What I learned from reading The Responsible Company: What We've Learned From Patagonia's First 40 Years by Yvon Chouinard and Vincent Stanley.

----

When I die and go to hell, the devil is going to make me the marketing director for a cola company. I’ll be in charge of trying to sell a product that no one needs, is identical to its competition, and can’t be sold on its merits. (0:01)

What Patagonia was meant to be (8:25)

Everyone wants to feel useful (11:00)

a short history of companies (14:30)

the definition of meaningful work (26:00)

more human, less corporate (40:30)

Yvon's ancestors and their working conditions (46:00)

the benefits of long term thinking (49:00)

build something useful and don't bullshit (57:00)

Don't do things that have no useful purpose / being bold can lead to new discoveries / we need more small businesses (1:04:00)

----

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

What I learned from reading Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters; The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire.

----

He was a film director, a producer, a test pilot, inventor, investor, and entrepreneur [0:01]

the start of Hughes Tool Company [13:00]

during a gold rush sell pickaxe's / great idea about leasing drill bits [19:00]

Howard Hughes Jr is on his own at 18 years old [26:00]

starting out in the movie business [32:00]

his first plane crash/divorce [38:00]

Howard Hughes goes broke [48:00]

Howard Hughes breaks the world record for the fastest flight around the world / Hitler was always an asshole [56:00]

Henry Kaiser and the birth of The Hercules [1:05:00]

his 4th plane crash and descent into madness [1:14:00]

Howard Hughe's M.O. on corruption and bribes [1:26:00]

I am not really interested in people. I am interested in science. –Howard Hughes [1:29:00]

----

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

What I learned from reading Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John Bogle 

----

Gentlemen, cut your costs. [4:00]

the benefits of being forced to work early on in life [7:00]

I'll never forget the inspiration when I read this quote: The force of his mind overcame his every impediment. [9:30]

the traits he needed to found Vanguard [12:00] 

what John thinks we should be doing better [13:30]

create things that help other people/Charlie Munger [17:30]

When a business fails people want to know their revenue. I want to know their costs [19:30]

the past is not a prologue in the financial markets... please, please, please don't count on it. [23:00]

Einstein well understood the limits of quantification / the way we act and the way we measure are in conflict [26:00]

Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome. –Charlie Munger / If you get the incentives right when you start the company you will grow. [35:00]

A rule of life: Press On, Regardless [39:00]

10 reasons why I bother to battle [44:00]

----

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

What I learned from reading Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution.

----

This is a story of a revolution [0:01]

what Vanguard does and why? [7:00]

the seed of the idea that eventually becomes Vanguard [10:00]

switching from conservative investing to speculation / when humans are scared they copy the behavior of those around them [17:00]

John gets fired. He decides to fight back. [31:00]

if you know why you are doing what you are doing you are less likely to quit [41:00]

staying the course gives you a massive advantage because most humans quit [53:00] 

We must never underrate the power of compounding investment returns, and always avoid the tyranny of compounding investment costs.– John Bogle [59:00]

eliminating the 50-year tradition of sales commission [1:01:00]

a failure caused by focusing on competition and not learning from the past [1:06:00]

the Founders Mentality [1:07:30]

personal reflections and a memoir of sorts [1:11:00]

----

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

What I learned from reading Nuts!: Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success

----

Reality is chaotic; planning is ordered [0:01]

Vince Lombardi is the Steve Jobs of coaches [3:48] 

how Southwest Airlines is different [11:31]

the beginning of Southwest [16:00]

fighting anticompetitive practice [24:30] 

finding a new market by doing the opposite of your competition [29:00] 

missionaries make the best products [31:00]

being forced to innovate leads to questioning assumptions which leads to finding new markets [34:00]

how Southwest became the largest liquor distributor in Texas [38:00] 

remember your fundamental reason for being and don't deviate from that [40:45]

optimize for profits, not market share [42:30]

know what you are competing with - not who [44:15] 

how having only one type of airplane gives Southwest an advantage [46:30] 

how keeping it simple saved Southwest $2 million [51:30]

know what you do best - have the discipline to stick to it [53:00] 

if you are going to be small you have to be fast [1:01:19]

the benefits of curiosity are unpredictable [1:03:45]

