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The Tim Ferriss Show
#700: Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil — The Power of Belief, Street Gangs, Wild Tales from Las Vegas, The Dangers of Nurturing Fear, and Dancing on the Cliff
Oct 25, 2023
02:03:55
Tim Ferriss interviews Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, on topics including childhood curiosity, busking in Paris, creating a theater troupe, marketing inspirations, financing a business, trust in business relationships, creating a blue ocean strategy, and appreciation for each other.
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Quick takeaways
- The speaker's time in Hawaii played a significant role in shaping their creative mindset and connection with nature.
- The creation of the Cirque du Soleil festival in Saint Paul Village required navigating challenges and gaining the trust of the community.
- Passion for entertaining people and breaking down barriers inspired the speaker to form a multicultural and inclusive artistic community.
- The speaker found solace and inspiration in Hawaii during a period of personal heartache, guiding future projects and decision-making.
- The importance of preserving the creative process, building relationships, and negotiating skills were key lessons learned in creating and running the circus.
Deep dives
Discovering the Inspiration on the Big Island of Hawaii
After returning from Europe, the speaker traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii where he experienced a transformative period in his life. He immersed himself in the culture, witnessed diverse spiritual practices, and embraced the island's relaxed rhythm. The sunsets on the island became a source of inspiration and reflection. This period of self-discovery and connection with nature played a significant role in shaping his creative mindset.
Creating a Street Performing Festival in Saint Paul Village
Following his time in Hawaii, the speaker and his team embarked on creating the Cirque du Soleil festival in Saint Paul Village, a traditional and conservative community. They had to navigate challenges and gain the trust of the residents to develop this street performing festival. Despite the initial skepticism and resistance, their pitch, passion, and the promise of economic benefit convinced the community to give them a chance. The festival became successful, establishing the foundation for their future endeavors.
A Blend of Art, Music, and Fire Breathing
During the early stages of Cirque du Soleil, the speaker's creative abilities and showmanship flourished. He excelled in fire breathing, became recognized as one of the best fire performers in Quebec, and created captivating shows that combined theater, music, and acrobatics on stilts. His passion for entertaining people, connecting with diverse cultures, and breaking down barriers between individuals inspired the formation of a multicultural and inclusive artistic community.
Finding Healing and Answers in Hawaii
Hawaii became a healing sanctuary for the speaker during a period of personal heartache and emotional turmoil. The island's beauty, relaxed pace of life, and spiritual practices provided solace and served as a source of inspiration for his future projects. The connection he developed with the island's rhythm and energy became a guiding force in his decision-making and brought him clarity in times of uncertainty.
The Journey from Street Performer to Circus Creator
The podcast episode discusses the journey of the speaker, who started as a street performer and eventually created their own circus. The inspiration came from a closing show in an arena where the storm shut down the electricity, leaving only the flames. This emotional moment led to the idea of creating their own circus. The speaker faced challenges when pitching the idea to the government, but eventually secured funding for their project. They encountered financial struggles, but through strategic negotiations and support from suppliers and a supportive bank, they were able to overcome them. The circus achieved success, and the speaker credits the marketing influences of PT Barnum and Walt Disney for their approach.
Lessons Learned: Trusting the Creative Process and Overcoming Obstacles
The speaker shares important lessons learned during the journey of creating and running the circus. They emphasize the importance of trusting and preserving the creative process, rather than rushing or compromising artistic integrity. They also highlight the value of building relationships and gaining trust, as it helped secure financial support from the government and partnerships with banks. The speaker navigated challenging situations, such as an artist falling during a show and initial negative reactions from a hotel owner in Las Vegas. They assert that strategic thinking, understanding human nature, and negotiating skills acquired from their street performing background were key in overcoming these obstacles.
Maintaining Originality and Dealing with Copycats
The podcast delves into the impact and challenges of being a pioneer and maintaining originality in the entertainment industry. The speaker discusses how other production companies attempted to copy the success of Cirque du Soleil, but often fell short by trying to imitate rather than innovate. They emphasize the importance of credibility and creative authenticity, as well as the negative effects of lazy attempts to copy their formula. The speaker is wary of such imitators as they can tarnish the brand, but expresses confidence in the discernment of the audience who can differentiate between genuine creativity and copycats.
The Impact of a Prank in a Successful Show
In the podcast episode, the speaker shares a memorable story from their experience running a show. They recall a situation where, before the start of the show, the clowns were sent to entertain the audience. One of the clowns sprayed the crowd with a water hose, creating a moment of shock and surprise. However, to the speaker's surprise, instead of anger and frustration, the audience reacted with enthusiasm and started asking for more. This unexpected turn of events created a magical and memorable experience for everyone. The incident led to a successful show, standing ovation, and increased ticket sales, marking a turning point in their career.
The Importance of Trust and Spirit in Business
The discussion also delves into the importance of trust and staying true to one's values in business. The speaker emphasizes the need to establish a strong foundation and spirit in professional relationships, particularly through clear communication of the mission and vision behind a deal. By documenting the spirit of the deal and prioritizing trust, it becomes easier to resolve conflicts and avoid betrayal. The speaker shares the belief that nurturing fear and greed can hinder success and advises entrepreneurs to stay true to themselves, avoiding the temptation to change their vision or deny their origins. Additionally, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing when one's role in a business has reached its limit, and the need to step back for the betterment of the enterprise.
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Guy Laliberté (@guylalibertedj) is the founder of Cirque du Soleil, One Drop Foundation, and Lune Rouge. He was named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential personalities in the world and has been recognized as one of the most creative and innovative minds by Condé Nast.
An artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Guy is a three-time winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, including World Entrepreneur of the Year; a Knight of the National Order of Quebec; and an inductee of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Guy has been granted the insignia of the Order of Canada, the highest distinction in the country, and in 2010 received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Guy now dedicates his time to his company, Lune Rouge, and his international nonprofit, One Drop Foundation, which aims to “ensure sustainable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for communities everywhere through innovative partnerships, creativity, and the power of art.”
Visit Frooogs.com to discover Guy's latest project.
Please enjoy!
This episode is brought to you by Momentous high-quality supplements! Momentous offers high-quality supplements and products across a broad spectrum of categories, and I’ve been testing their products for months now. I’ve been using their magnesium threonate, apigenin, and L-theanine daily, all of which have helped me improve the onset, quality, and duration of my sleep. I’ve also been using Momentous creatine, and while it certainly helps physical performance, including poundage or wattage in sports, I use it primarily for mental performance (short-term memory, etc.).
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[06:16] A galvanizing trip to Europe in 1977.
[12:31] Busking without going broke.
[15:46] Managing Mom and Dad's misaligned values.
[25:35] Emerging from a dark teenage period.
[31:13] The transcendental power of Cirque du Soleil.
[36:25] Beginning a "theater troupe on stilts."
[45:00] How Hawaiian epiphanies forged the spirit of Cirque du Soleil.
[51:55] Black sheep winning over the wolves.
[1:05:57] Drawing from P.T. Barnum and Walt Disney.
[1:07:27] Overcoming early financial hurdles.
[1:19:31] An opening day that signaled the beginning of never looking back again.
[1:27:11] Evaluating danger without nurturing fear.
[1:28:36] Buffering against betrayal without surrendering to cynicism.
[1:34:12] Steve Wynn for the win.
[1:47:55] Blue Ocean Strategy.
[1:48:55] Pioneering and inspiring.
[1:51:55] Priority and mortality.
[1:57:47] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.
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