

In Search Of Excellence
Randall Kaplan
We all have dreams of being successful and achieving excellence in our lives. But we inevitably experience resistance, challenges, and obstacles in the pursuit of our dreams. In Search of Excellence provides us with the inspiration we need to overcome these obstacles and accomplish our goals. In Search of Excellence takes us through the stories, routes, and strategies of people from hundreds of different backgrounds who have achieved excellence in both their professional and personal lives. Guest features include Sharon Stone, Kevin O'Leary, Sammy Hagar, Lara Logan, Sam Zell, and many more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 7, 2022 • 60min
Giada DeLaurentiis: The Dark Times Made Me Strong | E21
In the historically male-dominated culinary industry, Emmy-award-winning TV personality, celebrity chef, and New York Times best-selling author Giada De Laurentiis has not only helped pave the way for female chefs but has also shined a spotlight on the culinary arts as a whole. Giada has always been a trailblazer: from being the first in her family to graduate from college, to being the only woman in her class at Cordon Bleu in Paris, to being the first female chef to open a restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip at The Cromwell Hotel in Las Vegas. But along the way, Giada faced a great deal of adversity - getting bullied as a child, experiencing the devastating loss of her brother, and fighting the sexism and discrimination she faced in the culinary industry. For Giada, these challenges only fueled her fire - with her passion, a love of great food, and tremendous amount of perseverance - she had built an empire. In this episode, Randall and Giada talk about how Giada discovered her passion while working at her grandfather’s restaurant DDL Foodshow, the cultural Italian norms that impacted her life, how she launched her career, how she overcame challenges and practiced resilience, how her time on The Today Show gave her confidence, and everything she’s learned along the way. Topics Include: - Growing up in a traditional Italian family and her experiences in childhood- Getting bullied as a child- Being the first person in her family to attend college- Applying for and attending Cordon Bleu in Paris- Starting GDL foods - Landing Everyday Italian on the Food Network - Does practice make perfect?- Sexism in the culinary industry- Being the first woman to open a restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip- Giada’s Restaurant at The Cromwell- Challenges she had to overcome- How her brother’s passing influenced her life - The three most important ingredients to success- Advice for changing eating habits - Establishing the right work / life balance - Giving back and Stand Up To Cancer- And other topics…Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American celebrity chef, writer, and Emmy award-winning television personality. She was the host of Food Network's Giada at Home and has been the host or co-host of 18 television shows, and she also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today show. She is the founder of the catering business GDL Foods, and the founder and CEO of Giadzy.com, an e-commerce platform which sells culinary goods and contains recipes, entertaining, and travel tips. Giada is also the author of nine cookbooks including the #1 New York Times Best-Seller Eat Better, Feel Better.Resources Mentioned: Giada’s WebsiteGiada’s BooksGiada’s RestaurantsCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

May 24, 2022 • 1h 13min
Mayor Eric Garcetti: Fight For What You Believe In | E20
From homelessness and the housing crisis to traffic and education, Los Angeles County Mayor Eric Garcetti faces challenging, pressing issues day in and day out. But how did a young kid who grew up in an immigrant family in the San Fernando Valley become the leader and change-maker he is today? All of Eric’s life experiences contribute to his ability to search tirelessly for solutions and lead the Los Angeles community towards a better future. When facing new opportunities, Eric considers the quote “only do this if you can’t not.” This motto has supported and encouraged Eric on his journey to becoming the 47th (and youngest) mayor of Los Angeles. We all have a lot to learn from Eric’s commitment to community, work ethic, and leadership skills. In this episode, Randall and Eric talk about how Eric’s childhood and early education shaped who he is today, how he learned the value of hard work, why he ran for public office, political issues Los Angeles is facing, why giving back is the most important thing we can do, the four most important qualities to have on the path to excellence, and all he’s learned along the way. Topics include: - How his trip to Ethiopia as a 16-year-old changed his life - Value of odd jobs and his work program for young Angelenos- Importance of both classroom learning and “real-life” learning - The ‘Will I regret this?” Test - Advice for people who want to be politicians- Why we should be more afraid of succeeding than failing - Why he views himself as “Storyteller in Chief” - The value of transparency and accountability in politics- The three C’s of leadership: convene, coerce, and convince- The importance of sharing power and using soft power- The education and housing crises in California - How to end homelessness- LA’s foster care system- His experience fostering seven children- Controversies he’s overcome - Why you can’t take yourself