Matthew Pohlson, co-founder and CEO of Omaze, has transformed the business landscape with innovative fundraising tactics, raising over $300 million for charity through unique prize giveaways. He shares how he convinced the Pope to sell his Lamborghini and orchestrated a space trip with Richard Branson. Pohlson’s near-death experience deepened his leadership and empathy, guiding him through the challenges of blending profit with purpose, while leveraging celebrity engagements to amplify charitable impact.
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Near-Death Experience
Matthew Pohlson's near-death experience involved flatlining for four and a half minutes after a bowel obstruction.
His mother's persistent encouragement and the hospital staff's collective positive energy played a crucial role in his miraculous recovery.
insights INSIGHT
Expanded Perception
Near-death experiences and psychedelic trips can provide access to information typically filtered by the brain.
These experiences can induce a relaxed state, expanding perception and reducing the focus on survival.
insights INSIGHT
Life Change Requires Action
Life-changing moments create opportunities for personal growth, but require conscious effort and action.
Lasting change comes from embracing curiosity, daily practice, and seeking new patterns, not just the initial event.
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In this book, Donald Miller presents the StoryBrand Framework, a proven system to help businesses effectively communicate with their customers. The framework is based on the seven universal elements of powerful stories, which include identifying the customer's desires, problems, and the role of the guide who provides a plan and calls to action. Miller emphasizes the importance of simplifying brand messages, creating clear and compelling marketing materials, and positioning the brand as a guide rather than a hero. This approach has helped numerous businesses, from small startups to large corporations, to significantly improve their customer engagement and revenue.
The Happiness Hypothesis
Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Happiness Hypothesis,' Jonathan Haidt delves into the nature of happiness, fulfillment, and meaning. He discusses the division of the self into two parts: the primitive limbic system and the rational neocortex, using the metaphor of a rider and an elephant to explain the relationship between conscious and unconscious processes. Haidt examines 'Great Ideas' from ancient thinkers like Plato, Buddha, and Jesus, and evaluates them in light of contemporary psychological research. He argues that happiness is influenced by both internal and external factors, including biological set points, life conditions, and voluntary activities. The book also explores the importance of social relationships, the role of adversity in personal growth, and the concept of 'vital engagement' in work and life[2][3][5].
Matthew Pohlson has built Omaze into a unicorn business through some pretty unconventional ways - convincing the Pope to sell his Lamborghini, sending someone to space with Richard Branson and giving away multi-million dollar mansions for $10. All whilst giving away over $300M to charity.
This is one of our favourite interviews ever. From a business burning cash into a unicorn business that actually does good, Matthew's journey has been incredible, and you haven't even heard about how dying for 4 minutes made him an even better leader.
Secret Leaders 
