Ben Casnocha

Ben Casnocha, co-founder of Village Global and co-author of bestselling books with Reid Hoffman, shares his insights on career development as if it were a startup. He discusses the importance of adaptability and optionality in career planning, the role of serendipity in networking, and strategies for evaluating startup founders. Casnocha also reflects on the "Goldilocks Theory of Wealth"—the notion that moderate wealth can enhance happiness, along with the complexities of status and relationships in a competitive world.

Ben Casnocha and Chris Yeh, entrepreneurs and co-authors of 'The Startup of You,' share insights on the shifting employer-employee relationship towards shorter, adaptable partnerships. They emphasize why companies must foster innovation and agility to attract talent. The discussion introduces the 'tour of duty' model that encourages mutual career growth and highlights the importance of maintaining networks, both internally and externally, to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph and GP of Flex Capital, chats with Ben Casnocha, co-founder of Village Global. They dive into the dynamic world of career strategy, weighing the importance of personal connections against knowledge. Discover insights on spotting undiscovered talent and the serendipity of networking. They discuss the paradox of wealth and happiness, suggesting too much can detract from joy. Plus, learn how flexibility in career choices can lead to unexpected opportunities, all while keeping an eye on personal integrity and happiness.

Ben Casnocha, an influential entrepreneur and writer, joins the founders of Marginal Revolution to celebrate its 20th anniversary. They reflect on the blog's evolution and significant impact on economic discourse, especially during the Great Recession. The conversation spans the decline of independent blogs, the rise of social media, and the unique community forged through MR. They also share personal anecdotes about vaccine innovation during the pandemic and discuss the contrasting analytical styles between contributors, highlighting the blog's authentic engagement over two decades.

Building your network matters not just for career success but because the friendships you form along the way shape your overall sense of happiness, connection, and meaning. But how many of us actually slow down to assess our friendships and reflect on how to deepen them?On this bonus episode to conclude Season One of the Startup of You Podcast, Reid and Ben (longtime friends themselves) dig into the many nuances of friendship: the different meanings of “I love you,” why the idea of having a single Best Friend is shortsighted, and how to explicitly talk with friends about the state of the relationship and how to improve it.We end by including the 20-minute commencement speech on the importance of friendship that Reid delivered to the Vanderbilt University Class of 2022.Follow Reid Hoffman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidhoffman/Follow Ben Casnocha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencasnocha/Check out the Startup of You Website: https://www.startupofyou.comPlease rate/review us on your favorite app – and be sure to follow or subscribe. Thanks for listening.