High agency stories
Agency is the capacity to act. Gaining agency is gaining the capacity to do something different from the rigid path of events that simply happen to you. Remarkable people typically go off-script early, usually in more than one way. Carnegie becoming a telegraph message boy is one opportunity; asking how to operate the telegraph is another. He was
... See moreSimon Sarris • School Is Not Enough
The story of Sylvester Stallone in 1975 sitting down to write a screenplay and, three and a half days later, emerging with the full script for Rocky:
“At that time, I must admit, my life was definitely on the wane, at least professionally, I was emotionally, spiritually, physically, bankrupt. So I had $106, rent was $300, I had a pregnant wife—you
Occasionally parents might gesture towards an activity like a lemonade stand on the sidewalk to gratify a child’s interest. This example is the archetypal poor choice: A lemonade stand does not teach the value of money but how to wait and occasionally beg. To understand business or hospitality, children would be better off trying to make something
... See moreSimon Sarris • School Is Not Enough
Red Bull's unconventional business philosophy: prioritizing freedom, independence, and passion over profit maximization through strategic content distribution and long-term thinking
TRANSCRIPT
And so I mentioned earlier that he has developed his own company building philosophy, one that is very unique to him. And so he talks about the fact that even though he went to school for business, he just doesn't really believe a lot of the stuff that he was taught.
And so it says MasterChef has amassed his wealth despite or perhaps precisely
... See moreThere is an old Zen story about a king whose people had grown soft and entitled. Dissatisfied with this state of affairs, he hoped to teach them a lesson. His plan was simple: He would place a large boulder in the middle of the main road, completely blocking entry into the city. He would then hide nearby and observe their reactions. How would they
... See moreRyan Holiday • The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
Replit CEO Amjad Masad on the “most gangster story in Silicon Valley”
In September 2021, Replit founder Amjad Masad tweeted:
“The most gangster story in Silicon Valley is Steve Jobs buying Pixar for $5m, investing $50m, operating at a loss for a decade — so much so he had to cut personal... See more
Startup Archivex.comIn the early days of FedEx, Smith had to go to great lengths to keep the company afloat. In one instance, after a crucial business loan was denied, he took the company's last $5,000 to Las Vegas and won $27,000 gambling on blackjack to cover the company's $24,000 fuel bill. It kept FedEx alive for one more week.[17]