too personally- Value of having a great team - And other topics…Eric Garcetti is a fourth-generation Angeleno and the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles. In 2017, Eric won re-election by the widest margin in the history of Los Angeles. He was recently appointed to serve as the US ambassador to India. Prior to becoming Mayor in 2013, Eric spent four terms as Council President on the L.A. City Council. Beyond his time in government, Eric served his country as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve, and taught at Occidental College and the University of Southern California. Eric received his B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University. He studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and later at the London School of Economics. He is also a jazz pianist and photographer. He and his wife, First Lady Amy Elaine Wakeland, have been foster parents for over a decade, and are the proud parents of a daughter, Maya. Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

May 10, 2022 • 1h 28min
Mark Cuban: Think Like A Shark | E19
Mark Cuban was born a serial entrepreneur. At age 12, he sold trash bags door to door. By age 16, he had a business selling stamps. During college at Indiana University, he taught disco lessons at sorority houses and opened a popular bar before he turned 21. So how does an average kid growing up in Pittsburgh go on to become a self-made billionaire? For some of us, it may be hard to imagine the person that we know today as Mark Cuban quit a job, was fired from another, had a business that closed down because somebody who worked there was on probation for prostitution, and slept on the floor of an apartment for many months after moving to Dallas. But it was these experiences that made Mark the businessman, investor, philanthropist, and billionaire that he is today. Mark’s journey is one of incredibly hard work, determination and perseverance, adapting to change, and learning from failure.In this episode, Randall and Mark talk about challenges on Mark’s path to excellence, the role Mark played in the early days of the internet with MicroSolutions, the story behind AudioNet/ Broadcast.com, taking it public, selling it to Yahoo for $5.7 billion, and how he sold his stock in what is considered one of the most brilliant business decisions of all-time. Randall and Mark also discuss Mark’s latest company The Mark Cuban Cost-Plus Drug Company, and his very sage advice for young entrepreneurs.Topics Include:- How his college experience prepared him for success- The lessons about sales Mark learned as a 12-year-old selling trash bags door to door- Why you can learn just as much from the bad companies as the good ones - The interview answer that got him a job with no experience - Mark’s brief career as an actor and reading for Stephen Spielberg - Why owning a sports team is unique from owning a business- Mark’s powerful Shark Tank episode with Tania Speaks Organic Skincare- The importance of preparation and learning from failure - Mark’s thoughts on parenting - How his work-life balance has changed over time- Mark’s charitable work through the Mark Cuban Foundation and Fallen Patriots Fund- And other topics…Mark Cuban is a serial entrepreneur, investor, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and a host of Shark Tank on NBC. Mark made his initial fortune through the sales of his startups MicroSolutions and Broadcast.com in the 1990s, and he was was ranked #177 on the 2020 Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest residents in the United States.Mark is also the best-selling author of How to Win at the Sport of Business. Among many ventures, Cuban is also involved in the world of film and television and occasionally appears on popular television shows including Entourage, Dancing with the Stars, and The League. Mark graduated from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University with a degree in management. He lives with his wife and children in Dallas, Texas.Resources Mentioned: The Fountainhead by Ayn RandCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Apr 26, 2022 • 1h 24min
Steve Romick: Manage Your Money Right | E18
Steve Romick grew up in a tight-knit family in the San Fernando Valley and was very driven from a very young age. Even as a five-year-old, he wasn’t interested in failure and never gave up easily, a personality trait that has carried Steve through his career. Today Steve manages nearly $20 billion in assets and is a managing partner at First Pacific Advisors (FPA), an LA-based money management firm that manages $29 billion. Steve’s passion to succeed, proficiency with numbers, and strong dislike of losing money have guided him to an accomplished career in money management, including the recognition of being named the 2013 Morningstar US Allocation Fund of the Year and earned him a nomination for Morningstar Manager of the Decade. Steve’s knowledge and perspective about money management and investing are built on 30 years of experience and understanding of risk and reward. In this episode, Randall and Steve talk about Steve’s first experience with wealth management as an intern (and later an employee) for Kaplan, Nathan, & Co., the importance of self-education and self-awareness in investing, how to grow a money management firm, modern investment strategies, and how to be a successful money manager. Topics Include: - How Steve’s father influenced his interest in philanthropy- The importance of reading and understanding shareholder reports - How to encourage people to learn and understand their investments- Who shouldn’t invest in a mutual fund - Low risk/high reward investments- Defining a hedge fund vs a mutual fund- Advice for getting a job in this industry - The ins-and-outs of growth at money management firm- The story behind his nomination for the Morningstar Manager of the Decade - What is the S&P 500 and why does it matter?