Shoveling Shit & Building Empires: The Cheat Codes to Startup Success with Mike & Kass Lazerow
Feb 5, 2025
auto_awesome
Michael Parekh, an AI expert with a background at Goldman Sachs, joins Mike and Kass Lazerow, founders and authors of "Shoveling Shit: A Love Story." They explore the roaring growth of AI, dissect Google’s dominance, and analyze Palantir's meteoric rise. The Lazerows share real entrepreneurial struggles, emphasizing the importance of hiring and strong company culture. They also delve into the innovative marketing strategies of Liquid Death, revealing how storytelling fuels brand loyalty and consumer engagement.
Mike and Cass Lazerow emphasize the critical importance of company culture and initial hires in determining a startup's long-term success.
The transformative impact of AI in entrepreneurship allows businesses to scale efficiently, enhancing operations and identifying new growth opportunities.
Their experiences highlight the complexities of entrepreneurial relationships, stressing the need for effective communication and distinct roles to maintain a healthy partnership.
Deep dives
The Journey of an Entrepreneurial Couple
The podcast features a discussion with entrepreneurs Mike and Cass Lazaro, who share insights from their experience running successful ventures together. They emphasize the significance of establishing a positive company culture from the start, noting that the first hires can make or break a startup's future. The duo reflects on their journey building Buddy Media, highlighting that despite initial challenges, they managed to scale effectively and eventually sold the company for $800 million. Their story illustrates the intertwining of personal and professional lives, showcasing that overcoming obstacles in entrepreneurship can foster deeper relationships.
Insights on Writing and Marketing a Book
Mike and Cass discuss their decision to write a book titled 'Shoveling Shit,' which provides cheat codes for aspiring entrepreneurs. They reveal the challenges of maintaining creative control while focusing on marketing and distribution just like a startup. Their goal is to arm future business owners with practical strategies and real-life insights, asserting the importance of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship. Through their book, they aim to create a community where entrepreneurs can learn from each other's experiences and avoid common pitfalls.
The Role of AI in Business Growth
The conversation touches on the transformative impact of AI in various business sectors, highlighting how companies can leverage advanced technologies to enhance operations. Guests note that AI has enabled businesses to scale more effectively with fewer resources, making it easier for entrepreneurs to succeed. They also discuss how companies that adapt to evolving digital landscapes can recognize unprecedented opportunities for growth, especially in a post-pandemic world. The emergence of AI is framed as a catalyst for innovation, allowing founders to streamline processes and reach customers more efficiently.
Exploring Investments and Market Trends
The podcast explores the current investment landscape, particularly focusing on companies that are perceived as rare assets due to unique market positions or innovative products. Mike Parekh draws comparisons between companies like Google, Palantir, and Liquid Death, examining their distinct value propositions and consumer appeal. He highlights that in an era when traditional metrics might not capture real value, understanding the narrative behind a company's growth is essential. The conversation underscores the importance of storytelling in branding and investment, pushing entrepreneurs to harness their unique narratives.
Navigating Personal Relationships in Business
The podcast also delves into the challenges faced by entrepreneurial couples, discussing how to effectively manage personal and professional dynamics. Cass shares her perspective on the need for distinct roles within a partnership to ensure productivity and harmony. Both emphasize the necessity of not taking business disagreements personally, which can help preserve the relationship outside of work. Their experiences shed light on the complexities of collaboration between spouses, offering lessons on communication and the maintenance of a balanced partnership.
Join Howard Lindzon, Michael Parekh, Phil Pearlman, and special guests Mike & Kass Lazerow as they dive into the storytelling in business, AI’s impact on growth, and the hard truths of entrepreneurship.
In this episode of Trends with Friends, we discuss Google’s AI dominance, Palantir’s explosive growth, and why Liquid Death is changing the game in consumer branding. Mike & Kass share insights from their upcoming book, Shoveling Shit: A Love Story, unpacking the real struggles of building a company, hiring the right people, and why focus is the ultimate startup cheat code.
📅 Recorded live on February 2025
🎙️ Special Guests: Mike & Kass Lazerow, Founders & Authors of Shoveling Shit: A Love Story
🔑 Brought to you by Stocktwits
Charts: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSGxXj3vrwK4NxDUNwEbiPyix1dieUOLb9NrNY4zQNpxq1TXbxZIUnY8tb9jwEGPGaRM8wN32YnZIZP/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g32ca5c0f423_0_12
Key Topics Covered:
Palantir’s meteoric rise: Government ties, meme status & AI expansion
Google’s AI advantage: Why it’s quietly the most dominant player
Shoveling Shit: A Love Story: The unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship
The Cheat Codes to Success: Scaling, hiring, and avoiding costly mistakes
Liquid Death & Consumer Branding: How marketing became the new engineering
The Costco & Gold Trade: What these rare assets signal about markets
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
03:02 The Journey of Mike and Cass Lazerow
05:17 Entrepreneurship and the Era of AI
08:29 Palantir's Market Position and Trends
14:11 Google: The Most Interesting Chart
19:37 Google's Role in AI and Digital Advertising
24:26 Investor Insights and Future Predictions
28:55 Android's High-End Opportunity
30:36 The AI Battle: Google vs. Apple
33:25 Introducing 'Shoveling Shit': A New Book
34:45 Cheat Codes for Entrepreneurs
36:34 The Importance of Company Culture
39:27 Focus: The Key to Success
41:51 The Dynamics of a Husband-Wife Team
44:55 Overcoming Rejection in Business
49:19 Book Launch and Final Thoughts
50:04 The Journey of Writing a Book
54:53 Entrepreneurship and the Importance of Control
56:01 Qualities of Successful Founders
01:00:01 Market Insights and Rare Assets
01:05:16 The Importance of Movement and Creativity
01:06:31 Innovative Companies and Marketing Strategies
Where To Find Howard and Friends:
• Howard - https://stocktwits.com/howardlindzon
• Phil - https://stocktwits.com/ppearlman
• Michael Parekh - https://stocktwits.com/MParekh
• Michael Lazerow - https://x.com/lazerow
• Kass Lazerow -https://x.com/kasslazerow
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates. The hosts are not SEC or FINRA registered advisors or professionals. The content of this show is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Read the full terms & conditions here: https://stocktwits.com/about/legal/terms/
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
