Yvon Chouinard

In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yvon Chouinard, a climber, surfer, kayaker, skier, and blacksmith who enjoyed making good tools and functional clothes, discusses his journey from being a reluctant businessman to embracing entrepreneurship on his own terms. He talks about the importance of enjoying work, reaching 80% proficiency, and the challenges of maintaining quality while growing a company. He also delves into the principles and purpose behind Patagonia, highlighting their unique advertising approach and the value of simplicity, durability, and reducing consumption.

What I learned from reading The Responsible Company: What We've Learned From Patagonia's First 40 Years by Yvon Chouinard and Vincent Stanley.----When I die and go to hell, the devil is going to make me the marketing director for a cola company. I’ll be in charge of trying to sell a product that no one needs, is identical to its competition, and can’t be sold on its merits. (0:01)What Patagonia was meant to be (8:25)Everyone wants to feel useful (11:00)a short history of companies (14:30)the definition of meaningful work (26:00)more human, less corporate (40:30)Yvon's ancestors and their working conditions (46:00)the benefits of long term thinking (49:00)build something useful and don't bullshit (57:00)Don't do things that have no useful purpose / being bold can lead to new discoveries / we need more small businesses (1:04:00) ----Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work.  Get access to Founders Notes here. ----“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — GarethBe like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast

Steve Jobs, Anita Roddick, Yvon Chouinard, and Mary Portas join the podcast to reflect on their careers of making positive change. They discuss reaching milestones, the importance of a good night's sleep, and offer advice for making change. Topics covered include the impact of location, imposter syndrome, and implementing change in large organizations.

We're taking a break for the holidays, so we bring you this favorite from the last year: Patagonia. In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started the company to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit. PLUS for our postscript "How You Built That", we check back with Brett Johnson of Firedrops — cayenne pepper lozenges. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.