you - as the rising tide - have to choose when to be a direct or indirect aid to people. There are times to help someone out in a direct way and that’s what my dad did for me at the beginning of The Preparation. He knew I was lost, showed me an unique path, and gave me the push I needed to dive into it. But, the best way to help most people close to you is by doing it in a completely indirect way. As you improve, you indirectly benefit everyone around you. The best way to show people the path is to walk it yourself.

Think of it like fighting a wildfire. There’s two primary methods of attack: direct and indirect. Sometimes you want to face the fire head-on, dropping water on it, and digging line directly in its path. Other times, you want to build indirect lines of attack to box the fire in or start controlled fires to starve it of fuel.”

Direct attack on a wildfire

I’ll admit, it wasn’t the perfect metaphor because you want to kindle peoples’ inner fire, not quench it. But, I think I got the point across.

The person I was talking to seemed a bit more relieved knowing that they don’t have the bear the burden of holding someone’s hand and guiding them to what they must seek and do alone. Sometimes trying to help people directly is like sherpa carrying a healthy man on his back up Everest.

It’s tough work, and did anybody really benefit?

The sherpa is weighed down by the man (and second-hand embarrassment for him). And, the man himself did not actually complete the difficult task, one which may have been vital for his growth and progress.

Indirect Approach

The greatest people in our lives are those who are known for doing good work on a consistent basis.

Seems like every other person I talk to has that one hard working grandfather who had a positive, forward-looking attitude. Everyone looks up to him for the man he is and what he does. He doesn’t have to sit you down and give you a “hard talking to” every day or walk you through every part of life in order to show you what you should be doing…his being speaks for him.

He is the rising tide.

I’m lucky enough to have a couple of people in my life that act as that rising tide. And, I hope that you’re just as lucky as I am, but even if you’re not, all that matters is that you become that person. When it comes to the troubles in life that other people close to you will undoubtably bring, being a person worth emulating solves a lot of those problems. It calls forth the best in people.

You want to be the person who’s soul and life (as a proof of work) practically grab people by their lapel and beg them to be the person they could be.

-Maxim Benjamin Smith