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#213 Mickey Drexler: The Art of Selling with Retail's Merchant Prince
This episode will transform how you think about style, aspiration, and the art of knowing what people want before they know it themselves. From working in department stores to advising Steve Jobs on Apple’s retail strategy when it didn’t have retail at all, Drexler’s career traces the evolution of American retail itself: from local shops to mall dominance, from catalog to digital, from mass market to personalization. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a retail enthusiast, or someone looking to build a brand that stands the test of time, Mickey shares invaluable insights on what separates truly successful brands from the rest.
Mickey Drexler is the chairman of Alex Mill. Before that, he was the CEO of J. Crew and sat on the Board of Directors of Apple. He founded Old Navy and Madewell, and served as the CEO of Gap from 1983–2002.
Learn why gaining real-world insights—and not just reports or data—is crucial to staying ahead of the competition.
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Watch on YouTube: @tkppodcast
(02:16) How Mickey Drexler became Mickey Drexler
(07:04) Lessons from redefining Gap
(12:47) Merchant, defined
(15:17) How Drexler evaluates stores
(19:20) Lessons from running Gap
(21:19) On Old Navy
(27:26) On Steve Jobs and Working with Apple
(33:00) Re-making J. Crew
(37:00) Drexler's superpower
(43:40) Current-day retailers who are great
(45:10) How Drexler got "Madewell"
(47:15) What makes something a classic look?
(50:20) On success
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58:27
#212 Alfred Lin: How to Think (and Work) Like a World-Class Investor
Alfred Lin shares strategies for navigating startup challenges, building resilient teams, and creating long-lasting value. Lin explores lessons from companies like Zappos, Airbnb, DoorDash, and Amazon, offering actionable insights on topics like hiring for potential, managing crises, and fostering innovative cultures. Learn how first-principles thinking, customer focus, and disciplined growth can transform challenges into opportunities, even in the face of unprecedented disruptions.
Lin is a partner at Sequoia Capital. He represents Sequoia on boards like Airbnb and DoorDash. From January 2005 to December 2010, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Zappos. He has a Bachelors in Applied Mathematics from Harvard and a Masters in Statistics from Stanford.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
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(00:00) Intro
(03:20) Personal Journey: From Taiwan to Entrepreneur
(04:51) School Days: Lessons in Creativity and Discipline
(06:21) Infinite Games: Shaping Life's Philosophy
(08:12) Core Values and Life Principles
(10:09) Work-Life Balance and Family Insights
(12:13) Inputs vs Outputs: Daily Routines and Priorities
(13:56) First Order Issues: Problem Solving in Business
(18:46) Early Career: From LinkExchange to Zappos
(44:01) Facing the 9/11 Crisis
(44:24) Building a Profitable Company
(44:50) Creative Financing Strategies
(45:55) Customer Service Focus
(48:53) Handling High Return Rates
(53:31) Zappos' Unique Culture
(55:47) Holacracy Management System
(56:53) Maintaining Growth and Culture
(58:37) Avoiding Complacency
(01:10:21) Crucible Moments
(01:13:28) First Principles Thinking
(01:14:17) Navigating the Pandemic
(01:27:37) The Essence of Company Values
(01:28:04) Pros and Cons of Remote Work
(01:29:52) Building Company Culture in a Hybrid World
(01:33:11) Investment Strategies in Changing Markets
(01:37:37) The AI Revolution and Its Future
(02:01:56) Balancing Standardization and Customization
(02:04:44) Working Backwards vs. Forwards
(02:10:53) Defining Success: The Importance of Process
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2:17:14
#211 Codie Sanchez: Your Blueprint to Financial Freedom
Whether you’re looking to increase your income, start a side business, or completely transform your financial future, Codie Sanchez will break down exactly what separates those who successfully build wealth from those who stay stuck. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable insights covering the biggest myths around money, the difference between acquiring and keeping money, the rich versus broke mindset and how it changes everything, non obvious lessons on negotiating, and more. Plus, we talk about the single most important thing to know about building financial freedom—and it’s not what you think it is.
After spending nearly two decades on Wall Street, Codie Sanchez struck out on her own and has been buying and investing in businesses since 2012. She now runs a holding company of small and medium-sized businesses. Her unique focus is on “boring businesses” like laundromats and lawn care services. Sanchez is also the author of Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth in Ordinary Businesses.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
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Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: https://fs.blog/membership/ and get your own private feed.
