What I learned from reading Henry Clay Frick: The Life of the Perfect Capitalist by Quentin Skrabec Jr. ---- 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 usu...
Jun 09, 2019•1 hr 23 min
What I learned from reading The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie by Andrew Carnegie. ---- 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 th...
Jun 02, 2019•55 min
What I learned from reading Meet You in Hell: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership That Changed America by Les Standiford. ---- 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...
May 26, 2019•1 hr 32 min
What I learned from reading Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee by Stan Lee and George Mair. Marvel is a cornucopia of fantasy, a wild idea, a swashbuckling attitude, an escape from the humdrum and prosaic. It's a serendipitous feast for the mind, the eye, and the imagination, a literate celebration of unbridled creativity, coupled with a touch of rebellion and an insolent desire to spit in the eye of the dragon (1:15) discovering his love of reading at an early age (8:45) accidentally findi...
May 19, 2019•59 min
"To read Bezos’ shareholder letters is to get a crash course in running a high-growth internet business from someone who mastered it before any of the playbooks were written." ---- 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 com...
May 12, 2019•1 hr 48 min
What I learned from reading The Dao of Capital: Austrian Investing in a Distorted World by Mark Spitznagel. Klipp's Paradox (0:01) the whole point of my approach to investing is that we must be willing to adopt the indirect route to achieve our goals (14:00) finding his life's work (19:00) if my children will only read one book on economics I would be Economics in One Lesson (25:30) why it is always possible to start new, successful companies (30:00) the point is not to go slow to stay glow. it ...
May 06, 2019•59 min
What I learned from reading The Goodyear Story: An Inventor's Obsession and The Struggle For A Rubber Monopoly by Richard Korman. An obsessive quest to find the recipe for rubber (0:01) Charles Goodyear epitomized the spirit of the upstart American technologists (6:15) the early life of Goodyear's family (20:10) coming up with the idea for a domestic made only hardware store (29:00) a crushing failure + debtor's prison (35:20) accidentally finding his life's work (38:18) optimism + positive ment...
Apr 28, 2019•1 hr 13 min
What I learned from reading The Invisible Billionaire: Daniel Ludwig by Jerry Shields. The cameraman was excited and more than a little nervous. In a matter of moments he would enjoy a unique opportunity: the chance to snap the first unposed picture ever taken of the richest man in the world. The strange thing was that most Americans had never even heard of Daniel Keith Ludwig. How could a man in these days of mass media coverage and public obsession with world records, manage to accumulate a $3...
Apr 21, 2019•1 hr 27 min
What I learned from reading The Hiltons: The True Story of an American Dynasty by J. Randy Taraborrelli. 100 years ago he was a man with $5000 to his name (0:01) the curse of the ambitious/early life + work (6:35) Conrad Hilton is inspired by Helen Keller's optimism (13:00) the first Hilton hotel + more failed businesses (14:45) Conrad at 32 years old /falling back into the Hotel business by accident (25:30) losing it all / The Great Depression (35:00) The Great Depression's effect on his busine...
Apr 14, 2019•1 hr 26 min
What I learned from reading Henry J. Kaiser: Builder in the Modern American West by Mark Foster. He built giant businesses in roads, bridges, dams, housing, cement, aluminum, chemicals, steel, health care, and tourism. (0:01) starting a joint venture with Howard Hughes (6:40) learning how not to run a business (12:00) how Kaiser was able to start his own business with no money (18:00) I decided to pick one fellow I wanted most to work for and concentrate on him . (23:15) how Henry Kaiser used pa...
Apr 07, 2019•1 hr 25 min
What I learned from reading The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History by William C. Rempel. ---- [0:16] He was a humble man privately proud of his accomplishments, a business genius who ignored his MBA advisers, a daring aviator and movie mogul, a gambler at the casino and on Wall Street who played the odds in both houses with uncanny skill. [4:34] Kirk believed there was no point in placing small bets. [16:48] He was a day laborer at ...
Mar 31, 2019•1 hr 10 min
What I learned from reading Coco Chanel: Her Life, Her Secrets . ---- It is my work I am congratulated on, and to me, that's the only thing that counts (0:01) I've been miserable in a life that from the outside seemed magnificent (4:15) The maxims of Coco Chanel (6:43) Coco on marketing (13:22) Coco's early life (15:15) My need for independence began to develop when I was very young. (18:53) Coco Chanel at 20 (28:15) the beginning of her empire (34:00) I have nothing and I know I can do anything...
Mar 24, 2019•58 min
What I learned by from reading The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich by Daniel Ammann. ---- The spot market for oil was one of the most lucrative ideas of the twentieth century. [0:01] the historical events intertwined with the career of Marc Rich [5:15] how his family escapes the Nazi's [12:00] his first jobs + learning from his father + finding his vocation [14:30] learning the commodities business from A to Z [20:00] his work environment was training for entrepreneurship + how he tho...
Mar 10, 2019•1 hr 24 min
What I learned from reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. ---- [0:01] Why Ben Franklin wrote an autobiography [4:50] Ben Franklin's early education and first job [7:30] starting out in the printing business [11:00] Writing had been of great use to me in the course of my life, and was a principal means of my advancement [16:45] his humble arrival in Philadelphia [25:00] Ben Franklin's time in London [29:00] how the mind of Benjamin Franklin worked [34:30] the opport...
Mar 04, 2019•1 hr 7 min
What I learned from reading The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger . ---- Such was the beginning of a revolution [0:01] The economic benefits arise not from innovation itself, but from the entrepreneurs who eventually discover ways to put innovations to practical use . [15:30] the basic idea was around for decades [17:30] Malcom's early life and first business [23:00] McLean had an obsessive focus on cutting costs [33:00] the beginning of Malcom M...
Feb 25, 2019•1 hr 30 min
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) ...
Feb 18, 2019•1 hr 12 min
What I learned from reading Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters; The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire . ---- He was a film director, a producer, a test pilot, inventor, investor, and entrepreneur [0:01] the start of Hughes Tool Company [13:00] during a gold rush sell pickaxe's / great idea about leasing drill bits [19:00] Howard Hughes Jr is on his own at 18 years old [26:00] starting out in the movie business [32:00] his first plane crash/divorce [38:00] Howard ...
Feb 11, 2019•1 hr 51 min
What I learned from reading Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John Bogle ---- Gentlemen, cut your costs. [4:00] the benefits of being forced to work early on in life [7:00] I'll never forget the inspiration when I read this quote: The force of his mind overcame his every impediment . [9:30] the traits he needed to found Vanguard [12:00] what John thinks we should be doing better [13:30] create things that help other people/Charlie Munger [17:30] When a business fails people w...
Feb 04, 2019•58 min
What I learned from reading Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution . ---- This is a story of a revolution [0:01] what Vanguard does and why? [7:00] the seed of the idea that eventually becomes Vanguard [10:00] switching from conservative investing to speculation / when humans are scared they copy the behavior of those around them [17:00] John gets fired. He decides to fight back. [31:00] if you know why you are doing what you are doing you are less likely to quit [41:00]...
Jan 28, 2019•1 hr 30 min
What I learned from reading Nuts!: Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success ---- Reality is chaotic; planning is ordered [0:01] Vince Lombardi is the Steve Jobs of coaches [3:48] how Southwest Airlines is different [11:31] the beginning of Southwest [16:00] fighting anticompetitive practice [24:30] finding a new market by doing the opposite of your competition [29:00] missionaries make the best products [31:00] being forced to innovate leads to questioning assumptions w...
Jan 22, 2019•1 hr 10 min
What I learned from reading Tycoon's War: How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America's Most Famous Military Adventurer by Stephen Dando-Collins ---- Unlike Vanderbilt's other adversaries William Walker was not afraid of Cornelius when he should have been [0:01] Setting up the war between Cornelius Vanderbilt and William Walker [7:32] William Walker's impressive resume [16:44] Betrayal: " Gentlemen, You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'...
Jan 14, 2019•1 hr 23 min
What I learned by reading The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by TJ Stiles. ---- His life spanned from the days of George Washington to John D. Rockefeller [0:01] $1 out of $20 in circulation [4:35] an overview of his life [5:35] the environment Vanderbilt was raised in [14:10] love of competition / dislike of school / first jobs [18:00] action for actions sake [22:00] an entrepreneur from the beginning [23:06] expansion fueled by aggressiveness, action, and constraints [30:0...
Jan 08, 2019•1 hr 30 min
What I learned from reading Who Is Michael Ovitz ? by Michael Ovitz. ---- Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first give a gift [0:01] Michael's first jobs + finding his first love [7:02] the foul-mouthed magnates [19:49] starting at the bottom / being hungry for knowledge [24:50] I don't want to be standard in any way [32:30] the revolt begins and the founding of CAA [36:05] know the history of the industry you are in [46:30] a warning for all entrepreneurs [53:44] what influenced CAA's cu...
Jan 01, 2019•1 hr 47 min
What I learned from reading The Republic of Tea: The Story of the Creation of a Business, as Told Through the Personal Letters of Its Founders . ---- A business is born (0:01) don't start a business unless you are the first customer (22:49) what it is like to fall in love with an idea (25:31) starting a business is like making a movie (27:15) on slowing down (32:32) the problem with being able to argue both sides of an idea (37:00) editing & narrowing your focus (46:51) ideas in the form of acti...
Dec 25, 2018•1 hr 31 min
What I learned from reading Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic by Mel and Patricia Ziegler ---- For every business, there is an appropriate scale [0:01] Fundamentally Unemployable [5:18] the prehistory of Banana Republic [10:02] " We didn't have any money, we didn't have any technology, and we didn't have a plan. " –Jack Ma [14:30] A republic is born [18:13] when something is not selling, increase the price [20:45] relentlessly resourceful [25:45] finding assets hiding in liabilit...
Dec 17, 2018•1 hr 27 min
What I learned from reading The Pmarca Blog Archive Ebook by Marc Andreessen. ---- [0:01] In this series of posts I will walk through some of my accumulated knowledge and experience in building high-tech startups. [3:15] Great things about doing a startups: Most fundamentally, the opportunity to be in control of your own destiny — you get to succeed or fail on your own, and you don’t have some bozo telling you what to do. For a certain kind of personality, this alone is reason enough to do a sta...
Dec 11, 2018•1 hr 5 min
What I learned from reading Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life by Richard Branson. --- Subscribe to listen to Founders Premium — Subscribers can listen to Ask Me Anything (AMA) episodes and every bonus episode. --- — “ 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 . ” — Gareth Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All ...
Dec 03, 2018•41 min
What I learned from reading Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography by Richard Branson. ---- 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...
Nov 26, 2018•1 hr 16 min
What I learned from reading Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson ---- Business is a fluid, changing substance. A mutating, indefinable thing [0:45] I just pick up the phone and get on with it [7:50] smart ways to get initial traction [9:51] to understand the entrepreneur, study the juvenile delinquent [14:19] Richard Branson's early business philosophy [14:49] the beginning of Virgin [19:00] what he learned from going to jail [...
Nov 19, 2018•1 hr 13 min
What I learned from reading I Love Capitalism: An American Story by Ken Langone. --- His early life: there was never much money (3:30) Ken's first jobs (5:35) [At school] I didn't apply myself at all . I did the absolute minimum . I was too busy having fun and working at all my various jobs (12:05) further adventures in entrepreneurship (13:24) Looking for work / finding excitement (17:00) stepping out into the void / getting creative to get a job (23:50) how he starts growing a business within ...
Nov 13, 2018•1 hr 11 min
