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FoundersDecember 17, 2018
#51 Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic
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About This Episode
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 liabilities [28:30] the catalog! [30:33] Eddie Murphy on why you shouldn't have a backup plan [36:40] media was the initial distribution strategy [42:15] Understanding the internet before the internet existed. A lesson on publicity/attention [45:22] when all else fails, expand [51:05] selling the company [56:24] the end of freedom [1:04:40] Misfits, quotes from Steve Jobs and what this has to do with the podcast industry [1:08:00] ---- 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
3 book mentions in this episode.
Jump to booksTip: Click “Mentioned at …” to copy a timestamp.
Tip: Click a cover image to open a book link.
Books Mentioned
Wild Company
Mel and Patricia Ziegler
“The excerpt discusses the book 'Wild Company, The Untold Story of Banana Republic' by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, which shares their journey of starting the company.”
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: business scaling challenges
For: Entrepreneurs and aspiring business founders
Key quote: “I thought, wow, this is a really good book.”
The host mentions 'Wild Company' to highlight the journey of Banana Republic's founders and their experiences with business challenges. He emphasizes the book's storytelling quality and its relevance to creative individuals looking to navigate their own entrepreneurial paths.
ASIN: N/A
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.

Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
“Mel came home from the library with a copy of Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich', which prompted them to consider their financial goals.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: pursuing passion over stability
For: Entrepreneurs and individuals seeking career change
Key quote: “Mel came home from the library one afternoon with a copy of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich.”
The host mentions 'Think and Grow Rich' to illustrate how Mel and Patricia used the book's principles to guide their decision to leave their unfulfilling jobs. The book prompted them to define their financial goals and the steps needed to achieve them, which ultimately led to the creation of Banana Republic.
ASIN: N/A
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.

Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson
“This is from Isaacson's book, Steve Jobs. And this is Steve Jobs in his own words shortly before he died. My passion has been to build an enduring company where people were motivated to make great products.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: books about Steve Jobs
For: Listeners interested in entrepreneurship and Steve Jobs' influence.
Key quote: “I've read two books on Steve Jobs with both of which I've turned into founders' podcasts.”
The host briefly mentions having read two books about Steve Jobs, indicating a personal interest in his story. This reference serves to highlight the unique insights gained from those who worked closely with Jobs, particularly Ed Catmull.
ASIN: B07ZMKXMTG
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.