- Defining the MSCI ACWI Index - Active vs passive investing - Why you should avoid secularly challenged businesses when deciding to invest- The two most important ingredients for success- Whether people should use a money manager or manage their own money- And other topics…Steve Romick is the managing partner at First Pacific Advisors, a money management firm based in Los Angeles that manages $29 billion across multiple investment strategies. Before joining First Pacific Advisors, Steve was the chairman of Crescent Management and worked in for Kaplan, Nathan, & Co. In addition to managing the $10 billion FPA Crescent Mutual Fund, he also co-manages the FPA Hawkeye Hedge Fund and other multi-advisor strategies. He serves on many philanthropic boards, including Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Our House, and Phase One.In 2013, Steve was the recipient of Morningstar’s U.S. Allocation Fund Manager of the Year and was nominated for the Morningstar Manager of the Decade. He earned a BS in Education from Northwestern University and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three kids.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Apr 12, 2022 • 1h 47min
Sammy Hagar: From Broke Kid To Rockstar Entrepreneur | E17
Sammy Hagar is one of the most prolific artists in the history of Rock and Roll. Playing in bands like Montrose and Van Halen, and with a successful solo career that included the rock anthem “I Can’t Drive 55,” Sammy has had 25 platinum albums and has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. Sammy is also an extremely successful serial entrepreneur and was the first celebrity to create his own tequila brand which he sold more than 20 years ago for nearly $100 million. He is also devoted to giving back and is a generous philanthropist. But who was Sammy before fame and fortune? How did he become the successful rock icon and entrepreneur he is today? Sammy’s journey is filled with many challenges, incredible perseverance, a lucky coincidence, and an ability to change. Sammy attributes his success to the lessons he learned about resilience and appreciation while growing up in poverty in Salinas, CA where he often slept in a car with his mom and siblings to get away from his alcoholic father. When Sammy fell in love with music at a Rolling Stones concert at age 14, the scrappy, adaptable young man bought a guitar from Sears and decided he would stop at nothing to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star.In this fascinating episode, Sammy and Randall talk about Sammy’s journey from poverty to the big stage, Sammy’s experience with the bands Montrose and Van Halen, his creativity and marketing abilities in building Cabo Wabo Cantina and Cabo Wabo Tequila, and his dedication to philanthropy and making a difference in local communities.Topics Include: - The odd jobs Sammy had while growing up which taught him the value of a strong work ethic;- Sammy’s first realization about what having money would be like;- Sammy’s first concert experiences and learning to play the guitar;- The lessons Sammy learned from growing up poor;- The ups and downs and experiences of playing with Van Halen for 20 years;- The sale of Cabo Wabo Tequila for nearly $100 million to Gruppo Campari;- His creativity, branding, and marketing tactics used to build the Cabo Wabo brand;- Sammy’s three most important ingredients in the path to excellence;- His ability to finding joy and happiness in the simple things;- The origins of Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill and the restaurant’s commitment to give back; - And other topics…Sammy Hagar is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and entrepreneur. In the 1970s, Sammy’s career took off with the rock band Montrose, and continued after he launched a successful solo career that included some of the greatest rock anthems ever written with songs like “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Right Now,” and “Why Can’t This be Love.” Sammy was the frontman for Van Halen for nearly 20 years, has had 25 platinum albums, and has sold 60 million records worldwide. He is a Grammy award winner and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sammy is also an incredibly talented entrepreneur, starting companies such as Cabo Wabo Tequila, Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, and Santo Mezquila. He is also a two-time New York Times best-selling author and a dedicated philanthropist. In 2008, Sammy started the Hagar Family Foundation, a private non-profit that focuses on food relief and children’s causes including children with cancer.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Mar 29, 2022 • 1h 38min
Orlando Bravo: Finding Your Niche | E16
