Friends of the Good : How Remarkable Friendships Transform Our Lives

A successful investor, philanthropist, and leading wellness CEO “delivers impactful anecdotes and personal testimonies that inspire, motivate and celebrate the importance of community and connection” (Essence).

A successful entrepreneur, Harvard Business School graduate, and devoted husband and parent, Demond Martin is, by all accounts, a self-made man. But when Demond stumbled across Aristotle’s theory on friendship—friends of the good—he learned about the three types of companionship at the center of our orbits: convenience, pleasure, and virtue. As Demond considers his past and his present, he realizes how much goodness has helped him along a path of intention.

In Friends of the Good, Demond reflects on how it wasn’t simply by luck, or chance, that he found the courage to leave a violent environment as a preteen; it was thanks to a supportive teacher who taught him to lean into his gifts. His “Chosen Family” immersed Demond in the importance of service and kinship as part of Alpha Phi Alpha. Being raised by “Givers” such as his beloved Grannie, surrounded Demond in foundational love for himself and others. And the “Second Fathers” and “Guiding Lights” helped Demond build his entrepreneurial and industrial spirit, fast tracking him to roles in The White House, a major investment firm, and later to co-found a company delivering wellness solutions to underserved communities. 

Demond not only introduces readers to the individuals, he explores how these connections and lessons offered mentorship, leadership, and personal reflection, providing the foresight to recognize his dreams and the fortitude to pursue them. Complete with applicable insights and personal reflections, Friends of the Good is a practical guide on what success can look like at all stages of life.

Investor and philanthropist Demond Martin is the co-founder and CEO of WellWithAll, an innovative health and wellness company that pours a significant portion of its profits into health equity for Black, Brown, and underserved communities. Prior to becoming CEO of WellWithAll, Demond was a senior partner at Adage Capital Management for twenty-two years. Demond and his wife, Kia, focus on erasing gaps created by racial and social injustice in the areas of education and healthcare through philanthropic programs such as The Martin Scholars.

Corey Hajim is a writer and story editor who has spent most of her career helping people share their most powerful ideas. As the business curator for TED Conferences, she worked with hundreds of influential thinkers—from Fortune 500 CEOs to groundbreaking entrepreneurs, authors, and academics—to craft talks that have reached millions globally. Hajim holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Vermont.