Uncommon Excellence

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....

What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami In this solo episode of Uncommon Excellence , I dive into the philosophy of Haruki Murakami and what it means to create, endure, and grow for yourself . Through quotes pulled from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running , we explore the mindset of mastery — the kind that doesn’t seek approval, applause, or quick...

Uncommon Excellence Premium: Founder’s Rate If you’re tired of average and ready to unlock your next level, Uncommon Excellence Premium is your edge. For a limited time, join the exculsive Founder’s Rate: Launch Special . It's only $4.99/month for the first 100 subscribers. Gain exclusive insights, tools, and content to think sharper, act bolder, and build something extraordinary. Stop watching gr...

What I learned from Zero to One by Peter Thiel Uncommon Excellence AI : If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strat...

What I learned from Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards In this episode of Uncommon Excellence , we explore the hidden science behind first impressions, connection, and conversation—drawing from Vanessa Van Edwards’ powerful book Captivate . You'll learn why people make snap judgments in under 2 seconds, how your hands, posture, and eyes send powerful social cues, and the real key to being memorable...

My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we dive headfirst into the wisdom of Naval Ravikant, unpacking 50 of his most powerful maxims that can transform the way you think about wealth, happiness, and life itself. Naval, the co-founder of AngelList and an early investor in companies like Uber and Twitter, has spent decades maste...

In this special AMA episode, I break down the single quote that reshaped how I approach life, work, and personal growth. This isn’t just a motivational line — it’s a mental operating system. I share where I found it, how it hit me at just the right time, and the specific ways I’ve applied it to make better decisions, stay focused, and raise my standards. ___________________________________________...

My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode, we break down 12 timeless lessons from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant —a distilled playbook on how to build wealth, live wisely, and operate with maximum leverage. Naval, the co-founder of AngelList and early backer of Twitter and Uber, spent decades thinking deeply about how to win not just in business, but in...

My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson In this episode, we dive into The Almanack of Naval Ravikant , a distilled guide to building wealth and finding happiness from one of the sharpest minds in entrepreneurship and investing. Naval Ravikant, co-founder of AngelList and early investor in companies like Twitter and Uber, has spent decades mastering how to live wisely...

My Key Takeaways from Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing After nearly 500 days stranded in Antarctica, Ernest Shackleton launched a desperate journey to save his men — navigating freezing seas in lifeboats, sailing 800 miles in a storm-wracked boat, and crossing uncharted mountains on foot. Against impossible odds, he brought back every single man alive . This is a story o...