The Unbelievable Story of Cliff Young Is a Lesson for All Entrepreneurs

When a 61-year-old Australian potato farmer named Cliff Young showed up to run a 540-mile ultra-marathon in rain boots, everyone laughed. Joe unpacks the unlikely legend of Cliff Young and what his story reveals about innovation, disruption, and the power of not knowing the “right” way to do things. From herding sheep to building startups, this conversation traces how not knowing the rules can become your biggest advantage.

5 Key Takeaways:

Ignorance can be an advantage. Maybe you see the norms and then break them, but what if you never see them at all?

Everyone does it the same way until... someone does it differently, and better. And that changes everything.

Disruption is about context. The biggest innovations often come from those who see how the world is changing.

Results beat credentials.  Cliff’s steady “shuffle” outlasted the pros. A start-up beats a publicly-traded company.

Belief is fuel. Whether it’s a marathon or a new venture, conviction can carry you farther than credentials. And having a chip on your shoulder doesn't hurt.

With references to Uber, Airbnb, Go Brewing, Easy Man and Dealer Inspire.