Ted Hesser Podcast Jim McKelvey talks Square Inc, FDA Fast Trials & the Fed
9 snips
Jan 30, 2025 
Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Block Inc and a glassblower, shares insights from his journey in entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation. He discusses the crucial role of timing in business and decision-making, inspired by lessons from glassblowing. Jim offers a thoughtful perspective on wealth and frugality, maintaining a simple lifestyle despite his billionaire status. He delves into the intricacies of the Federal Reserve's decisions amid economic challenges and advocates for revolutionary changes to expedite drug trials, emphasizing safety and effectiveness in healthcare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Power Of Timing
- Timing matters as much as technique; the right action at the wrong moment fails.
- Jim learned this from a glassblowing master who made him wait for the perfect instant.
Creating Attention By Design
- Jim intentionally shipped a fiddly tiny Square reader to create a memorable moment of attention.
- That awkwardness made merchants practice and then proudly demonstrate the product to customers.
ML Built Trust, Then Financial Products
- Machine learning let Square trust underserved merchants and extend services like loans.
- That trust enabled products like Square Capital to transform small-business cash flow access.
