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#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

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Oct 25, 2023

Guest

Guy Laliberté

In this engaging conversation, Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, shares his incredible journey from street performer to global icon. He delves into the transformative power of creativity and philanthropy, revealing how his early experiences shaped his vision. Laliberté discusses overcoming financial struggles and the importance of community support, reflecting on his commitment to social responsibility through the One Drop Foundation. With tales from Las Vegas and insights on navigating success, he inspires listeners to embrace belief, defeat fear, and pursue their passions.

02:03:55

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ANECDOTE

Early Influences

Guy Laliberté's childhood dream of world travel stemmed from impactful experiences.
These included a National Geographic show, Expo 67, and Neil Armstrong's moon landing.

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ANECDOTE

Busking in Europe

Laliberté learned effective busking tactics during his European travels, like identifying hotspots and respecting territorial dynamics.
He engaged with the busking community, collaborating with fellow artists and expanding his performance repertoire.

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ANECDOTE

Family Dynamics

Laliberté describes his parents as unintentionally entertaining, reflecting on their distinct personalities and family dynamics.
He recounts leaving home at 14 after a conflict, later reconciling with his parents and valuing their underlying support.

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The Art of Performance and Philanthropy

03:16 • 3min

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Wanderlust and Healing Through Art

06:36 • 29min

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The Genesis of Cirque du Soleil: Art, Opportunity, and Entrepreneurship

35:39 • 2min

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From Hustle to Healing

37:50 • 21min

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From Streets to Success: A Journey of Persistence

58:48 • 9min

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Financial Struggles and Unexpected Partnerships

01:07:28 • 16min

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Navigating Success and Trust in Business

01:23:55 • 28min

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Reconnecting Through Art

01:51:49 • 6min

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Connections, Curated Recommendations, and Prominent Sponsors

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Brought to you by Momentous high-quality supplements, Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business.

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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