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The philosophy of 'anything worth doing is worth doing to excess' is exemplified by individuals like Edward Land and Michael Jordan. Land delved deep into lighting knowledge at the New York Public Library to innovate instant photography, seeking excellence at every turn. Jordan's meticulous practice habits and ceaseless learning regimen, even amid Olympic success, underscore the drive for remarkable achievements through excessive dedication.
History's successful entrepreneurs exhibit a voracious appetite for constant learning. Individuals like Edward Land and Michael Jordan stand out for their commitment to absorbing information from varied sources, seeking knowledge from books, expertise, or experience. Their receptiveness to feedback and dedication to improvement differentiate them as relentless learners who listen and adapt for sustained success.
Embracing the mantra of 'everything worth doing is worth doing to excess,' exceptional figures like Edward Land embody the ethos of relentless pursuit of excellence. The resolute dedication to hard work, as highlighted by successful entrepreneurs, challenges conventional notions of balance and instead advocates for unwavering commitment and exhaustive effort in the pursuit of extraordinary outcomes.
The motto 'by endurance, we conquer' echoes the resilience and perseverance seen in figures like Ernest Shackleton, who overcame insurmountable obstacles through unwavering determination. The principle of outlasting challenges, rather than striving to be the best or smartest, underpins the success of these individuals, illustrating the power of persistence and steadfast endurance in achieving monumental goals.
The podcast discusses how successful individuals like Bob Dylan, Bobby Knight, and others share common traits in their approaches to work, highlighting the importance of studying successful people across various domains. By profiling these figures, the podcast emphasizes the significance of understanding the underlying principles and practices that lead to success, irrespective of the industry. It underscores the value of professional research and continuous learning as essential components for excellence.
The episode delves into the theme of avoiding moderation and embracing extremes in life and work to achieve exceptional results. Drawing inspiration from individuals like Bob Dylan and Edwin Land, the podcast emphasizes the importance of pushing boundaries and maximizing one's capabilities. It explores how relentless dedication to one's craft, coupled with a balanced approach to life, can lead to extraordinary achievements.
The podcast highlights the endurance and hardship endured by entrepreneurs like Walt Disney and James Dyson, emphasizing the value of perseverance amid challenges. It discusses the concept of excellence as the ability to endure pain and the importance of genuine passion in overcoming obstacles. Through examples from successful entrepreneurs, the episode underscores the essence of enduring difficulties while staying focused on long-term goals.
The episode reflects on the profound impact of decisions made by individuals across generations, illustrating how choices can shape the future for descendants. It narrates an anecdote about a grandfather's pivotal decision to flee a country for a better future, emphasizing how such choices influence subsequent generations. The podcast encourages listeners to consider the broader implications of their decisions beyond their immediate circumstances.
Today, we are replaying what we call a forever episode, which are the few episodes of our show that we think will be as popular a decade from now as they are today. Every time I re-listen to this episode with David Senra, I leave wildly energized and wanting to share that feeling. So we are re-releasing it today for anyone who missed it the first time or hadn't yet discovered Invest Like the Best.
David Senra has studied history’s great founders and entrepreneurs in more depth than anyone I’ve ever met, and I’d wager more than anyone else alive. In this conversation, we cover many of the most common themes he’s discovered studying hundreds of entrepreneurs like Estée Lauder, John Rockefeller, Enzo Ferrari, and Edwin Land. Please enjoy this great conversation with David Senra.
Listen to Founders Podcast
For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes
[00:00:00] Welcome to Invest Like the Best
[00:03:01] First question - When he first fell in love with reading
[00:07:01] What’s rooted in his own history that’s made him obsessive about studying history’s great entrepreneurs and founders - Founders Podcast
[00:10:34] The first time he connected with someone as a positive role model that he was reading about
[00:13:45] How often obsession is apparent in the founders he’s studied across hundreds of biographies
[00:18:08] What is often behind obsession and how people listening can apply the lessons to their own lives
[00:22:45] The dynamic and relationship between inspiration and perspiration
[00:27:11] Commonalities between the layers of leadership and support underneath founders
[00:31:52] Where else he’s seen ego rear its head in good and bad ways
[00:38:34] How often do great founders break the law or enter gray areas of it
[00:41:22] The role constant learning and listening plays in success
[00:45:12] Talking about how anything worth doing is worth doing to excess
[00:52:18] Describing the soul of founders and businesses
[00:58:39] What he’s learned about all of these founders as it relates to marketing
[01:04:38] A common story that process is often art
[01:08:10] Who David's idols are in podcasting
[01:14:55] Major aspects of people he’s studied that haven’t been discussed yet
[01:19:55] The kindest thing anyone has ever done for David
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