My First Million

Michael Girdley: Why Fireworks Are A Cash Cow and How to Operate a Holdco Worth $100 Million

Jun 28, 2022

Michael Girdley, a tech investor and founder of Gridley Enterprises, dives into fascinating topics like the lucrative world of fireworks and the secrets behind running a successful holding company. He discusses the financial intricacies of managing a $100 million fireworks business and shares insights on hiring exceptional CEOs. Girdley also highlights the importance of global talent and innovative strategies for long-term success. Plus, he reflects on personal stories from his entrepreneurial journey, including adventures in China and unexpected business discoveries.

01:03:17

Episode guests

Michael Girdley

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

What's So Hard About It?

01:59

How Much Revenue Does A Fireworks Ship Make?

01:39

How to Be Productive to Day at Work

01:40

Intro

3min

Valuing Holdings and Wealth Dynamics

5min

Navigating Fireworks Business Profitability

6min

Exploring Behind the Scenes of Fireworks in China

4min

Adventures in Business and Unique Learning Experiences

4min

Unconventional Success: Lessons from the Life of Charlie Munger

2min

Harnessing Global Talent and Entrepreneurial Evolution

12min

Innovative Business Philosophies

24min

The Intersection of Timeless Human Desires and Modern Technology

2min

Shaan Puri (@ShaanVP) and Sam Parr (@TheSamParr) talk to tech investor and entrepreneur Michael Girdley (@girdley), about selling fireworks, how to hire great CEOs, and what it takes to operate a successful holding company.

Also, want $5,000? Check out the My First Million Clips contest.

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Show Notes:

(05:00) - How rich are you?

(08:55) - Which business is the best cash cow?

(15:40) - Waste paper mill in China

(21:30) - The anti-advice of Berkshire Hathaway

(27:05) - Hiring great CEOs

(32:50) - What it takes to run a holdco

(56:40) - Unpopular opinions

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Past guests on My First Million include Rob Dyrdek, Hasan Minhaj, Balaji Srinivasan, Jake Paul, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Gary Vee, Lance Armstrong, Sophia Amoruso, Ariel Helwani, Ramit Sethi, Stanley Druckenmiller, Peter Diamandis, Dharmesh Shah, Brian Halligan, Marc Lore, Jason Calacanis, Andrew Wilkinson, Julian Shapiro, Kat Cole, Codie Sanchez, Nader Al-Naji, Steph Smith, Trung Phan, Nick Huber, Anthony Pompliano, Ben Askren, Ramon Van Meer, Brianne Kimmel, Andrew Gazdecki, Scott Belsky, Moiz Ali, Dan Held, Elaine Zelby, Michael Saylor, Ryan Begelman, Jack Butcher, Reed Duchscher, Tai Lopez, Harley Finkelstein, Alexa von Tobel, Noah Kagan, Nick Bare, Greg Isenberg, James Altucher, Randy Hetrick and more.

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