Inspired with Alexa von Tobel
00:38:44 · Daniel First, Alexa von Tobel
[00:38:44] S0: In different industries, there are companies that are, you know, taking the latest in AI and LLMs, but then applying them, you know, in the wild to specific verticals or sets of verticals. You know, you have, of course, in in, you know, in in in in law, you have a company like Harvey. In, you you know, in health care, you have a company like a Bridge. And I think that, you know, obviously, in in in CX and, like, you know, responding to l ones, you have the Decagons and Sierras of the world. I think that ultimately, you know, all of this becomes a bit of a of a cohort of those of us who are trying to figure out, you how do you take all these advances in agents and AI and LLMs and then really figure out really complex enterprise workflows and how we can apply these emerging technologies as rapidly as possible in a way that, because of our focus, becomes really specialized. [00:39:37] S2: I agree with that. I want to move to the quickfire round if Cameron doesn't have anything else that he's burning to ask. Daniel, again, it's been such a pleasure to get to know you on a personal level. What's one habit that you've formed since you've started Axion that has really served you well that you wanna pay it forward to other people?
00:39:37 · Alexa von Tobel, Daniel First
[00:39:37] S2: I agree with that. I want to move to the quickfire round if Cameron doesn't have anything else that he's burning to ask. Daniel, again, it's been such a pleasure to get to know you on a personal level. What's one habit that you've formed since you've started Axion that has really served you well that you wanna pay it forward to other people? [00:39:58] S0: I have a I have a long standing habit that I think you... Really unique, but it it started way before I started Axion. I've actually been on airplane mode since I was 17. I think I've got the the last sacred space, for deep thought out here. You know, I just... For for me, when I when I have my phone on and it's just buzzing all the time, I just can't think, about anything in any deep way. So, it's a it's a habit that's always been with me for the last, you know, fifteen, twenty years. [00:40:25] S2: Wait. Say more about that. Your phone's on airplane mode from when to when? [00:40:29] S0: Pretty much always. So I'll check it at, like, very specific points in the day. You know, sometimes I'll allow, like, important calls to go through, but, I think that this way that a lot of people live, that their just phone is just constantly buzzing with notifications. It just doesn't doesn't work for me. [00:40:46] S2: Wait, Daniel, this is a really profound thing. I just need to like roll this back. So since 2017, your phone has been in air... [00:40:54] S0: Since I was 17.
00:40:54 · Daniel First, Alexa von Tobel, Cameron
[00:40:54] S0: Since I was 17. [00:40:55] S2: Sorry. Since you, oh my God, even... You were 17, your phone has been in airplane mode, and you very thoughtfully decide to check-in. Say more, when like, how many check ins a day, morning and night? Just give us a quick sense of how the... By the way, I'm gonna do this immediately. Cameron's gonna be like, I can never reach Alexa. Not doing Daniel. But how many how many times a day do you think you actually, sort of purposefully check-in? [00:41:24] S0: I would say, you know, maybe maybe like, you know, I I mean, you get a lot of a lot of what you need through the computer. I think, you know, maybe every, you know, every hour or two, I might kind of take out my phone and kinda check what what what I've got on WhatsApp. But I think where you actually see the biggest difference is, you know, when I'm just like, you know, walking around or or traveling, I mean, I really use that time to think and and just get get deep in my thoughts. And I think that it's just something that that is, you know, is being lost today. I think a lot of ideas that I have about things we should do differently as a company, they come really when I'm, you know, walking around or just, you know, you know, just take... You know, taking walks around Williamsburg. So, yeah, I think it's a it's a sacred space. Gotta get back. [00:42:14] S3: I'm just wondering if Alexa and I are on the allowed callers list, Daniel.
00:42:14 · Cameron, Alexa von Tobel, Daniel First
[00:42:14] S3: I'm just wondering if Alexa and I are on the allowed callers list, Daniel. [00:42:17] S2: I hope so. Daniel, last few questions. What is a book that's really had a massive impact on your life that you would pay it for? It doesn't have to be a business book, any book, but a book that's like had a really lasting impact on how you think. [00:42:34] S0: Yeah. There's this book by Charles Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity. He's a he's a Hegel philosopher, but it's all about the history of how we make decisions and how, you know, in some time periods, people would, would consult their religious mentor. In other time periods, people would look deep inside of them. And... But the the framework that we use to make decisions has kind of changed every every couple of decades. And so whenever I'm making a decision, I'm I'm... It just made me very thoughtful about what framework I'm using, to to make that decision, and and and think about whether it's the right one. [00:43:08] S2: I love that. My last question is, is there a mantra you live by? Having gotten to know you pretty well, you move at a speed, you're extremely hard charging, you have some of the highest bars for excellence of founders out there. What is a mantra that kinda speaks to you?
00:43:08 · Alexa von Tobel, Daniel First
[00:43:08] S2: I love that. My last question is, is there a mantra you live by? Having gotten to know you pretty well, you move at a speed, you're extremely hard charging, you have some of the highest bars for excellence of founders out there. What is a mantra that kinda speaks to you? [00:43:29] S0: At Axion, we talk a lot about high agency customer obsession, which is that customer... You know, the customers that we work with, they have tons of needs. And sometimes the product as it is today can meet those needs, but sometimes they can't. And the people who we've brought on that I'm really proud of that really thrive, they're folks who... You know, when there's a gap between what the product can do and what our customers' needs are, they they fur... Their first instinct is to figure out what creative thing can I do that won't cause a lot of tech debt that, that can really meet my customers' needs? So I think that's a a huge part of our culture that, you know, that that I'm really proud of. [00:44:10] S2: Well, Daniel, first of all, this has been such a pleasure. It has been so fun to think about kind of your front row seat to the way things are being made here and in the future. We are so lucky to be on your journey. I think just most importantly, we're really rooting for you because when Axion wins, what happens is the world gets safer, the world gets better innovation and better products, which make all of us much happier, lives are saved. So just again, it's a great company to get out of bed every day to go build, we're rooting for you. Thank you.
00:44:10 · Alexa von Tobel, Daniel First, Alexa von Tobel
[00:44:10] S2: Well, Daniel, first of all, this has been such a pleasure. It has been so fun to think about kind of your front row seat to the way things are being made here and in the future. We are so lucky to be on your journey. I think just most importantly, we're really rooting for you because when Axion wins, what happens is the world gets safer, the world gets better innovation and better products, which make all of us much happier, lives are saved. So just again, it's a great company to get out of bed every day to go build, we're rooting for you. Thank you. [00:44:41] S0: Thanks. It's been a great discussion. [00:44:42] S2: Thank you all so much for tuning in today. [00:44:44] S1: If you enjoyed the episode, please read, review, subscribe, and we'll be [00:44:48] S2: back again with another episode of Inspired with Alexa von Tobel. Thank you.