You’re Just the Founder
Relationships matter in business and how you treat people will redound to you in time for good or for bad. There would be no good reason normally for Mr. Blank not to refer good prospects to a particular world-class VC firm with which he had dealt except for this bad experience with one of its representatives. And I don't blame him. It is a classic case of reaping what you sow - the big-name partner for his condescending ways and the junior guy for his arrogance.<p>It works the other way too. People can and do remember kindnesses and gracious acts from those who do them out of sincerity because they care about the people involved, even in a business context. It is just such acts that inspire the best of relationships that can last for decades.