The Daily Stoic Venture Capitalist Brad Feld on How Nietzsche Empowers the Entrepreneur | This Must Be Done Daily
Venture capitalist Brad Feld shares insights from his new book, exploring how Nietzsche empowers entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the need for self-reflection and personal growth in the entrepreneurial journey, challenging common misconceptions about Nietzsche's philosophy. Feld critiques the notion of success, arguing that it should be rooted in individuality and not external validation. He also discusses the importance of redefining work as a source of joy, while navigating the complex balance between ambition and mental well-being.
01:11:37
Entrepreneurship as a Journey of Self-Discovery
- Founders should view entrepreneurship as a journey of self-discovery.
- Explore your values and motivations through introspection and philosophical study.
The Meaning of Entrepreneurship
- Many entrepreneurial clichés, like "changing the world," lack real meaning.
- Focus on your "why" and how it evolves through successes and failures.
The Paradox of Success
- Successful people often warn others not to chase success for the wrong reasons.
- People often chase what others have done, forgetting the warnings of those who achieved it.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Daily Self-Improvement Through Stoic Wisdom
02:07 • 2min
Philosophy and Entrepreneurship: A Deep Dive
04:29 • 17min
Navigating the Challenges of Small Business Hiring and Continuous Learning Through Philosophy
21:36 • 3min
Rethinking Nietzsche: Myths and Misconceptions
24:48 • 17min
Exploring Individual Paths in Nietzsche's Philosophy for Entrepreneurs
41:46 • 6min
Navigating Nietzsche: Philosophy, Work, and Isolation
47:43 • 29min
Enhancing Your Stoic Journey and Community Engagement
01:16:21 • 3min
The Daily Drucker
366 Days of Insight and Motivation for Getting the Right Things Done
Peter Drucker
The Daily Drucker distills Peter Drucker's teachings into 366 daily readings, covering topics such as leadership, innovation, decision-making, and time management. Each entry includes a Drucker proverb, a teaching, and an action point to apply his insights in practice. The book is designed to inspire and guide managers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals in their daily work.
Mastery
Robert Greene
In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process. The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking. Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics. The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.
A Calendar of Wisdom
Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Selected from the World's Sacred Texts
Leo Tolstoy
This collection is a day-by-day guide that illuminates the path of a life worth living. It features gems of inspiration and wisdom from various historical figures including Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Pascal, Jesus, Muhammad, Confucius, Emerson, Kant, Ruskin, Seneca, Socrates, and Thoreau. Tolstoy considered this work his most important contribution to humanity, and it was widely read in pre-revolutionary Russia before being banned and forgotten under Communism. Recently rediscovered, it has been praised for its timeless wisdom and inspiration.
Quantum Legacies
David Kaiser
Alan Lightman
In *Quantum Legacies*, David Kaiser delves into the ongoing quest to understand space, time, and matter through a series of engaging essays. The book explores how physicists have grappled with the bizarre concepts of quantum theory amidst significant social and political changes over the past century. It highlights the contributions of influential figures like Einstein, Schrödinger, and Hawking, and illuminates the deep ties between scientific exploration and the human condition.
The 48 laws of power
Robert Greene
In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism[4][5][6].
Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
The 33 Strategies of War
Don Leslie
Robert Greene
This book is a contemporary companion to Sun-tzu's 'The Art of War'. It synthesizes strategies from various political, philosophical, and religious texts across world civilizations and thousands of years of conflict. Each chapter outlines an approach to help readers win their life's wars, using illustrative examples from history, such as Lyndon Johnson, Julius Caesar, and Margaret Thatcher. The book provides psychological ammunition to overcome patterns of failure and gain the upper hand in various situations.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thomas Common
The book details Zarathustra's descent from his mountain solitude to share his transformative ideas about humanity and existence. Nietzsche explores themes such as the rejection of traditional moral values, individualism, and the concept of the Overman. Zarathustra's interactions with various characters reveal his struggle to articulate his vision and confront prevailing societal values. The book also delves into the existential test of the eternal recurrence of the same and the importance of self-overcoming and personal transformation[2][4][5].
