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cover of episode #190 Brad Jacobs: The Unconventional Playbook From a 7 Time Founder

#190 Brad Jacobs: The Unconventional Playbook From a 7 Time Founder

2024/3/19
logo of podcast The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

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Brad Jacobs
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创始人和CEO,专注于网络安全、投资和知识分享。
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Brad Jacobs: 成功的关键在于抓住大的趋势,即使其他方面做得不好也能获得成功。成功的并购的关键在于灵活的商业计划,而非僵化的长期计划。僵化的思维会错过赚钱的机会。目前最主要的趋势是人工智能,因为它能够处理比人类多得多的信息。在商业中,抓住主要趋势至关重要,即使犯了很多错误,只要抓住了主要趋势,就能赚很多钱。他认为自己是一个终身学习者,喜欢向他人学习。他认为提问非常重要,并从中获得了很大的价值。他从心理治疗中学习了提问的技巧,在提问之前,需要创造一个安全和舒适的环境。给予对方百分之百的注意力是建立良好关系的关键。非评判性专注力在商业中非常有效。高效会议的关键在于参与者集中注意力,避免评判。他将冥想、正念和积极心理学等方法结合起来,以改善思维方式。他认为音乐塑造了他的商业直觉,并认为自己更像个音乐家而不是商人。商业的目的是为股东创造价值,而数学和音乐则帮助他实现这一目标。创造巨大回报需要多种因素,包括政治思想、数学分析和化繁为简的能力。在商业中需要像音乐家一样即兴发挥,适应变化。僵化的商业计划无法适应变化,会错过机会。混乱的组织结构可能蕴藏着赚钱的机会。数学和音乐的训练帮助他识别并抓住商业机会。商业的最终目标是为股东创造价值。适度的杠杆作用是有益的,但过多的杠杆作用在当今地缘政治风险较高的环境下则过于冒险。为了在商业上获得高额回报,必须具有逆向思维。他的自信部分源于父母,尤其是父亲对他的认可,以及母亲临终前对他的肯定。作为CEO,需要对员工抱有积极的态度,并给予建设性的反馈。只提供正面或负面反馈都是错误的,应该保持平衡。他并不认为赚多少钱是人生中最重要的,更看重的是为股东创造价值和与家人的关系。并购是创造股东价值的一种有效方式。成功的并购需要选择合适的行业和公司。在并购中,支付的价格非常重要,因为它决定了股东价值的创造。并购中最难的部分是整合。他喜欢问一些能够揭示公司历史、未来以及改进方向的问题。他喜欢与董事会保持完全透明和开放的关系,并鼓励董事会成员积极参与公司事务。他不喜欢传统的董事会会议形式,更喜欢进行开放式对话。他不亲自制定董事会会议议程,而是与其他董事会成员协商制定。他不喜欢委员会决策,除非需要多个学科的专业知识。财务规划分析在公司中扮演着重要的角色,有助于资本配置和时间管理。即使没有融资需求,也要密切关注财务指标,因为这是公司对投资者的承诺。他尊重那些不以金钱为动力的人,但他的公司需要那些以金钱为动力的人。他认为迈克·莫里茨是一位被低估的资本配置者。他认为应该快速而巧妙地行动,而不牺牲质量。他从过去一年中最大的收获是关于人和技术方面的。对他来说,职业上的成功在于为投资者创造超额回报;个人上的成功在于与家人和朋友建立良好关系。 Shane Parrish: 询问Brad Jacobs目前最感兴趣的主要趋势是什么。询问Brad Jacobs目前最感兴趣的主要趋势是什么。询问Brad Jacobs如何看待杠杆作用,以及在何种情况下杠杆作用会变得过于冒险。询问Brad Jacobs自信的来源。询问Brad Jacobs对仅提供负面反馈的看法。询问Brad Jacobs关于金钱的经验教训。询问Brad Jacobs关于并购的深入见解。询问Brad Jacobs在尽职调查过程中会问哪些问题。询问Brad Jacobs在创始人领导的公司中董事会的作用。询问Brad Jacobs如何看待决策过程,是委员会决策还是个人决策。询问Brad Jacobs哪些CEO被低估了。询问Brad Jacobs如何看待质量和速度之间的关系。询问Brad Jacobs过去一年中最大的收获是什么。询问Brad Jacobs对成功的定义。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Brad Jacobs discusses his meeting with Ray Kurzweil, focusing on the accelerating advancements in AI and its potential to surpass human capabilities. He explores the implications of this technological singularity, considering both the benefits and drawbacks for humanity.
  • Ray Kurzweil's perspective on AI's trajectory and the potential singularity.
  • AI's ability to process information far exceeding human capacity.
  • Anticipation of AI developing emotions and empathy.

Shownotes Transcript

Brad Jacobs doesn't just build big companies – he builds industry giants. As the founder of seven multibillion-dollar enterprises, he's cracked the code on scaling businesses from zero to billions, and in this conversation, he reveals his complete playbook.

You'll discover where billion-dollar opportunities are hiding in plain sight, how to spot massive trends years before your competitors, and the most crucial factor determining a company's success.

Jacobs explains how math and music shaped his business instincts. He breaks down exactly how he built industry titans like XPO Logistics ($17B+ revenue), United Rentals (Fortune 500), and United Waste Systems – each starting from scratch.

Currently serving as Chairman and CEO of QXO, Jacobs brings a mathematician's precision and a musician's creativity to scaling businesses. His track record speaks for itself: every company he's founded has reached billion-dollar status or beyond.

(00:00) Intro

(04:44) The future of AI

(07:21) How to think rationally

(08:48) The major trend

(10:57) The research process

(13:29) On asking better questions

(19:35) On rearranging your brain

(22:23) On music, math, simplicity, and business

(32:26) Leverage, debt, and optionality

(35:11) What it takes to take contrarian bets

(40:45) Confidence and parents

(50:21) Why negative-only feedback is detrimental for employees

(56:14) Money lessons

(58:13) A deep dive on M&A (Jacobs' secret sauce to growing his companies)

(01:07:51) Questions to immediately get to know anyone

(01:11:14) On boards and board meetings

(01:16:57) On decision-making

(01:23:37) The role of capital markets

(01:25:41) The type of person you don't want to hire

(01:31:16) The best capital allocators

(01:33:53) Biggest lesson Jacobs learned from the past year

(01:37:20) On success  

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theknowledgeproject/videos)

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