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Follow me: https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tkppodcast
(00:00) Intro
(02:48) Codie Sanchez's Journey to Business Acquisition
(04:21) Understanding the Language of Money
(07:06) The Importance of Financial Freedom
(16:12) Learning and Earning in Your 20s
(17:32) The Power of Proximity and Mentorship
(28:37) The Role of Effort and Determination in Success
(39:45) Lessons from Business Failures
(44:22) Mastering Business Focus and Layering
(46:31) Misconceptions About Money
(48:21) Saving vs. Earning: A Financial Perspective
(51:57) The Rich vs. Broke Mindset
(53:24) Allies vs. Friends in Success
(01:09:04) The Importance of Reputation
(01:20:41) Negotiation and Sales Skills
(01:23:40) The Art of Door Knocking
(01:25:07) Defining Good and Bad Businesses
(01:26:26) Identifying Business Problems
(01:27:57) Hiring the Right People
(01:42:57) Traits of High Performers
(01:46:42) Balancing Work and Personal Life
(01:57:37) Investing as a W2 Employee
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2:11:44
#210 Best of 2024: The Blueprint for a Transformative New Year
The Knowledge Project closes 2024 with a look back at some of the best conversations of the year. Featuring interviews from some of our most downloaded episodes ever, this collection of conversations offers a variety of insights into finances and investing, improving your communication, marketing and positioning, business frameworks, health and nutrition, and how to beat death.
This conversation features segments from finance expert and writer Morgan Housel, non-verbal psychologist Blake Eastman, marketing and positioning expert April Dunford, blueberry billionaire John Bragg, parenting extraordinaire Becky Kennedy, a billion dollar CEO Brad Jacobs, nutrition guru Rhonda Patrick, and the guy who is beating death, Bryan Johnson.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
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Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: https://fs.blog/membership/ and get your own private feed.
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00:00 - Intro
02:12 - Transform your finances (Morgan Housel)
12:10 - Transform your communication (Blake Eastman)
22:04 - Transform how you sell yourself (April Dunford)
33:01 - Transform your business philosophy (John Bragg)
44:31 - Transform your emotions and attitude (Becky Kennedy)
57:45 - Transform your business tactics (Brad Jacobs)
01:07:28 - Transform your nutrition (Dr. Rhonda Patrick)
01:18:06 - Transform your lifespan (Bryan Johnson)
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1:36:31
#209 Charlie Hoehn: Write Something People Want to Read
In this episode, Charlie Hoehn explains the secrets behind why some books are unforgettable, and others no one seems to remember. He shares his journey of helping authors transform their ideas into best-selling books and provides actionable advice on structuring, writing, and marketing a book. You'll learn how to craft titles that make people want to read your book, design compelling covers that stand out on the shelves, and use certain strategies to engage readers effectively depending on the ideas you communicate. Hoehn also shares the psychology behind book promotion, how to leverage feedback, and the dynamics of traditional versus self-publishing. Whether tackling a novel or email, this episode will transform how you write and communicate.
Charlie Hoehn is the founder of Author.Inc and a 3-time New York Times bestselling editor. He's the mind behind some of the influential books from Tim Ferriss, Ramit Sethi, Codie Sanchez, and Noah Kagan. Charlie's expertise has helped sell over 10 million books.
Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at https://fs.blog/newsletter/
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Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: https://fs.blog/membership/ and get your own private feed.
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Follow me: https://beacons.ai/shaneparrish
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(00:00) Intro
(03:04) Helping Authors Succeed
(03:38) Writing for a Specific Audience
(07:14) The Importance of Real Feedback
(10:18) Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
(20:50) The Economics of Self-Publishing
(24:42) The Art of Book Cover Design
(30:29) Crafting a Compelling Title
(36:42) The Importance of Book Structure
(47:22) Editing: The Final Touch
(51:35) Book Sales Percentiles
(52:32) The Harsh Reality of Book Sales
(54:20) The Emotional Impact of Writing
(55:12) Dealing with Compliments and Criticism
(58:24) The Quest for Bestseller Lists
(1:00:04) The Complexities of Hitting the New York Times List
(1:12:25) Leveraging AI in Writing
(1:20:21) Effective Marketing Strategies for Authors
(1:28:14) Creating Evergreen Content
(1:35:30) The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
(1:40:54) Final Thoughts
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À propos de The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
Master the best of what other people have already figured out.
Skip decades of trial and error. Each episode reveals proven insights from world-class performers.
No fluff. No small talk. Just actionable wisdom for your business and life.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/farnamstreet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
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