Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
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Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
#097 Brad Feld: Founding Techstars, Giving First, and Mentorship
Smart Friends
58 minutes
4 weeks ago
#097 Brad Feld: Founding Techstars, Giving First, and Mentorship
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:49) - Heroes
(00:10:50) - How do you know when it’s time to step away from something you started?
(00:18:37) - Len Fassler
(00:32:52) - Mentors and inflection points in life
(00:39:07) - Brad’s book - Give First
(00:47:58) - The role of books in Brad’s career
Links:
Scribe — https://scribemedia.com
Give First: The Power of Mentorship - https://amzn.to/3KT3IvF
To support the costs of producing this podcast:
>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/
>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
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>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!
We discuss:
The role of heroes and mentors in shaping Brad’s values
How "Give First" transformed startup culture
How to let go of control while still fighting to the end for what matters
Key mentors like Len Fassler and the life lessons they gave him
Why reading, writing, and coding all serve as reflective practices
Quotes from Brad:
"The best way to fly is to throw yourself at the ground and miss." (Zaphod Beeblebrox quote that Brad uses to describe startups)
"I love to help things get started. That’s my favorite part of the journey."
"Fight to the bitter end. You try until it doesn’t work anymore."
"Some things don’t end. Some things outlive you—which is delightful."
"The future does not belong to me. The future belongs to people 40 years younger than me."
"Give First is not a religion. It’s a philosophy."
"Your VC’s are not in control. The board members are not in control. The CEO is in control."
"Books are core to so many things I do. Reading and writing are how I process the world."
"I write books to understand better an idea and work out the idea."
"Mentorship is about ways of being, not about following a set of rules."
"Hibernation from social media gave me the creative space to finish the book I actually wanted to write."
"People said, 'Brad’s the king of the Colorado startup community.' I hated that. I don’t want to be king—I want to be just one of the many leaders."
Smart Friends
Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
