Recorded live at CLOSER in Singapore, this was one of those rare sessions that reminded me of the heart behind CLOSER: to hold space for real, honest, soul-level conversations.

In this conversation, Steven Bartlett opens up about his journey. He shares how he grew up as an outsider, built one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies, chose to walk away at the peak, and learned to find a fuller life beyond achievement. We also speak about what he is building today, and the lessons he has learned about making good decisions, building trust, and steering clear of the traps that hold people back.

This episode is not the full conversation, but it offers a glimpse into some of the moments that moved us most. I hope something you hear in it stays with you, and maybe even shifts something in you, the way it did for me & so many others.

To everyone who joined us that afternoon at CLOSER, thank you for leaning in with so much openness and heart. And to those tuning in now, I hope this conversation touches you the way it did all of us in the room.

Take a breath, lean in, and come a little closer.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:31 The Childhood That Shaped Steven Bartlett
• 00:05:58 Delusion and Self Belief as Prerequisites for Success
• 00:09:28 Choosing Uncertainty Over Certain Misery
• 00:13:48 Becoming a Plan A Thinker
• 00:15:36 Stacking Skills to Increase Your Value
• 00:20:27 What Steven Looks For When Investing
• 00:25:48 Hiring and Why People Are Your Greatest Asset
• 00:31:36 Breaking Paper Walls and Asking Why
• 00:36:41 Nir Eyal on Overcoming Distraction
• 00:40:54 The 16 Chip Rule for Prioritizing Time
• 00:43:21 Working With Failure and Experimentation
• 00:50:23 Steven’s Most Valuable Mistake
• 00:53:05 Finding Your Version of a Well Lived Life

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Follow Steven Bartlett here: https://www.instagram.com/steven/