
Founders
Learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs. Every week I read a biography of an entrepreneur and find ideas you can use in your work. This quote explains why: "There are thousands of years of history in which lots and lots of very smart people worked very hard and ran all types of experiments on how to create new businesses, invent new technology, new ways to manage etc. They ran these experiments throughout their entire lives. At some point, somebody put these lessons down in a book. For very little money and a few hours of time, you can learn from someone’s accumulated experience. There is so much more to learn from the past than we often realize. You could productively spend your time reading experiences of great people who have come before and you learn every time." —Marc Andreessen
Latest episodes

133 snips
Aug 23, 2020 • 1h 3min
#141 Arnold Schwarzenegger (My Unbelievably True Life Story)
Discover an inspiring journey shaped by adversity and ambition. Arnold Schwarzenegger reflects on his disciplined upbringing in post-war Austria, turning hardship into motivation for success. He shares his mindset before competitions, embodying a fierce determination to win. Lessons on time management and productivity underline his path to greatness. Embrace risk without fear of judgment, he advises, as he emphasizes resilience and self-belief. This candid exploration reminds us that every challenge can fuel our drive for excellence.

265 snips
Aug 16, 2020 • 55min
#140 Bill Gates (the Making of the Microsoft Empire)
Discover the relentless ambition that fueled Bill Gates from a young age. Dive into the birth of Microsoft, driven by Gates and Paul Allen's innovative spirit in the face of competition. Learn how Gates' fierce sales tactics and strategic partnerships, particularly with IBM, shaped the software landscape. Explore the evolving dynamics of the industry as Microsoft rose to become a billion-dollar company. Reflect on Gates' personal growth and the branding triumphs that turned products into household names.

140 snips
Aug 9, 2020 • 1h 8min
#139 J.P. Morgan
Discover the fascinating rise and complexities of the House of Morgan, a banking dynasty intertwined with U.S. power structures. Delve into J.P. Morgan's early years shaped by personal hardships and influential mentors. Explore his confrontations with Teddy Roosevelt and how political tides altered his legacy. Examine his role during the financial panic of 1907 and the paradox of his immense wealth juxtaposed with personal struggles. The narrative paints a captivating portrait of a titan of finance and his enduring impact on the banking world.

48 snips
Aug 2, 2020 • 1h 1min
#138 Alexander Graham Bell
Delve into the life of Alexander Graham Bell, a relentless innovator driven by a passion for communication and education for the deaf. Discover his strategic decision to lease telephones for business growth, and the fierce competition he faced in the burgeoning telephone industry. Learn about his profound personal relationships, especially with his wife, and hear about his eccentricities and reflections on life. The emotional finale emphasizes universal themes of connection and loss that resonate beyond his groundbreaking inventions.

37 snips
Jul 26, 2020 • 1h 3min
#137 P.T. Barnum
Discover the astonishing life of P.T. Barnum, from a struggling youth to a world-famous showman. His relentless spirit in promotion led him through thrilling highs and challenging lows. Explore his role as a prolific author, banker, and public lecturer, proving his multifaceted genius. Learn how he navigated the creative and moral complexities of fame while leveraging emerging technologies. Dive into his legendary comeback after financial setbacks and uncover the innovative strategies that shaped his extraordinary career.

100 snips
Jul 18, 2020 • 45min
#136 Estée Lauder
Discover the relentless pursuit of dreams through hard work and focus as a notable beauty entrepreneur shares her journey. Learn how personal hardships shaped her resilience and innovative approach to building a beauty empire. The importance of selling with passion and viewing oneself as the most important person in the room adds depth to her story. Dive into the timeless nature of the beauty industry and gain insights on how unwavering persistence can lead to achieving monumental success.

39 snips
Jul 12, 2020 • 1h 7min
#135 Joseph Pulitzer (Politics & Media)
Dive into the life of Joseph Pulitzer, a transformative figure in American journalism who revolutionized mass media. Discover his tumultuous journey from a troubled childhood in Hungary to becoming a media mogul amidst intense rivalries, especially with Hearst. Hear about Pulitzer's complex relationship with politics, including a near arrest instigated by Teddy Roosevelt. Explore the manipulative tactics of powerful newspaper owners and the personal isolation that accompanied Pulitzer’s monumental successes, revealing a cautionary tale of ambition and loneliness.

102 snips
Jul 1, 2020 • 1h 18min
#134 Edwin Land (Polaroid vs Kodak)
Dive into the fascinating life of Edwin Land, the visionary behind Polaroid, who held an impressive 535 patents. Discover his belief in embracing creative challenges and the dangers of over-planning in innovation. Explore the intense rivalry with Kodak that led to a landmark legal battle over instant photography technology. Hear how Land's unique management style and focus on customer needs revolutionized product development, influencing future tech leaders like Steve Jobs.

58 snips
Jun 25, 2020 • 55min
#133 Edwin Land (Polaroid and The Man Who Invented It)
Discover the fascinating life of Edwin Land, the visionary behind Polaroid, who achieved remarkable success without a college degree. His innovative spirit and creative problem-solving led to the invention of instant photography. The podcast dives into Land's complex personality, employee relationships, and his introspective approach to life choices. Inspirational quotes, including those from Steve Jobs, illuminate the importance of following one's heart and embracing mortality. Land's legacy continues to influence creativity and determination in the tech world.

143 snips
Jun 20, 2020 • 1h 2min
#132 Edwin Land (Steve Jobs's Hero)
Dive into the fascinating world of Edwin Land, the visionary behind Polaroid and instant photography. Discover how he transformed obstacles into opportunities, challenging conventional wisdom at every turn. Land believed in the power of individual creativity, often disregarding expert advice in favor of his instincts. Explore his emotional approach to photography and the profound connections it fosters. Learn why Steve Jobs considered him a national treasure and how his innovative spirit reshaped the market for instant photography.