----

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

What I learned from reading Tycoon's War: How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America's Most Famous Military Adventurer by Stephen Dando-Collins

----

Unlike Vanderbilt's other adversaries William Walker was not afraid of Cornelius when he should have been [0:01]

Setting up the war between Cornelius Vanderbilt and William Walker [7:32]

William Walker's impressive resume [16:44]

Betrayal: "Gentlemen, You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you." [27:04]

Walker takes Vanderbilt's property. Walker thinks the law protects him. Vanderbilt doesn't care about the law [39:27]

Garrison's counter move against Cornelius Vanderbilt [44:36]

Vanderbilt funds several Central American governments to destroy William Walker [52:51]

The power of having a singular focus on a goal but remaining flexible on the tactics to get there [1:02:10]

----

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

What I learned by reading The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by TJ Stiles. 

----

His life spanned from the days of George Washington to John D. Rockefeller [0:01]

$1 out of $20 in circulation [4:35]

an overview of his life [5:35] 

the environment Vanderbilt was raised in [14:10] 

love of competition / dislike of school / first jobs [18:00] 

action for actions sake [22:00]

an entrepreneur from the beginning [23:06] 

expansion fueled by aggressiveness, action, and constraints [30:00] 

partnering with the rich and powerful Thomas Gibbons [35:00]

the solo founder [46:34]

starting up with an eye on getting acquired [50:00] 

frugality wins [56:20]

entrepreneurs vs large companies [1:03:45] 

more frugality and decentralized company structure [1:12:00] 

the size of his ambition was difficult for others to comprehend [1:19:25]

----

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

What I learned from reading Who Is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz. 

----

Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first give a gift [0:01]

Michael's first jobs + finding his first love [7:02]

the foul-mouthed magnates [19:49]

starting at the bottom / being hungry for knowledge [24:50]

I don't want to be standard in any way [32:30]

the revolt begins and the founding of CAA [36:05]

know the history of the industry you are in [46:30]

a warning for all entrepreneurs [53:44]

what influenced CAA's culture [59:27]

becoming the thing you hate [1:02:10]

a typical day's schedule [1:07:00]

problems with co-founders [1:11:30]

the fastest animal on the field [1:15:13]

I was tired / The end of Michael Ovitz's time at CAA [1:19:15]

Ron is gone [1:25:07]

a new beginning / meeting Marc Andreessen [1:32:00]

reconciliation [1:38:00]

----

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

What I learned from reading The Republic of Tea: The Story of the Creation of a Business, as Told Through the Personal Letters of Its Founders.

----

A business is born (0:01)

don't start a business unless you are the first customer (22:49)

what it is like to fall in love with an idea (25:31)

starting a business is like making a movie (27:15)

on slowing down (32:32)

the problem with being able to argue both sides of an idea (37:00)

editing & narrowing your focus (46:51)

ideas in the form of action (51:39)

history doesn't repeat, human nature does (57:00)

the doubts of nascent entrepreneurship (59:51)

Steve Jobs had one speed: Go (1:07:39)

be the customer, not the seller (1:16:21)

Bill finally gets it (1:22:00)

----

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

What I learned from reading Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic by Mel and Patricia Ziegler

----

For every business, there is an appropriate scale [0:01]

Fundamentally Unemployable [5:18]

the prehistory of Banana Republic [10:02]

"We didn't have any money, we didn't have any technology, and we didn't have a plan." –Jack Ma [14:30]

A republic is born [18:13]

when something is not selling, increase the price [20:45]

relentlessly resourceful [25:45]

finding assets hiding in liabilities [28:30]

the catalog! [30:33]

Eddie Murphy on why you shouldn't have a backup plan [36:40]

media was the initial distribution strategy [42:15]

Understanding the internet before the internet existed. A lesson on publicity/attention [45:22]

when all else fails, expand [51:05]

selling the company [56:24]

the end of freedom [1:04:40]

Misfits, quotes from Steve Jobs and what this has to do with the podcast industry [1:08:00]

----

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