Uncommon Excellence

What I learned from The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant A concise survey of 5,000 years of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. Distilling the rise and fall of civilizations into their most enduring lessons, the Durants examine the forces that have shaped hum...

What I learned from That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph Six months before launch, Netflix was still far from the company we know today. The team was figuring out what kind of company they wanted to build, how they would work together, and even what they should call it. Before Netflix became Netflix, there were countless decisions, arguments, experiments, and uncertainties that had to be worked t...

In this Uncommon Moment, I pull together a few lessons from the Founders Podcast by David Senra that have stuck with me. These ideas are about listening and the importance of staying in the game. Here are a couple of my favorite ideas: “Successful people listen. Those who don’t listen don’t survive long.” — Michael Jordan “Stay in the game long enough to get lucky.” — David Senra _________________...

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor, military leader, and Stoic philosopher who ruled from 161 to 180 AD. Despite governing one of the most powerful empires in history, his private writings reveal a man constantly reminding himself how to think, act, endure hardship, and live well. Those writings became Meditations , a collection never intended for publication, but written by Marcus as personal re...

Seneca was a Roman philosopher, statesman, and one of the most influential thinkers of the ancient world. In On the Shortness of Life , Seneca examines one of life’s most valuable and misunderstood resources: time. He argues that life is not inherently short, but that we simply allow too much of it to slip away through distraction, meaningless pursuits, and constant busyness. Written nearly 2,000...

I've listened to over 270 hours of this one podcast... This Uncommon Moment is a tribute to the Founders Podcast by David Senra . I talk about some of my top highlights and notes from recent episodes I've listened to. Here are some quotes mentioned:  "Successful people listen. Those who don’t listen don’t survive long." - Michael Jordan ( Founders Episode #213 ) "Stay in the game long enough...

These Ideas Built Empires. In this episode, we explore timeless ideas from some of the world’s greatest founders, builders, and thinkers. From John D. Rockefeller and Dietrich Mateschitz to James Dyson, Daniel Ek, Kevin Kelly, and more. Ideas on ambition, focus, execution, endurance, innovation, and the long journey of building something that matters. ______________________________________________...

What I learned from That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph That Will Never Work tells the story of how Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings turned a simple idea of renting movies online into Netflix. From early skepticism and failed ideas to launch-day crashes and a rejected Blockbuster deal, Randolph shares the risks, setbacks, and lessons behind bu...

In this moment of Uncommon Excellence , we explore one of Marcus Aurelius’ most powerful quotes: “It is not death that a man should fear, but never beginning to live.”  Through reflections on fear, purpose, and living fully, we dive into the timeless wisdom of the Stoics and explore what it means to build a life of courage, meaning, and impact. I also share the story behind Boundless: The Man Who...

What I learned from Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling This powerful book is based on her 2008 Harvard commencement address . J.K. Rowling is best known as the author of the Harry Potter series, wrote one of the most widely read book series in history after crawling out of rock bottom. This included a failed marriage, unemployment, and near poverty as a single mother. In this speech turned book, she...

What I learned from The Official Walt Disney Quote Book During his long career, Walt Disney frequently commented on his philosophies of life, his ideas, his dreams, and his hopes for a better world. This book is a collection of those quotations attributed to Walt.  Walt once said, “In order to make good in your chosen task, it’s important to have someone you want to do it for. The greatest moments...

What I learned from The Official Walt Disney Quote Book Drawn from his own words, this is a deep exploration of how Disney actually thought about work, failure, money, leadership, and what it takes to build something that lasts. This is more than a collection of quotes. It’s a blueprint about building, about adversity, and about pursuing work that matters. If you want to understand how to create s...

Uncommon Moments #3 focuses on this quote... “Do not many of us who fail to achieve big things … fail because we lack concentration—the art of concentrating the mind on the thing to be done at the proper time and to the exclusion of everything else?”- John D. Rockefeller _________________________________________________ Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:  Readwise helps me retain the m...

What I learned from The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others' Eyes by C.S. Lewis Most conversations about reading today are obsessed with speed, volume, and efficiency. C.S. Lewis thought this completely missed the point.  For him, reading was not about finishing books but about escaping the narrowness of a single life. It was learning to see through other eyes, feel with othe...

A year ago, Uncommon Excellence didn’t exist. What follows is a thank-you to the person most responsible for its existence: David Senra, host of The Founders Podcast . David has dedicated years to reading hundreds of biographies of history’s greatest founders, distilling timeless lessons on obsession, craft, and long-term thinking.  I discovered Founders in April of 2024, starting with the episode...

Books:  The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson Disney's Land by Richard Snow Endurance by Alfred Lansing How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs Four Seasons by Isadore Sharp   _________________________________________________ Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:  Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight, so I can apply t...

What if one sentence could unlock decades of wisdom from the sharpest minds? These 15 quotes—from Munger's reading obsession to Jobs on simplicity, Tyson's reality check, and Walsh's process mastery—aren't just words. They're tools to think clearly, decide faster, and build better. Packed with hidden insights on habits that stick, focus that wins, endurance through pain, and what separates the suc...

What I learned from Oversubscribed , Key Person of Influence , Entrepreneur Revolution , and 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley   There’s a business hack so powerful most founders never use it — not because it doesn’t work, but because it works too well. In this episode, we break down a simple but dangerous idea that the world’s best creators, entrepreneurs, and brands quietly rely on to create overwhe...

What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King Sam Zemurray’s story isn’t just about building an empire—it’s about what happens when power demands a price. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen battles, the sacrifices made in silence, and the reputation wars that defined the final act of the Banana King’s life. It’s a story about ambition’s...

What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King In this episode of Uncommon Excellence , we trace Sam Zemurray’s rise from a penniless 14-year-old immigrant to the “Banana King” who built an empire from waste. It begins in 1891, when Zemurray flips overripe bananas into $40 — proof that he could create value in a world that offered him none. By 21, he’s...

In this milestone episode of Uncommon Excellence , we’re celebrating a huge moment—1,000 downloads! What started as a dream for the end of the year has become a reality, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who’s tuned in, shared an episode, or supported the journey so far. In this, I'll reflect on the lessons learned from building the podcast, highlight some of the most popular episodes,...

In this episode, Tyler Schuster explores the principle of extreme ownership, stressing the importance of taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. He explains how this mindset has been shaped by his experiences with business mentors like Patrick Bet-David, who emphasized that true leaders recognize themselves as the common denominator in their challenges. Tyler highlights the val...

In this moment of Uncommon Excellence , we dive into the hiring philosophy of Brad Jacobs, one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and the author of How to Make a Few Billion Dollars . Jacobs built his empire by assembling world-class teams, and his insights on hiring A-players are nothing short of a masterclass. We explore: Why hiring is a non-negotiable area where you must aim for perfect...

Jonathan Jarecki lives by one principle: question everything. In this episode, he shares how that mindset has shaped his views on health, decision-making, and entrepreneurship. From rethinking conventional wisdom to building a values-driven protein bar company, Jonathan explains why critical thinking is essential, and how it can change the way you live. This is a conversation about challenging ass...

What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami This episode is about the quiet power of discipline—of showing up even when motivation fades, of sticking to your personal rules when no one’s watching. Whether it’s writing, training, building a business, or simply staying committed to a craft, we explore how consistency and focus often matter more than raw talent....