Ravi Gupta, Partner at venture capital giant Sequoia Capital, dives deep into a range of topics including the realities of success, decision making, practicing uncomfortable tasks, valuable advice, and the value of quality over quantity. They also discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work and home boundaries, embracing reality for growth, the process of writing, the importance of willpower and discipline, challenges in the grocery delivery industry, quality over quantity in various aspects of life, identifying the most important thing, the concept of 'velocity' over 'speed', and self-sabotaging behaviors.

My guest today is Ravi Gupta. Ravi spent a decade in private equity at KKR before joining Instacart as their first CFO and COO. He navigated them through a critical moment in their history and returned to investing in 2019 as a partner at Sequoia. Our discussion gets to the heart of what it means to build and invest in great businesses, and we talk a lot about the personal side of the journey, which tends to get overlooked. Please enjoy this great conversation with Ravi Gupta. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Tegus. Tegus streamlines the investment research process so you can get up to speed and find answers to critical questions on companies faster and more efficiently. The Tegus platform surfaces the hard-to-get qualitative insights, gives instant access to critical public financial data through BamSEC, and helps you set up customized expert calls. It’s all done on a single, modern SaaS platform that offers 360-degree insight into any public or private company. As a listener, you can take Tegus for a free test drive by visiting tegus.co/patrick. And until 2023 every Tegus license comes with complimentary access to BamSec by Tegus. ----- Today's episode is brought to you by Brex. Brex is the integrated financial platform trusted by the world's most innovative entrepreneurs and fastest-growing companies. With Brex, you can move money fast for instant impact with high-limit corporate cards, payments, venture debt, and spend management software all in one place. Ready to accelerate your business? Learn more at brex.com/best. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus Show Notes[00:02:34] - [First question] - Why it’s important to keep the main thing the main thing[00:04:59] - His first exposure to this idea; How Will You Measure Your Life[00:07:50] - Thoughts on the conflict of the main thing for a business and a person[00:11:45] - The most painful episode of enacting this philosophy at Instacart [00:19:16] - Amazon’s 14 leadership principles vs. his concept of focus[00:21:55] - What good main things share in common and their attributes; Frank Slootman Episode[00:24:48] - Whether or not the feedback loop for things that work are very short [00:26:04] - The nature of joy and competitiveness in company culture [00:29:01] - How he assesses the depth that motivation runs through people and companies[00:32:43] - Analysis of his own motivations in life [00:35:34] - Differences and shortcomings of virtuous and vicious motivators [00:37:15] - How to accurately figure out someones motivators in a short period of time[00:40:22] - Being Demanding and Supportive; Why these words pair so well together[00:45:55] - What he’s looking for in companies given all of the ideas discussed so far[00:51:11] - How his ideology manifests inside of Sequoia [00:58:44] - What it’s like to mentor an apprentice and how to do it well[01:02:40] - Adjusting behaviors to meet current markets where they’re at [01:06:13] - Defining what a great product is[01:07:56] - What he did to turn around Instacart by narrowing their focus[01:12:28] - The things that most drove the switchover at Instacart[01:14:53] - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for him

Shane Battier, a two-time NBA champion, joins NFL veteran Alex Smith and KKR leader Ravi Gupta to dive into the essential role of 'glue guys' in teamwork. They share personal anecdotes about overcoming self-doubt in high-pressure situations and highlight the importance of resilience and positive work culture at Instacart. The trio also discusses how family heritage shapes identity and the balance between competition and integrity in sports and business, emphasizing emotional openness as key to strong team dynamics.

Ravi Gupta, a partner at Sequoia Capital, shares his diverse journey from consulting at McKinsey to becoming a VC. He reflects on the importance of family values, mentorship, and the duality of support and demand in parenting. Ravi highlights the significance of joy in competitive workplaces and how friendships foster leadership and collaboration. He also discusses the challenges faced by Instacart and the transformative power of mentorship in navigating adversity. His insights emphasize that relationships and legacy are central to a fulfilled life.

Ravi Gupta shares his journey of learning one skill per year, from powerlifting to novel writing. He provides a roadmap for anyone looking to pursue their dreams. The podcast explores the benefits of video analysis, the process of refining writing, and strategies for language learning. It also touches on book recommendations and pursuing dreams later in life.

Ravi Gupta, co-host of Lost Debate podcast, discusses topics such as AI-proofing ourselves, the risk of violence in this election, living healthier, polarization, politicians not caring about the people, jobs at risk from AI, believing in the FBI and journalists, finding sensible politicians, our broken healthcare system, directing energy towards what we can control, and conversations with trees.

Former Obama staffer and school principal, Ravi Gupta, discusses navigating political differences with his right-wing father. From traveling to India to advice on engaging with hostile individuals, he shares insights on bridging political divides within families.

Join former NFL star Alex Smith, 2-time NBA champion Shane Battier, and Sequoia Capital's Ravi Gupta as they explore the essence of teamwork. They dive into the often-overlooked role of the 'glue guy,' emphasizing how these unsung heroes enhance team dynamics. With personal anecdotes from their sports careers, they discuss leadership and the importance of authenticity in building a strong culture. Expect insights that blend the worlds of sports and business, offering a fresh take on collaboration and resilience.

Ravi Gupta, a political analyst and co-host of 'Lost Debate', joins Elon Musk, the innovative CEO, to unpack the upcoming clash between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They delve into the chaotic dynamics within Trump’s campaign, spotlighting the return of Corey Lewandowski and the impact on team strategy. The conversation also touches on Musk's surprising support for Trump’s ground game. Additionally, they explore the nuanced influence of race and gender in shaping voter perceptions and the candidates' optics.

Ravi Gupta, a Staten Island native and community advocate, delves into the island's tumultuous summer of 2023 when protests erupted over a migrant shelter. He uncovers the tension between local values and the challenges of immigration policy. Gupta explores Staten Island's legacy, from its troubled past with the Fresh Kills Landfill to its current sociopolitical struggles. With a focus on cultural identity, he illustrates how historical context informs the community's response to change amidst national immigration debates.