The Daily Stoic Brad Stone on the Rise of Amazon and Leading With Empathy
Jul 10, 2021
Explore the rise of Amazon and its profound impact on society with insights from journalist Brad Stone. He discusses Jeff Bezos's leadership evolution and the balance between ambition and kindness. The podcast dives into Amazon's labor challenges, particularly its automation and workforce management issues, and how the company soared during the pandemic. Additionally, it examines the moral dilemmas consumers face with major corporations and the contrasting lives of billionaires, questioning the relationship between success and personal fulfillment.
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Bezos' Cleverness vs. Kindness
- A young Jeff Bezos calculated the cost of smoking for his grandmother.
- His grandfather, a NASA engineer, responded by saying, "It's harder to be kind than clever."
Bezos: Systems over Kindness
- Bezos, while brilliant, is not primarily known for kindness in his professional life.
- He prioritizes systems for growth and invention at Amazon, pushing boundaries for efficiency.
Balancing Brilliance with Kindness
- Brilliant, busy people often face the tension of most others not meeting their standards.
- Balancing high expectations with kindness remains a constant challenge for them.
