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#526: B. Jeffrey Madoff — Dealmaking, The Hidden Persuaders, Working with Ralph Lauren, and Finding the Secret to Life in the Mojave Desert

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Aug 11, 2021

Guest

B. Jeffrey Madoff

B. Jeffrey Madoff is an award-winning director and educator, known for his creative storytelling and branding expertise. In this engaging discussion, he shares his journey from fashion to film, emphasizing the importance of resilience and personal fulfillment. Madoff also recounts amusing tales of his early career, a life coach in the Mojave Desert, and the quirks of sharing a last name with Bernie Madoff. His insights into creativity and the challenges of entrepreneurship provide valuable lessons for anyone navigating their career.

01:45:24

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ANECDOTE

Ralph Lauren's Inspiration

Ralph Lauren's inspiration for starting his business was his love of classic movies and wanting to dress like the movie stars he admired.
He realized he wasn't alone in wanting this style, which led to his success in the fashion industry.

insights

INSIGHT

First Job

B. Jeffrey Madoff's first job after college was at a clothing boutique in a rooming house. The boutique sold clothing, drug paraphernalia, and other impulse buys.

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ANECDOTE

Entry into Film

B. Jeffrey Madoff's transition to film began with a chance encounter involving Dennis Hopper, William Burroughs, and a film adaptation of Burroughs' "Junkie."

Madoff correctly predicted the film's failure due to the key players' self-destructive behavior.

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Exploring Creative Careers and the Art of Storytelling

03:40 • 2min

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Navigating Inspiration and Resilience

05:40 • 10min

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From Fashion to Film: A Journey of Self-Discovery

15:18 • 19min

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The Search for Secrets

33:58 • 7min

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Navigating Early Career Challenges and Unexpected Opportunities

41:19 • 5min

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Monkeys, Madoffs, and Musical Dreams

46:49 • 25min

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Navigating Rejection: Lessons in Professionalism

01:12:03 • 9min

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Influential Voices: Literature and Film

01:21:12 • 19min

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Closing Reflections and Sponsorship Highlights

01:39:51 • 6min

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The Hidden Persuaders

Vance Packard

Originally published in 1957, 'The Hidden Persuaders' is a classic examination of how advertisers use motivation research, a psychological technique, to tap into consumers' unconscious desires. The book analyzes products, political campaigns, and television programs of the 1950s to reveal the insidious manipulation practices that dominate the corporate-driven world. It has sold over one million copies and significantly changed the public's perception of advertising.

Chaos

Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O’Neill

Dan Piepenbring

This book is the result of twenty years of meticulous research by Tom O'Neill, who questions the Helter Skelter scenario presented by Vincent Bugliosi. O'Neill's investigation delves into police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents. The book explores the connections between Charles Manson, Hollywood figures, and the CIA's mind-control experiments, presenting a complex and alternative view of the Manson murders and their place in American history.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Motherless Brooklyn

Professor of the History of Science Geoffrey Cantor

Jonathan Lethem

J. LETHEM

In 'Motherless Brooklyn', Jonathan Lethem tells the story of Lionel Essrog, a private investigator with Tourette's syndrome, who works for a small-time detective agency in Brooklyn. After his mentor, Frank Minna, is murdered, Lionel sets out to solve the crime, navigating through a complex web of gangsters, corruption, and personal relationships. The novel is praised for its unique protagonist, intricate plot, and Lethem's vivid portrayal of Brooklyn in the late 1990s. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction in 1999 and the 2000 Gold Dagger award for crime fiction.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South. The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime. Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people. The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right. It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.

The Master Switch

The Rise and Fall of Information Empires

Tim Wu

In 'The Master Switch,' Tim Wu explores the pattern of how new communications technologies are introduced by innovators and eventually coopted by major corporate interests, leading to centralized control and the loss of openness and freedom. The book chronicles this cycle through various mediums such as radio, telegraph, telephone, and film, and questions whether the internet will follow the same path. Wu advocates for a 'Separations Principle' to keep content, communications, and electronics industries separate to prevent monopolistic control and ensure the continued openness of the information economy.

L.A. Confidential

James Ellroy

L. A. Confidential is a complex and dense crime novel that spans nearly a decade. It follows the lives of three Los Angeles Police Department officers: Edmund Exley, the straight-laced son of a prestigious detective; Jack Vincennes, a celebrity cop who advises on a police TV show; and Bud White, a brutal enforcer with a traumatic past. The story begins with the 'Bloody Christmas' police brutality scandal and escalates into a massive conspiracy involving a mass murder at the Nite Owl coffee shop, organized crime, political corruption, heroin trafficking, pornography, and the dark underbelly of Hollywood. The novel is known for its unique style, using clipped sentences and a stream of consciousness narrative that immerses the reader in the gritty and corrupt world of 1950s Los Angeles.

Judgment under Uncertainty

Heuristics and Biases

Daniel Kahneman

Paul Slovic

Amos Tversky

This book is a collection of essays that delve into how humans make decisions under uncertainty, focusing on the mental shortcuts (heuristics) and systematic errors (biases) that occur. It covers various heuristics such as representativeness, availability, and anchoring, and their implications in different fields like economics and psychology.

Creative Careers

B. Jeffrey Madoff

In 'Creative Careers', B. Jeffrey Madoff shares insights from his own career transitions and interviews with over forty experts to help readers navigate the creative industry. The book provides practical advice on determining value, managing creative projects, overcoming fear, and building a successful career. It is based on Madoff's popular class at Parsons School of Design.

B. Jeffrey Madoff — Dealmaking, The Hidden Persuaders, Working with Ralph Lauren, and Finding the Secret to Life in the Mojave Desert | Brought to you by Public Goods high-quality everyday essentials, LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 750M users, and ExpressVPN virtual private network service. More on all three below.

Jeffrey Madoff (@madoffproductions) began his career in fashion, becoming one of the top 10 designers in the US before switching careers to film and video production. He has directed award-winning commercials, documentaries, and web content for clients around the world, including Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret, and Tiffany.

His book, which is based on the class he teaches at Parsons School of Design, is Creative Careers: Making a Living with Your Ideas.

He has been a featured speaker at Wharton School, Princeton University, NYU Steinhardt, Google Next, Barclays’ Rise and Verizon on the topics of creating a brand and creativity. He works with private equity firms and investment banks, such as Lazard, to create the brand story for companies that are being sold or startups looking to attract investment.

Madoff is also a playwright and theater producer. His play Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical, based on the life of the titular Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend, will have its world premiere in March of 2022 at People’s Light theater in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in philosophy and psychology. He was also on the wrestling team, which, combined with his academic studies, prepared him for a life in the film business.

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