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FoundersMay 12, 2024

Michael Jordan In His Own Words

About This Episode
What I learned from reading Driven From Within by Michael Jordan and Mark Vancil. ---- Relationships run the world: Build relationships at Founders events ---- Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders You can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. You can also ask SAGE any question and SAGE will read all my notes, highlights, and every transcript from every episode for you. A few questions I've asked SAGE recently: What are the most important leadership lessons from history's greatest entrepreneurs? Can you give me a summary of Warren Buffett's best ideas? (Substitute any founder covered on the podcast and you'll get a comprehensive and easy to read summary of their ideas) How did Edwin Land find new employees to hire? Any unusual sources to find talent? What are some strategies that Cornelius Vanderbilt used against his competitors? Get access to Founders Notes here. ---- Episode Outline: Players who practice hard when no one is paying attention play well when everyone is watching.It's hard, but it's fair. I live by those words. To this day, I don't enjoy working. I enjoy playing, and figuring out how to connect playing with business. To me, that's my niche. People talk about my work ethic as a player, but they don't understand. What appeared to be hard work to others was simply playing for me. You have to be uncompromised in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared. Look around, just about any person or entity achieving at a high level has the same focus. The morning after Tiger Woods rallied to beat Phil Mickelson at the Ford Championship in 2005, he was in the gym by 6:30 to work out. No lights. No cameras. No glitz or glamour. Uncompromised. I knew going against the grain was just part of the process. The mind will play tricks on you. The mind was telling you that you couldn't go any further. The mind was telling you how much it hurt. The mind was telling you these things to keep you from reaching your goal. But you have to see past that, turn it all off if you are going to get where you want to be.I would wake up in the morning thinking: How am I going to attack today?I’m not so dominant that I can’t listen to creative ideas coming from other people. Successful people listen. Those who don’t listen, don’t survive long.In all honesty, I don't know what's ahead. If you ask me what I'm going to do in five years, I can't tell you. This moment? Now that's a different story. I know what I'm doing moment to moment, but I have no idea what's ahead. I'm so connected to this moment that I don't make assumptions about what might come next, because I don't want to lose touch with the present. Once you make assumptions about something that might happen, or might not happen, you start limiting the potential outcomes. ---- Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders You can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. You can also ask SAGE any question and SAGE will read all my notes, highlights, and every transcript from every episode for you. A few questions I've asked SAGE recently: What are the most important leadership lessons from history's greatest entrepreneurs? Can you give me a summary of Warren Buffett's best ideas? (Substitute any founder covered on the podcast and you'll get a comprehensive and easy to read summary of their ideas) How did Edwin Land find new employees to hire? Any unusual sources to find talent? What are some strategies that Cornelius Vanderbilt used against his competitors? 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 ---- 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
11 book mentions in this episode.
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Tip: Click “Mentioned at …” to copy a timestamp.
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Books Mentioned

Driven From Within cover
Driven From Within
Michael Jordan and Mark Vansel

The podcast discusses Michael Jordan's book 'Driven From Within', highlighting his philosophy on success, collaboration, and the mindset that led to his achievements.

ASIN: 0743284003
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My Life and Work cover

Jordan's mentality about service first echoes Ford's words from his autobiography, emphasizing the importance of mental and moral hardiness in achieving success.

ASIN: N/A
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Conspiracy cover
Conspiracy
Ryan Holiday

Jordan references this book for its storytelling, particularly regarding Peter Thiel's perspective on revenge and success.

ASIN: B0794CLD44
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The Hour of Fate cover

This book discusses the partnership and feud between Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan, highlighting Roosevelt's relentless pursuit of challenges.

ASIN: N/A
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The River of Doubt cover

A book about Theodore Roosevelt's adventurous life towards the end, showcasing his curiosity and determination.

ASIN: N/A
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In the Company of Giants cover

This book came out in 1997 and features interviews with technology company founders, including Steve Jobs, discussing the importance of hiring in startups.

ASIN: N/A
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Titan cover

There's a line from Titan I want to read to you. Taking for granted the growth of his empire, he hired talented people as found, not as needed.

ASIN: N/A
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Pieces of the Action cover

I read his fantastic autobiography called Pieces of the Action, and I came across this weird highlight.

ASIN: N/A
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Liftoff cover

I read in this book called Liftoff, which is about the first six years of SpaceX.

ASIN: N/A
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Driven cover
Driven
Larry Miller

This came in Larry Miller's autobiography called Driven. He owned like 93 companies all throughout Utah.

ASIN: 1606416561
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Zero to One cover
Zero to One
Peter Thiel

This comes from Peter Thiel. I think this is the book Zero to One understand that most companies don't even differentiate their pitches to potential recruits.

ASIN: N/A
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