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FoundersDecember 30, 2019

#104 Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA)

About This Episode
What I learned from reading Leading By Design: The Ikea Story by Ingvar Kamprad and Bertil Torekull. ---- [0:01] He aims to give his company eternal life [3:45] Early life and entrepreneurship [8:00] The beginning of IKEA [11:40] Learning entrepreneurship by imitating [16:30] IKEA almost dies in infancy / how Ingvar worked his way through it [26:00] Ingvar’s greatest regret in life: Neglecting his children for his business. “Everyone with children knows that childhood does not allow itself to be reconquered.” [32:20] Only those asleep make no mistakes. — Ingvar Kamprad [36:00] Thinking of the first store as a laboratory [43:43] Why IKEA stumbled upon self assembled furniture [46:30] A summary of the early history of IKEA [49:00] How Ingvar managed [54:00] Why Ingvar refused to go public [1:03:30] The IKEA Company Bible: The Testament of a Furniture Dealer [1:19:10] Ingvar the Misfit ---- 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
6 book mentions in this episode.
Jump to books
Tip: Click “Mentioned at …” to copy a timestamp.
Tip: Click a cover image to open a book link.

Books Mentioned

Leading by Design, The IKEA Story cover

The speaker discusses their excitement about the book 'Leading by Design, The IKEA Story', which is about Ingvar Kamprad and his journey in building IKEA.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: Ingvar Kamprad's early life
For: Entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts
Key quote: I absolutely fell in love with this book.
The host mentions this book to highlight the remarkable journey of Ingvar Kamprad, emphasizing how his challenging upbringing shaped his entrepreneurial philosophy. The book is filled with insights and direct quotes that reveal Kamprad's character and the foundations of IKEA's success.
ASIN: N/A
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Steve Jobs cover

A quote from Steve Jobs is mentioned, discussing how life can be broader once you realize that everything around you was made by people no smarter than you.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: Influence and Improvement
For: Individuals seeking motivation to change their lives
Key quote: When you grow up, you tend to get told the world is the way it is, and your life is just to live your life inside the world.
The host mentions the book 'Steve Jobs' to highlight a powerful quote that emphasizes the ability of individuals to influence their own lives and surroundings. This perspective aligns with the host's discussion about Ingvar's journey and the importance of continuous improvement.
ASIN: B07ZMKXMTG
Buy on Amazon
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Mein Kampf cover

The book is referenced in relation to the author's upbringing and beliefs instilled by his father, who read it.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: self-doubt and mistakes
For: Readers interested in personal development and overcoming past mistakes.
Key quote: I wept a lot as I couldn't bear adversities.
The host discusses the author's journey of self-reflection and the mistakes he made in his early life, including his past associations with neo-Nazi beliefs. This context is provided to illustrate the complexity of personal growth and the importance of acknowledging one's flaws.
ASIN: N/A
Buy on Amazon
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Family Wealth cover

This book goes through ideas related to wealth management and estate planning, which the speaker references in relation to the complexities of wealth among the extremely wealthy.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: IKEA company structure
For: Individuals interested in wealth management and business structures
Key quote: there's a book called family wealth that goes through i read probably 15 years ago that goes through some of these ideas and it's just completely different how most people think
The host mentions 'Family Wealth' to highlight the complexities of wealth management and company structures, particularly in relation to Ingvar Kamprad's decisions regarding IKEA. The book provides insights into how wealthy individuals navigate inheritance and business continuity, which the host found enlightening years ago.
ASIN: 157660151X
Buy on Amazon
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A Furniture Dealer's Testament cover

This is an internal company textbook that Ingvar wrote in the 1970s. It serves as the company Bible for IKEA, outlining its principles and philosophy.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: company culture and structure
For: Entrepreneurs and business leaders interested in corporate culture
Key quote: It's called A Furniture Dealer's Testament.
The host discusses the significance of 'A Furniture Dealer's Testament' as a foundational text for IKEA's company culture and operational philosophy. They emphasize its role in shaping the IKEA way and training managers within the company.
ASIN: B0DPJ986DK
Buy on Amazon
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Henry Ford cover

The speaker compares Ingvar's words about customer focus to those of Henry Ford, suggesting a shared philosophy on business and customer relations.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: IKEA company philosophy
For: Entrepreneurs and business leaders
Key quote: That could easily have been said word for word by Henry Ford.
The host discusses the foundational principles of IKEA as outlined in 'A Furniture Dealer's Testament,' emphasizing the company's unique approach to business. The mention of Henry Ford highlights the shared philosophy of prioritizing customer needs and innovative practices in entrepreneurship.
ASIN: N/A
Buy on Amazon
Click the book cover image to open the affiliate link.