The incredible story of Orlando Bravo’s journey from a tuna fishing village in Puerto Rico to the most successful private equity investor in the world, is one of incredibly hard work and a fierce determination to succeed. When Orlando’s childhood dream of becoming a professional tennis player ended, he went to Brown on a tennis scholarship, was terrified he wouldn't succeed, graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the top 2% of his class, and later earned a JD / MBA from Stanford. After not being offered a summer internship position at a prestigious private equity firm and graduating from Stanford without a job, Orlando made 100 cold calls to potential employers, one of whom was Carl Thoma who is considered one of the founders and pioneers of private equity. It was here that Orlando put himself on the map. After making a series of poor acquisitions of technology companies that survived the dot.com bust in 2010-2011, he pivoted and began investing in software companies. His first deal was the acquisition of Prophet 21, a product distribution software provider based in San Diego where he worked for five days in the garage of the company’s founder before going forward with the deal. The investment made a 4x return and earned Orlando a seat at the table, and by the age of 30 Orlando became a partner in the firm. Since its founding, Thomas Bravo has completed more than 350 acquisitions worth nearly $155 billion, and presently oversees a portfolio of 50 software companies that generate $21 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 72,000 people around the world. In this inspirational episode, Randall and Orlando discuss Orlando’s journey from tennis to higher education, why he focuses on investing in well-established software companies instead of startups, the importance of learning from investment mistakes and other failures, and why he believes the next generation is always better than the previous one.Topics Include: - Lessons about work ethic learned from his parents and grandfather- How “soft landings” and limiting pressure can build environments where people thrive- Why Orlando prefers cold calling to introductions- How the dot-com bubble influenced his investment strategy - The story of the Profit 21 acquisition- How he made a $9 billion profit in 18 months by buying and selling Ellie Mae- How to attract and retain top talent- The place cryptocurrency in our society- The value of preparation- Mentorship- The importance of philanthropy and his incredible efforts after Hurricane Maria, and what he’s doing to help Puerto Rico and young entrepreneurs there- And other topics… Orlando Bravo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm with a focus on software and technology that has been rated the top-performing private equity firm in the world. Orlando is an incredibly generous philanthropist and serves as the Founder and Chairman of the Bravo Family Foundation whose mission is to provide access and opportunities to young adults in Puerto Rico. He has committed over $100 million to the Foundation’s Rising Entrepreneurs Program (REP), a program that promotes entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico. Resources Mentioned: Memos from the Chairman by Alan GreenbergCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Mar 15, 2022 • 1h 20min
Trina Spear: How Outsiders Disrupt Industries | E15
Trina Spear is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FIGS, a healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand that has a current value of $4 billion. What has grown into a spectacular success started with a simple idea and question – what if we put as much thought into healthcare apparel as we do with athletic apparel? What if we invented apparel for healthcare professionals by selling fitted, fashionable, cool, and comfortable medical scrubs?Trina and her partner Heather Hasson began working on this idea in 2012, and a year later they were selling medical scrubs in parking lots of hospitals out of the trunk of Heather’s car. The rest is history. In May 2021, FIGS became the first company ever to go public that was led by two female co-founders. In today’s episode, Trina and Randall discuss Trina’s early life and educational pursuits, how her background in investment banking and private equity prepared her to navigate life as an entrepreneur, the future of female entrepreneurship, why outsiders are better equipped to disrupt industries, and much more.Episode Topics: - Pros and cons of college- The importance of internships- Female entrepreneurship - Mentorship under Strauss Zelnick- Taking the leap to become an entrepreneur- The importance of cold calling and communication skills- FIGS’ biggest mistakes- Taking FIGS public on the New York Stock Exchange- Finding funding- Direct to consumer products- The power of being underestimated- FIGS’ charity initiative Threads for Threads- And other topics…Trina Spear is the Co-CEO and Co-founder of FIGS, a $4 billion healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand. Trina’s many accolades include being named Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs in 2018 and 2019 and Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018, and in 2021 Trina made the Forbes list as one of America’s wealthiest self-made women with a net worth of $600 million. Prior to FIGS, Trina was an associate with the Blackstone Group and spent several years in investment banking and private equity at Citigroup. She received her BA from Tufts University and her MBA from Harvard Business School.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Jan 4, 2022 • 1h 22min
David Rubenstein: How To Lead | E14
