#730: Reed Hastings, Co-Founder of Netflix — How to Cultivate High Performance, The Art of Farming for Dissent, Favorite Failures, and More

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Apr 3, 2024

Reed Hastings, co-founder and executive chairman of Netflix, shares his insights on high performance and company culture. He discusses the importance of cultivating an environment that encourages dissent, which enhances decision-making. Hastings reflects on the significance of learning from failures, using the Quickster lesson as an example. He explores the balance between context and control in creative settings and emphasizes radical candor as essential for personal and professional relationships. His experience reveals how these principles shaped Netflix's success.

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ANECDOTE

Alfred Lee Loomis

Reed Hastings' great-great-grandfather, Alfred Lee Loomis, was a key figure during World War II.
Loomis contributed to the development of LORAN and was a successful investor, anticipating the 1929 stock market crash.

INSIGHT

Risk Tolerance

Reed Hastings believes his risk tolerance is largely genetic, contributing to his entrepreneurial success.
He emphasizes taking recoverable risks and learning from failures, rather than fearing them.

INSIGHT

Adequate Performance

Netflix's culture deck emphasizes that adequate performance receives a generous severance.
This approach prioritizes high performance by ensuring the team comprises top talent.

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