Inspired with Alexa von Tobel
00:30:14 · Garrett Langley
[00:30:14] S0: This is maybe not too bold, but I think capitalism solves most of the problems we're talking about. When you when you look at some of the countries that I've studied and say, what went wrong? Right? Where did things fall apart? And you look at it, and when this bedrock of safety disappears, capitalism tends to fall with it. And when that starts to happen, then people's future prospects goes down, which actually increases crime, which start this downward spiral. And so something I feel so strongly about is that we have this new project called Thriving Cities Fund where we invest in local entrepreneurs. It's not a nonprofit. You know? This is not a donation. I just believe so much that the the solution to our crime problem in America is jobs, is economic mobility. It's this just core belief that if you worked very, very hard, you can you can achieve so much in this country. And I I hope we never lose that because it's allowed me to do what I've been able to do in my life, and I hope the same will be true for my kids.
00:31:15 · Alexa von Tobel, Garrett Langley
[00:31:15] S2: I think you and I have a similar philosophy, which is that in so many ways, what AI is doing is getting rid of really taxing, boring, mundane, honestly, thankless jobs. It is enabling people to do more human jobs. And in many ways, it will create more jobs and more surface area. And so I don't fear AI. I actually fear not being absorbed fast enough in ways where it unlocks this this this better future in so many ways. One last thing I wanna ask before I go to the quickfire round. You have a big job, and, like, what you guys do matters. And there's a lot of stress in that because I backed a lot of companies, and sometimes I'm like, oh, this company is making, you know, music. Like, music isn't killing anybody. Right? It's like [00:32:15] S0: Yeah. [00:32:15] S2: Like, you run akin to doctors and surgeons because you really are this incredible layer that when what you're doing works well, you save lives. I... And that... That's a... That's pretty incredible. Any sort of mentality, philosophy that the company has that that sort of helps keep you guys steady just given that there will be a mistake. Things aren't perfect. You you could be 99.9% perfect. How do you think about leading people through that?
00:32:15 · Alexa von Tobel, Garrett Langley
[00:32:15] S2: Like, you run akin to doctors and surgeons because you really are this incredible layer that when what you're doing works well, you save lives. I... And that... That's a... That's pretty incredible. Any sort of mentality, philosophy that the company has that that sort of helps keep you guys steady just given that there will be a mistake. Things aren't perfect. You you could be 99.9% perfect. How do you think about leading people through that? [00:32:50] S0: I mean, we've had this very long standing cultural norm, and we tweaked the words here and there, but it's effectively do the work. And we have to remind ourselves, to to your point, Alexa, I think we actually have an easy job. We write code. We sell things. We design circuit boards. Our customers are the ones that... Who's working on the first night of Hanukkah? Our customers. Who's working on Christmas Eve? Our customers. New Year's Day? Our customers. July 4? Our customers. Like, our customers don't get a day off. And in your lowest moment, we expect them to be the highest. And so we just try to always go back to, like, our job is so easy in comparison to our customer's job. Just like go do the work. And so I think we've built a culture that doesn't complain and works really hard because of that.
00:32:50 · Garrett Langley, Alexa von Tobel
[00:32:50] S0: I mean, we've had this very long standing cultural norm, and we tweaked the words here and there, but it's effectively do the work. And we have to remind ourselves, to to your point, Alexa, I think we actually have an easy job. We write code. We sell things. We design circuit boards. Our customers are the ones that... Who's working on the first night of Hanukkah? Our customers. Who's working on Christmas Eve? Our customers. New Year's Day? Our customers. July 4? Our customers. Like, our customers don't get a day off. And in your lowest moment, we expect them to be the highest. And so we just try to always go back to, like, our job is so easy in comparison to our customer's job. Just like go do the work. And so I think we've built a culture that doesn't complain and works really hard because of that. [00:33:39] S2: That is really beautifully said, which is on our worst day. We need them to be their best. That's really well said. Garrett, I wanna end on a quick fire round just because you're a really wise guy who's done a lot of good things. Is there a book of any kind that you recommend to people? So just first thing that comes to mind quick answers. Is there a book that you... That changed your life in any way?
00:33:39 · Alexa von Tobel, Garrett Langley
[00:33:39] S2: That is really beautifully said, which is on our worst day. We need them to be their best. That's really well said. Garrett, I wanna end on a quick fire round just because you're a really wise guy who's done a lot of good things. Is there a book of any kind that you recommend to people? So just first thing that comes to mind quick answers. Is there a book that you... That changed your life in any way? [00:34:02] S0: So I just recently finished this one, and I'm I'm a huge fan of it. But it's the recent book on Genghis Khan and and Making of the Modern World. And and I say that because he's a historical figure that I've never thought much about. And it's a pretty... It's a long read, but it's just, you know, it's a good reminder that over this period of time, you know, different versions of the story come out. And for someone like James Bond, like, large parts of our society today stem from his idea, and he was he was nothing when he was born. He was just a person. And it just goes to show you that, like, any one of us can have an incredible impact on the entire world. [00:34:38] S2: I love it. Is there a mantra or a phrase? I always say, like, a quote, something that kinda just, like, runs as, like, a value system for you. Or clearly, it sounds like you have got strong rules in your household. What's what sort of a mantra or quote that you love?
00:34:38 · Alexa von Tobel, Garrett Langley
[00:34:38] S2: I love it. Is there a mantra or a phrase? I always say, like, a quote, something that kinda just, like, runs as, like, a value system for you. Or clearly, it sounds like you have got strong rules in your household. What's what sort of a mantra or quote that you love? [00:34:53] S0: Effectively, like, you bring the water with you, which we tell our kids all the time. Like, if you're in a bad mood and you bring that with you, you're gonna make everyone else in a bad mood. And I think so much of life as we get older is just getting really good at bouncing back from adversity and just going from bad mood to good mood knowing that that mood there there is everywhere you go. [00:35:15] S2: I'm gonna steal that. I love that. Is there a habit being a repeat entrepreneur, just sort of a habit that you've learned kind of centers you?