David Rubenstein grew up in a modest, blue-collar home in Northwest Baltimore. He never considered himself a brilliant student or excellent athlete, but he did believe that hard work leads to success. This drive and work ethic paid off, and today, David is a billionaire businessman and a member of the Forbes 400 list. David’s journey has taken him from humble beginnings in Baltimore, MD, to Duke University, Chicago Law School, and a job as a white house staffer, to eventually co-founding one of the largest private equity firms in the world, the Carlyle Group. David and Randall talk about David’s career journey, his passion for philanthropy, the struggles he overcame when starting a business, three past investment mistakes, the skills necessary to become a leader, investment strategy, parenting, and much more. Topics Include: - How to create your own luck- Education, the investment no one can take from you- The “biological clock” for entrepreneurs- The beginnings of the Carlyle group - Patriotic philanthropy- The American Dream- The challenges of parenting - Lessons from investment “mistakes”- Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and NFTs- David’s three-part philosophy on life- And other topics…David Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. He is the author of several books, including The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians (2019), How to Lead: Wisdom from the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers (2020), and The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream (2021). David is also the host of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and PBS. David is an active philanthropist and serves on the board of many organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institution, Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts, and more. David graduated magna cum laude from Duke University, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa. David went on to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review.Resources Mentioned:The American Story: Conversations with Master HistoriansHow to Lead: Wisdom from the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game ChangersThe American Experiment: Dialogues on a DreamCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Dec 7, 2021 • 2h 14min
Jimmy Carson: Excellence is a Mindset | E13
Randall Kaplan is joined by former professional hockey player Jimmy Carson to discuss his early and long-term success in the NHL, his experiences as a first-generation American, his post-professional life as a father and husband, his success after he retired, his views on being part of the biggest trade in sports history, and much more.Topics Include:The influence of Jimmy’s parents and his ancestry. The American Dream and what it meant to Jimmy and his family. The role of mentors in shaping our success. Growing up near Olympia Stadium and attending his first Detroit Red Wings games. Moving to Canada at age 16 to play hockey. Being selected as the second overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings. Being traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Wayne Gretzky. Jimmy’s keys to success. And other topics...Jimmy Carson is a former American professional hockey player who played for the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Hartford Whalers. In 1988, he became the second teenager to score 50 goals in a season - the first was Wayne Gretzky. He scored more goals as a teenager than any player in NHL history – 92 goals. After he retired from hockey, Jimmy has built a very successful career in financial services - something he planned during his early days in the NHL.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Nov 16, 2021 • 1h 17min
Kevin O'Leary: Business Is War | E12
Randall Kaplan is joined by serial entrepreneur and media personality Kevin O’Leary. Known to many as Mr. Wonderful on SharkTank, Kevin talks about how his unique life experiences made him the successful entrepreneur and investor he is today. In this episode, Kevin and Randall talk about Kevin’s upbringing and what Kevin learned from his mother about financial independence and investing. Kevin shares stories about the moment he knew he needed to work for himself, the greatest lesson he learned in business school, and his first entrepreneurial success. Kevin also talks about why culture matters in business, entrepreneurship and investment strategy, and much more. Topics Include: Growing up with an alcoholic father.How Kevin’s childhood experience informed how he thinks about investing. When he decided to become an entrepreneur. His first success as an entrepreneur. Overcoming dyslexia and education. Investment strategy and entrepreneurship. The war of business. What he learned as an intern at Nabisco. Women in finance and investment. Cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, and NFTs. The value of failing as an entrepreneur. And other topics...Kevin O’Leary is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and investor. Kevin was a co-founder of Softkey Software Products (later The Learning Company) which Mattel bought for $4.2 billion1999. Today he leads the O’Leary Financial Group, including O’Leary Funds, O’Shares EFTs, O’Leary Publishing, and O’Leary Ventures. He is also the founder and Chief Sommelier of O’Leary Fine Wines. Kevin is fondly known as “Mr. Wonderful” on ABC’s Shark Tank, is the host of the CNBC show Money Court, and is also a host and personality on Discovery’s Project Earth and CBC’s Dragons’ Den. Kevin’s is also the author of three best-selling books about financial literacy.Resources Mentioned:nft.comCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn