FoundersApril 15, 2018

#24 No Better Time: The Brief, Remarkable Life of Danny Lewin, the Genius Who Transformed the Internet

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Audio URL: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/DSLLC7658048144.mp3?updated=1748636342

About This Episode

What I learnd by reading No Better Time: The Brief, Remarkable Life of Danny Lewin, the Genius Who Transformed the Internet by Molly Knight Raskin. --- When Danny was excited about something, you couldn't help but get excited too (3:00) Steve Jobs had one speed: GO! (6:00) Danny joins Israel's special forces (10:00) "Life is too short to be bored. Only boring people are bored." (19:00) The idea for Akamai (22:00) "If he didn't know something, he'd go learn it." (28:00) Building a company the right way (31:00) Finding a business model (35:00) Passion is worth $500,000 (38:30) The first product (42:00) "My goal was to express it in layman's terms so that your grandmother could understand it." (44:00) Finding the right price/model (45:00) The best salesperson (48:10) "Hi, this is Steve Jobs, and I want to buy your company." (54:00) "I have this company of one hundred ten people, headed by one of the biggest businessmen around with lots of money in the bank, and I'm just a graduate student." (57:00) "In less than one year, a tiny startup out of MIT had grown to a company with a market valuation than that of General Motors" (58:30) The last day of Danny's life (1:00:00) ---- 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 the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast

Book Mentions

4 book mentions in this episode.

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Books Mentioned

No Better Time, The Brief Remarkable Life of Danny Lewin, the Genius Who Transformed the Internet

Molly Knight Raskin

“The excerpt discusses the importance of the book and its subject, Danny Lewin, highlighting his extraordinary life and contributions.”

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: Danny Lewin's life story

For: Readers interested in inspiring biographies and technology history

Key quote: “That one paragraph is a great description, I guess, of why I think this book is important and why I wanted to cover it on the podcast.”

The host highlights the remarkable achievements and personality of Danny Lewin, emphasizing his impact on the internet and his extraordinary life. This book serves as a tribute to Lewin's legacy and the profound influence he had during his short life.

ASIN: N/A

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The Elite

“The author quotes from 'The Elite' to describe the type of warrior sought by the commanders of the Israeli unit.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: traits of successful founders

For: Entrepreneurs and startup founders

Key quote: “The commanders of the unit were not looking for cold-blooded killers, nor did they seek robots who would follow orders blindly.”

The host references 'The Elite' to highlight the qualities sought in soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force's elite unit, which parallel traits beneficial for founders. This comparison emphasizes the importance of innovation, adaptability, and intelligence in both military and entrepreneurial success.

ASIN: N/A

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parallel algorithms

Tom Leighton

“Lewin became fixated on the book and its author, MIT professor Tom Leighton. Inspired solely on what he'd learned from the pages of this massive tome, he told Anne that he was determined to meet Leighton.”

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: impact of books

For: Readers interested in personal development and the impact of education

Key quote: “For Lewin, however, it was nothing but sincere.”

The host mentions 'Parallel Algorithms' to illustrate how a single book can profoundly influence someone's life and career trajectory. Lewin's fascination with the book led him to pursue further education at MIT, showcasing the transformative power of ideas found in literature.

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How Do I Turn Down A Billion Dollars?

“The mention of the Snapchat book discusses the negotiations and communications between tech companies, highlighting the straightforwardness of Steve Jobs.”

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: Steve Jobs and Akamai

For: Entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts

Key quote: “I've read a lot of other correspondence when it talks about, like in the Snapchat book, How Do I Turn Down A Billion Dollars?”

The host mentions the book 'How Do I Turn Down A Billion Dollars?' while discussing Steve Jobs' direct communication style during negotiations. This reference highlights the contrast between Jobs' straightforward approach and the more convoluted communication seen in other tech negotiations.

ASIN: N/A

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