The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

David Hornik, a venture capitalist known for his generous investing style, discusses why givers ultimately win in business. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling for entrepreneurs and shares his belief that investors should prioritize people over ideas. Hornik recounts a soccer game moment that led to a significant partnership and argues against the misconception that being nice is a weakness. He also reflects on handling big losses, the significance of trust in venture capital, and the unique format of his annual conference, The Lobby, designed for genuine connections.

JJ Redick, a legendary basketball player and Duke's all-time leading scorer, shares insights on leadership, adaptability, and personal growth. He emphasizes that achievement is an ongoing journey, embodied by his mantra 'you've never arrived, you're always becoming.' Redick reflects on the importance of accountability from coaches and peers in preventing entitlement. He delves into parenting strategies for instilling grit in children and discusses how key coaches like Coach K maximize team potential by adapting their approaches each season.

Episode 216: Jim Collins – How To Go From Good To Great Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Never go to a meeting without writing down 5 questions prior to the meeting Always follow up the meeting with at least a page of notes -- Share those with your mentor What made you say yes to The Learning Leader Show after 2 1/2 years? It requires intense focus to prepare This is a teaching moment Only say yes if it's going to be impactful. The team determined this show was the right place to do that Always ask yourself -- "How can I make myself useful to the world?" This was advice originally given to him by Peter Drucker A great teacher can change your life in 30 seconds -- Peter Drucker did that for Jim "I am constitutionally unemployable" -- Why Jim feels this about himself His curiosity has led to the success and most importantly... Great questions like: How to turn something into an enduring great company? How someone or a company can go from Good To Great? Jim most admired Peter Drucker when he was 35 years old... The story of their first meeting and how Peter was the curious one... Kept peppering Jim with questions to start the conversation (much like Jim did to me to start this conversation) "The ultimate zen master with bamboo stick" Drucker - "It seems to me that you spend a lot of time worrying if you will survive. You probably will survive. You seem to focus a lot on the question, "how to be successful?" That is the wrong question. The right question is "How to be useful?" What would it have cost Jim to not publish Good To Great after he finished the manuscript? -- More than $100m. He had to get it out in the world. He felt it was his responsibility to do so... Another great mentor said to Jim... "When seeking an entrepreneurial path... Cut off all other options and GO." "Everything is driven by by questions" Can a good company become a great company? How? Level 5 Leader Starts with confronting the brutal facts Personal humility and professional will Not what, but who -- Get the right people on the bus Does not happen in one fell swoop or a leap. It happens over time. Flywheel -- Create momentum Understand the hedgehog concept -- An expert in one thing... Knows it very well 3 Parts of the Hedgehog concept Deeply passionate about it Encoded for it... You're really good at it. An expert Economically, you can make money from it Level 5 Leaders: What cause do I serve? Humility to serve... It's not about them Willful -- Able to make difficult decisions For the best Level 5 Leaders... How do they sustain it? It's easier for them because they understand their personal hedgehog -- It helps them remain renewed after many years "Measured Risk" vs. "Burn The Boats" Fire Bullets... Then Cannon Balls For Jim, this was his first two books + his time as a professor at Stanford before he decided to leave to start his own company You must navigate your path. It doesn't mean you take unfounded risk... Fire bullets first, then cannonballs "If you never fire a cannonball, you'll never make it. "BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) How to write a good one? Take calibrated, calculated risk -- Have things to keep you alive even if everything goes wrong Productive Paranoia Validation - What are points of success you can look to? Jim's wife Joann committing to winning an Ironman race... She was a consultant at the time. She was also a runner. She tried biking and was very good at it. Eventually she practiced, took measured risks, and won the Ironman race "If you were a trial attorney and had to win the case, what evidence would you use?" The Flywheel principle and putting it to use for Jeff Bezos and the Amazon team -- How could they build momentum? After Jim met with Jeff Bezos and his leadership team in 2001, Amazon executives were elated; according to several members of the team at the time, they felt that, after five years, they finally understood their own business.Most important for young leaders -- Jim's advice "FIRST WHO, THEN WHAT?" Who do you want to mentor you? Who do you want to mentor? Who do you want to be your friends? Who do you want to work with? Who do you want to spend time with? The most important question is WHO You don't need to answer WHAT until you answer WHO "The most important question is WHO. First WHO, then WHAT. Who will be your mentor? Who will be your friends? Who will you help? Who will you spend time with? You don't need to answer what until well after you've answered WHO." Social Media: Read: Good To Great Read: Great By Choice Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf. We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram. To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Jim Collins is a student and teacher of leadership and what makes great companies tick. Having invested a quarter century of research into the topic, he has authored or co-authored six books that have sold in total more than ten million copies worldwide. They include: GOOD TO GREAT, the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies and leaders make the leap to superior results, along with its companion work GOOD TO GREAT AND THE SOCIAL SECTORS; the enduring classic BUILT TO LAST, which explores how some leaders build companies that remain visionary for generations; HOW THE MIGHTY FALL, which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and most recently, GREAT BY CHOICE, which is about thriving in chaos – why some do, and others don't – and the leadership behaviors needed in a world beset by turbulence, disruption, uncertainty, and dramatic change.

