491: How Leaders Build, with Guy Raz

Guy Raz: How I Built This

Guy Raz is the creator and host of the popular podcasts How I Built This, Wisdom from the Top, and The Rewind on Spotify. He’s also the co-creator of the acclaimed podcasts TED Radio Hour and the children’s programs Wow in the World and Two Whats?! and a Wow!. He’s received the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize, the National Headliner Award, and many others.

In 2017, Guy became the first person in the history of podcasting to have three shows in the top 20 on the Apple Podcast charts. He’s the author of the new book, How I Built This: The Unexpected Path to Success From the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs*.

In this conversation, Guy and I discuss what he’s discovered from interviewing the world’s most successful entrepreneurs on How I Built This. We profile a few of the insightful stories that he’s captured in his new book and dispel some of the common myths. Plus, we explore how happiness and kindness play such an important role in building something new.

Key Points

• Successful entrepreneurs are able to make the distinction between what is actually dangerous and what is just scary.
• We often think about entrepreneurs as solo leaders, but almost always there is a critical partner who complements their strengths.
• It is common for entrepreneurs to have a day job or other fallback plan as they start something new.
• Money is important, but it’s almost never the driving factor motivating entrepreneurs who have success in the long-run.
• Kindness takes leaders a long way when starting a business.

Resources Mentioned

• How I Built This: The Unexpected Path to Success From the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs* by Guy Raz
• How I Built This podcast

Book Notes

Download my highlights from How I Built This in PDF format (free membership required).

Related Episodes

• How to Be a Non-Conformist, with Adam Grant (episode 238)
• Ideas Worth Stealing From Top Entrepreneurs, with Dorie Clark (episode 318)
• How to Be a Happier Person, with Neil Pasricha (episode 334)
• Serve Others Through Marketing, with Seth Godin (episode 381)

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