Ken Langone - The American Dream - [Invest Like the Best, EP.368]

Podcast Notes Playlist: Business

Invest Like the Best

Key Takeaways

• Success in business is all about culture, and bringing the very best people along with you as you embrace that culture
• In negotiation, the other person should feel like they got more than what they thought they were going to get
• The most important person in a company is the one who interacts with the customer
• You want to work with people who have fight in them; work with people who can bounce back from defeat
• Keep your word, work as hard as you can, and give it all you got

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org

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My guest today is Ken Langone. Ken is a legendary American businessman best known for his co-founding of Home Depot. He is also a former director of the New York Stock Exchange and a passionate philanthropist. He shares with us a lifetime's worth of wisdom, building Home Depot into a powerhouse and prioritizing his employees above all else. He says he still “bleeds orange” to this day. You’ll hear as he recounts his business endeavors, his strict belief in keeping your word, and his true pride in his country, which he knows to be the land of opportunity. We discuss his work with Ross Perot, the idea of an upside-down hierarchy, and the power of loyalty. For anyone who may find it easier to follow along, we have a transcript of the episode on joincolossus.com. Please enjoy this conversation with Ken Langone.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.
Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.
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Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best
(00:004:00) The Unforgettable Pitch to Ross Perot
(00:08:37) Winning Over Perot with Honesty and Insight
(00:16:08) The Art of Negotiation and Trust
(00:19:31) Loyalty, Integrity, and the Power of Keeping Your Word
(00:23:51) Home Depot's Culture of Service and Empowerment
(00:29:16) Frank's Authentic Leadership and Its Impact
(00:31:00) Transforming NYU Medical Center
(00:33:45) Ken’s Investment Philosophy: Long Hold Only
(00:39:56) The Power of Resilience in Business
(00:45:37) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Ken