Local, Fun, Lucrative
Score board opportunities on proximity, chemistry, and upside
- Difficulty
- Starter
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 99%
The Local, Fun, Lucrative scorecard evaluates board opportunities on three dimensions. Local asks whether the role avoids a life dominated by repetitive travel, with remote participation making the boundary somewhat more flexible. Fun is not merely whether the company seems interesting; Barton treats it chiefly as the quality of the boardroom and leadership dynamic, favoring collegial groups rowing toward the same goal over factional conflict. Lucrative includes potential rather than guaranteed compensation: the question is whether the candidate would willingly buy the company as a growth stock. Greg Maffei's rule, shared with Barton early in his career, is to require at least two of the three. Passing all three creates the ideal trifecta.
Origin
Greg Maffei gave Barton the construct early in Barton's career; Jay Hoag offered similar advice.
Core principles
- 01A role should satisfy at least two of three criteria
- 02Local work limits soul-crushing travel
- 03Fun depends heavily on collaborative boardroom dynamics
- 04Lucrative includes credible future equity upside
How to run it
- 1
Score local
Estimate the recurring travel and disruption required by the role. Pass the criterion when participation fits the life you want to lead.
Pro tip Account for remote meetings without pretending they eliminate every in-person obligation.
Watch out Frequent travel can make an otherwise attractive portfolio of roles soul crushing.
- 2
Score fun
Meet the board and leadership team, then assess whether they collaborate toward a shared objective. Treat entrenched factions and status conflict as a failure.
Pro tip Evaluate the people around the table, not only the company's product or prestige.
Watch out A compelling company can still have a miserable boardroom dynamic.
- 3
Score lucrative
Judge the credible equity or compensation upside. Ask whether you would choose to own the stock as a growth investment.
Pro tip Potentially lucrative can pass even when current cash compensation is limited.
Watch out Prestige is not a substitute for believable upside.
- 4
Apply the threshold
Accept only when at least two of the three criteria pass. Give priority to opportunities that deliver the full trifecta.
Pro tip Use the scorecard before emotional or reactive commitment.
Watch out Do not rationalize a one-of-three result after becoming attached to the opportunity.
In the wild
Tim Ferriss described people whose board commitments made them seem like traveling salesmen moving between cities every other week. Barton agreed that this pattern is soul crushing and used the local criterion to explain why proximity belongs in the scorecard.
→ The criterion protects lifestyle quality before a prestigious role creates recurring travel obligations.
Barton defines fun through the people and dynamics around the table: a collegial leadership team rowing together passes, while old factions fighting over competing agendas does not.
→ The score distinguishes an enjoyable company-building role from a draining political one.
Common mistakes
Confusing prestige with fun
The relevant test is the actual boardroom and leadership dynamic, not the company's fame or category.
Accepting a one-factor role
The rule requires at least two of local, fun, and lucrative rather than allowing one exceptional benefit to hide two serious costs.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for leaders choosing among advisory or board roles with different travel, team, and equity profiles.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for mandatory fiduciary assignments or mission-driven service where financial upside is intentionally irrelevant.
From the transcript
“is it local? Is it fun? Is it lucrative?”
“It's got to be two out of three at least. If it can be all three, trifecta score.”
“really it's the boardroom dynamic.”
From the episode
#806: How Rich Barton Built Expedia and Zillow from $0 to $35B — Audacious Goals, Provocation Marketing, Scrabble for Naming, and Powerful Daily Rituals
Rich Barton