Coburn Ventures Podcast

Last week we went into depth on some design principles for turning rote management meetings into an activity that can generate uncommon insights. What we left out of that meeting was a key piece that we have written about for decades now: the process of generating unlocking questions to gain conviction in your business thesis, and even working with generating questions you may not think you’ll ever get an answer to. We’re interested in stretching those limits as a part of the process to really find the unlocking questions. It doesn’t happen by thinking the way everyone else does. Today, we walk through some different ways we’ve been using AI to further advance on creating unlocking questions for management. Let’s jump in.

Continuing on our assertion that we cannot do common things and expect uncommon results, today we are discussing management meetings. I’ve noticed that the best career stories, those told around the Owl Bar perhaps, usually have to do with breakthrough realizations during time with management, when an insight about the company culture was unlocked, or an understanding came to light, maybe of the troubles ahead, or more likely, of the vast scale of opportunity before that company. We’d like those types of meetings to be less legendary, actually, because we’d like them to be less few and far between. We don’t have to settle for the 30 min slots at conferences as we build relationships with companies and management teams, so let’s take this opportunity to start exploring how to make common management meetings generators of uncommon insight. Let’s jump in. 

As investors and business leaders, even when we are able to get to a deeper level of understanding, it doesn’t mean navigating this world of rogue waves, change and instability is any clearer. Today we go into an 11 step “guide”, of sorts, aimed at navigating the impact of different types of changes and how they might affect our actions and investment theses. Let’s jump in. 

What if, when someone asked you what your operating edge was at work you said, “being really good at being busy.” Sometimes, it feels like that’s how our days go. It doesn’t suggest we are on the path to generating insight, so we’ll see if we can take a look today to see what might be going on. Let’s jump in.

We last spoke with our friend Mike Cahill on his perspective on the markets back in February. Obviously, a lot has happened since then, and we were happy to have the chance to check in with him again. Thank you Mike, for this discussion. Let’s jump in.

It’s so important for investors and business leaders to have a framework for what data and information we take in as inputs, as well as what we make sure to exclude or throw out as garbage data and now, garbage information. This is our classic signal: noise dilemma, but the ratio is careening ever more massively to noise. Today we tackle this issue head on and discuss what has been the key orienting model for us to get through the muck of data, remove ourselves from the swirl in our knowledge seeking and make that climb up the hill to generating uncommon investable insights. Let's jump in.

Today we're continuing our theme of taking a common business practices and bridging them to something that is far more powerful, uncorrelated and uncommon. Today's topic is a big one, and the beginning of how we use our skills to start filtering, processing and organizing data into information: note taking. Let's jump in.

Discover how chaos can spark creativity and growth in collaboration. Explore the fascinating link between polyvagal theory and our autonomic nervous system, shedding light on how our bodies respond before we even think. Learn techniques to retrain your nervous system for better teamwork and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of deep breathing. Embrace discomfort as a catalyst for innovation, and see how your physiological state shapes your investment choices. It's a deep dive into the science behind effective collaboration!

Dr. Morris Pickens, a sports psychologist specializing in helping professional athletes, especially golfers, tackle external pressures, shares his insights in this engaging discussion. He emphasizes the unique stresses athletes face, particularly during transitions from amateur to professional levels. Dr. Pickens reveals the power of positive self-talk in improving performance. He also discusses the importance of focus amidst distractions and the balance between rest and preparation, offering strategies for maintaining mental health and productivity under pressure.

This discussion dives into the importance of creativity within investment strategies, urging listeners to uncover unique insights. It highlights the shift from strict professional rules to a more adaptable approach, enhancing workplace interactions. Emphasis is placed on building knowledge into deeper insights through collaboration. The conversation also tackles how courage can promote innovation, stressing the need to challenge conventional thinking to drive personal and organizational growth.