609: Eric Jorgenson (CEO of Scribe) - The Obsessive Genius, Flawless Fundamentals, Building Mountains of Leverage, The Power of Writing, All Things Naval, & Manifesting Your Dream Job
Nov 18, 2024
auto_awesome
Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe Media and bestselling author, shares his journey of leadership and insight into publishing. He discusses the concept of 'obsessive geniuses' in entrepreneurship, emphasizing their dedicated focus on problem-solving. Eric highlights the importance of rebuilding trust within teams and the value of a healthy 'content diet' for personal growth. He also reflects on the power of writing and authenticity, advocating for genuine communication and the pursuit of clarity in leadership.
Eric Jorgenson emphasizes the importance of investing in 'obsessive geniuses' who are deeply dedicated to solving complex problems.
Upon becoming CEO of Scribe Media, Jorgenson prioritized establishing trust and open communication within his team to foster collaboration.
The podcast highlights the significance of curating a high-quality content diet to enhance thinking and decision-making in today's information-rich world.
Deep dives
Accidental Path to CEO
The journey to becoming CEO unexpectedly began when the speaker found himself chosen to lead Scribe Media, a publishing company that had recently gone bankrupt. Initially, he believed that the only way to become a CEO was through starting a company or climbing the corporate ladder. Instead, he discovered a 'side door' route that allowed him to step into the role after forming relationships with key individuals who recognized his potential. This experience highlighted the importance of adaptability and seizing unforeseen opportunities in one’s career.
Building Trust After Trauma
Establishing trust within the organization was the speaker's top priority upon taking the CEO role, especially after the trauma experienced during the bankruptcy. He focused on creating open communication with the team, acknowledging their hard work and dedication during challenging times. By assuming that every employee was competent and committed, he aimed to forge a new collective identity that embraced resilience. This approach reinforced a culture of collaboration and trust, which was essential for moving forward.
Identifying Obsessive Geniuses
The speaker emphasized the significance of investing in what he termed 'obsessive geniuses,' individuals who demonstrate a singular dedication to solving complex problems. He highlighted that a reliable indicator of such genius is a track record of focused effort on a particular issue, often at the expense of other life commitments. In conversations with these individuals, it becomes evident if they possess deep expertise, enabling the speaker to identify potential collaborators for innovative projects. This approach has informed his investment strategy and leadership style.
The Transformational Power of Writing
Writing was described as a crucial tool for clarity and communication, particularly for leaders who are looking to articulate their visions. Engaging in writing allows leaders to synthesize complex ideas, making them more comprehensible to others. The speaker noted that undertaking a writing project forces individuals to confront their knowledge gaps and refine their thoughts, ultimately benefiting both the author and their audience. By cultivating a writing practice, leaders can enhance their effectiveness and influence within their organizations.
The Importance of Content Diet
The discussion underscored the significance of curating a high-quality content diet, paralleling the importance of a healthy food diet. The speaker suggested that individuals often neglect the type of information they consume, which can positively or negatively impact their thinking and decision-making. Filtering high-quality ideas from a vast pool of information is essential for maintaining intellectual acuity in today’s information-rich landscape. This practice not only influences personal development but also shapes organizational culture and effectiveness.
Go to www.LearningLeader.com for the full show notes of The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk.
Eric Jorgenson is the CEO of Scribe Media, the largest Professional Publisher. He’s also the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness and The Anthology of Balaji. His books have sold over 1 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages.
Notes:
The obsessive genius. Eric likes to invest in founders who have been obsessively trying to solve a problem for years. They are myopically focused on that one thing. They have a depth of expertise in the area where they focus. Eric has developed the skill to get good at recognizing that genius in others and that’s helped him make good investing decisions.
He is an investor in dozens of (borderline crazy) deep-tech startups through Rolling Fun. They fund obsessive geniuses building utopian technologies.
Eric’s first 90+ days as the CEO of Scribe: He spent as much time as possible learning from the current members of the team. Leading with curiosity, asking questions, listening, and leading with trust. Being both trustworthy and willing. You don’t have to earn my trust, you have it.
"Flawless on the Fundamentals" - The one phrase Scribe is focused on.
Your content diet: It's more important than a healthy/wellness/food diet. "If you're taking in bad information, you're becoming a moron." You want high-signal sources of information.
An audience of 1 - "I wrote that book for myself."
Bezos - Great compression of ideas and communicating them to the team. Focused on one thing.
Why write a book with Scribe instead of a traditional publisher... You want 100% ownership of your IP
We talked in depth about Naval Ravikant and his viral Twitter thread titled, “How to get rich without getting lucky” – Here are some of the tweets from that thread:
Seek wealth, not money or status. Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. Money is how we transfer time and wealth. Status is your place in the social hierarchy.
Understand that ethical wealth creation is possible. If you secretly despise wealth, it will elude you.
Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth-creation games.
Pick an industry where you can play long-term games with long-term people.
Pick business partners with high intelligence, energy, and, above all, integrity.
Don't partner with cynics and pessimists. Their beliefs are self-fulfilling.
Learn to sell. Learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable.
Specific knowledge is found by pursuing your genuine curiosity and passion rather than whatever is hot right now.
Insane and Pragmatic – Great founders are insane and pragmatic. Yes, both.
Leverage – How do you build a mountain of levers? (Levers are force multipliers. This is how some people can accomplish 10x, 100x, or 1,000,000x what others can. Leverage can multiply outcomes from your effort, your skill, and your judgment.) “You can make it big without accountability. You can make it big without specific knowledge. But if you don’t have leverage, you’re never going to make real wealth. Leverage is the most important component of the principles I’ve discussed.” - Naval
Transformation Through Writing: Writing a book can be a transformative process that deeply embeds certain mental models and knowledge.
Interview Process: Engaging with a skilled interviewer can help clarify ideas, which is particularly valuable for busy executives who wish to author books but lack the time to write them themselves.
Impact of Books: Books can play unique roles in positioning leaders and sharing knowledge, which is an invaluable tool for personal branding and legacy.
Learning from Experts: Eric believes that his talent lies in recognizing and synthesizing the genius of others, which he shares through his books and investments.
Professional Growth: Through interacting with talented individuals and absorbing high-quality content, Eric has developed a nuanced understanding of what drives excellence.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