Beyond Good and Evil
Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future
Friedrich Nietzsche
In 'Beyond Good and Evil', Nietzsche challenges the traditional morality and philosophical thought of his time. He argues that the Christian world is steeped in a 'slave morality' that demonizes strength and domination, and instead proposes a philosophy that celebrates the present and the individual's 'will to power'. The book is known for its aphoristic style and its critique of past philosophers for their dogmatic premises. Nietzsche advocates for a new kind of philosopher who values imagination, self-assertion, and the creation of values, and he introduces the concept of 'perspective of life' which denies a universal morality for all human beings.
The Genealogy of Morals
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche's "On the Genealogy of Morality" is a critical examination of morality's historical development. Nietzsche challenges traditional views of good and evil, arguing that they are not objective truths but rather power dynamics. He traces the origins of morality to resentment and the will to power, suggesting that morality is a tool used by the weak to control the strong. The work is divided into three essays, each exploring different aspects of morality's evolution. Nietzsche's analysis is complex and provocative, challenging readers to reconsider their own moral values and beliefs. His work continues to spark debate and inspire new interpretations.
The Enchiridion
Epictetus
Tony Darnell
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
The Enchiridion is a concise summary of the basic ideas of Stoic philosophy and provides techniques for transforming these principles into a way of life. It was compiled by Arrian from the teachings of Epictetus and is notable for its practical advice on moral conduct in various life situations. Unlike the Discourses, which present Epictetus' teachings in a more dynamic and situational context, the Enchiridion is a more structured and concise guide to Stoic living[1][5].
Venture Deals
Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist
Brad Feld
Jason Mendelson
Venture Deals provides insights into the venture capital process, demystifying term sheets, valuation methodologies, and negotiation strategies. It emphasizes building strong relationships between entrepreneurs and investors, offering practical advice on fundraising and legal considerations. The book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in venture capital financing.
The Entrepreneur's Weekly Nietzsche
Brad Feld
Dave Jilk
The will to power
Friedrich Nietzsche
The Will to Power is a compilation of Friedrich Nietzsche's notes and fragments, edited and published posthumously by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and others. The book is based on Nietzsche's intention to write a comprehensive work titled 'The Will to Power, An Attempt at a Revaluation of All Values.' It explores his central philosophical concept of the 'will to power,' which he believed was the fundamental driving force in all living beings. The work delves into various aspects of human life, including morality, art, science, and metaphysics, and critiques traditional values and morality. Despite not being a completed work by Nietzsche himself, it remains a key component of his philosophical legacy[3][5][4].
Startup Life
None
Amy Batchelor
Brad Feld
What Color Is Your Parachute?
A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers
Richard N. Bolles
What Color Is Your Parachute? is more than a job-hunting book; it is a guide to discovering one's passions, values, and transferable skills to design a fulfilling career. The book, updated annually, provides advice on networking, resume writing, interviewing, and salary negotiation. It features the renowned 'Flower Exercise,' a self-assessment tool that helps readers identify their ideal career paths. With over ten million copies sold, it has been a trusted resource for people at various stages of their careers, from those seeking their first job to those considering a career change.
The Startup Community Way
None
Ian Hathaway
Brad Feld
Do more faster
Brad Feld
Do More Faster provides actionable advice and stories from Techstars founders and mentors, covering key themes such as idea and vision, people, product, fundraising, legal structure, and work-life balance. The book aims to help entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes and achieve success by leveraging the collective wisdom of the Techstars community.
The Courage to See
Debbie Hazelton
The Courage to See provides daily affirmations aimed at healing shame, particularly for adult children, co-dependents, survivors of traumatic childhoods, and those seeking emotional fulfillment. It serves as an inspiring guide for personal growth and healing.
The Enlightenment Trap
Scott Carney
Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to Venture Capitalist and Author Brad Feld about his new book The Entrepreneur’s Weekly Nietzsche: A Book for Disruptors, the common misinterpretation of Nietzsche’s philosophy and life, why entrepreneurs have to focus attention inward toward self-improvement, and more.
Brad Feld is an American entrepreneur, author, blogger, and venture capitalist at Foundry Group in Boulder, Colorado, a firm he started with partners Seth Levine, Ryan McIntyre, and Jason Mendelson. Feld began financing technology startups in the early 1990s, first as an angel and later an institutional investor. Feld was an early investor in Harmonix, Zynga, MakerBot, and Fitbit. He is also the author of several books including Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist and The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.
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