The Jordan Harbinger Show

447: Stephen Schwarzman | Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence

Dec 15, 2020
Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of The Blackstone Group and author, shares lessons drawn from his diverse experiences. He recounts a transformative college encounter with a Nazi roommate, illustrating resilience. Stephen discusses the surprising equivalence of small and large goals, emphasizing risk in entrepreneurship. He highlights the importance of candor in organizations and shares insights on talent assessment during hiring, focusing on both verbal and nonverbal cues. His reflections intertwine personal stories with sharp business acumen.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Nazi Roommate

  • Stephen Schwarzman's Yale roommate displayed a Nazi flag and played "Hitler's Marching Army."
  • His grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, was horrified by this upon visiting.
INSIGHT

Big Goals vs. Small Goals

  • Achieving small goals is as difficult as big ones, but larger goals offer greater rewards.
  • Big visions attract talent and offer more opportunities for success.
ADVICE

Entrepreneurship and Risk

  • Focus on sure successes at large scale to maximize impact.
  • Thoroughly evaluate potential downsides and control risks before pursuing any venture.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app