Chris Fussell, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and partner at the McChrystal Group, discusses his book, One Mission, which provides strategies for building adaptable organizations. He shares insights from his experience as General McChrystal's aide-de-camp, emphasizing the power of curiosity in leadership and how military principles can enhance business cultures. Fussell explains the importance of enterprise-wide leadership, avoiding bureaucracy, and creating adaptive environments that empower teams, drawing on compelling case studies and lessons learned from the battlefield.

In this fascinating discussion, Jason Calacanis, a renowned technology entrepreneur and angel investor, shares insights from his experience backing companies like Uber and Tesla. He emphasizes the importance of understanding a founder's passion and intent, using a 'small mouth, big ears' approach to listen closely during pitches. Jason also highlights the distinction between missionary and mercenary founders, and explains how his self-awareness guides his risk-taking in investments. Plus, he offers advice on entering the angel investing space through syndicates and co-investment with seasoned investors.

In this conversation, Ryan Holiday, an acclaimed author and marketing strategist, emphasizes the importance of creating timeless work. He discusses how building a platform before launching a project can enhance long-term success, using Kevin Hart’s email-list strategy as a prime example. Holiday also warns against chasing fleeting trends, advocating for a focus on enduring themes and excellence. He reflects on his own journey with 'Obstacle Is The Way,' highlighting the significance of discipline and daily routines in maintaining creative momentum.

Max Joseph, the creative force behind MTV's Catfish, delves into the complexities of leadership and filmmaking. He tackles whether toughness is essential for effective leadership, revealing his own struggles with being a 'nice guy.' Max discusses the 'disagreeable giver' concept and shares insights from his acclaimed documentary on leadership. He also recounts key career moments, like the spontaneous shoot for Nike's 'Make It Count' with Casey Neistat and emphasizes the importance of daily creative practice.

Vanessa Van Edwards, a behavioral investigator and author, shares insights on human behavior and communication. She reveals how vulnerability can actually enhance our charm. Listeners learn the importance of decoding social signals and the traits of high warmth and competence that make charismatic leaders. For introverts, she provides networking tips, suggesting meaningful one-on-one conversations. Vanessa also emphasizes the power of asking the right questions to spark positive interactions and create authentic connections.

Join Noah Kagan, a savvy entrepreneur and chief at Sumo.com, for a lively conversation filled with insights on starting a business. Kagan shares his journey from being an early Facebook employee to founding success-driven startups. He discusses how to effectively validate business ideas quickly, the importance of hiring the right people, and building a customer-focused narrative. With practical strategies like prioritizing singular goals and engaging in candid self-reflection, he inspires listeners to take charge of their entrepreneurial journey.

Jason Redman, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and author, shares profound insights on humility and leadership learned through battle and personal hardship. He emphasizes how arrogance can hinder leaders, recounting a pivotal moment where a mistake endangered lives. The power of training, mental resilience, and the unwavering support of his wife during recovery shaped his journey. Redman also highlights the significance of learning from failures and the importance of leading with example, inspired by the greatest leader he ever encountered.