Guy Raz, the creator of popular podcasts like "How I Built This," shares fascinating insights from interviewing successful entrepreneurs. He highlights how effective leaders distinguish between genuine dangers and mere fears. Raz emphasizes that collaboration and a clear mission often surpass profit as motivators. He underscores the value of resilience and kindness in leadership, revealing that many successful entrepreneurs navigate their journeys with a fallback plan. Through storytelling, he shows that failure can be a steppingstone to success.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Guy Raz's Changed Perspective on Business
Guy Raz initially viewed business cynically, associating it with hucksters.
His perspective shifted when he recognized that founding businesses are stories, similar to hero's journeys.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Jim Koch's Calculated Risk
Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams, left a secure job to start a brewery, despite his father's disapproval.
He saw staying as dangerous, fearing he'd never pursue his dream, while leaving, though scary, was calculated.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Maintain a Fallback Skill
Maintain a skill you can fall back on when starting a business.
This reduces the danger of leaping into entrepreneurship and provides a safety net.
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Guy Raz: How I Built This
Guy Raz is the creator and host of the popular podcasts How I Built This, Wisdom from the Top, and The Rewind on Spotify. He’s also the co-creator of the acclaimed podcasts TED Radio Hour and the children’s programs Wow in the World and Two Whats?! and a Wow!. He’s received the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize, the National Headliner Award, and many others.
In 2017, Guy became the first person in the history of podcasting to have three shows in the top 20 on the Apple Podcast charts. He’s the author of the new book, How I Built This: The Unexpected Path to Success From the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs*.
In this conversation, Guy and I discuss what he’s discovered from interviewing the world’s most successful entrepreneurs on How I Built This. We profile a few of the insightful stories that he’s captured in his new book and dispel some of the common myths. Plus, we explore how happiness and kindness play such an important role in building something new.
Key Points
Successful entrepreneurs are able to make the distinction between what is actually dangerous and what is just scary.
We often think about entrepreneurs as solo leaders, but almost always there is a critical partner who complements their strengths.
It is common for entrepreneurs to have a day job or other fallback plan as they start something new.
Money is important, but it’s almost never the driving factor motivating entrepreneurs who have success in the long-run.
Kindness takes leaders a long way when starting a business.
Resources Mentioned
How I Built This: The Unexpected Path to Success From the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs* by Guy Raz
How I Built This podcast
Book Notes
Download my highlights from How I Built This in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How to Be a Non-Conformist, with Adam Grant (episode 238)
Ideas Worth Stealing From Top Entrepreneurs, with Dorie Clark (episode 318)
How to Be a Happier Person, with Neil Pasricha (episode 334)
Serve Others Through Marketing, with Seth Godin (episode 381)
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