The Business Canon

Episode 110 - Building Great Companies: A Deep Dive into Collins and Porras

What does it take to build an organization that lasts? This deep dive connects the research of Jim Collins's two most famous books, Good to Great and Built to Last. Our hosts explore the common threads and the subtle differences between the two works. We analyze the core concepts that appear in both, such as disciplined thought and action, and the importance of getting the right people on the bus. We also compare the "visionary" companies from Built to Last with the "great" companies from Good to Great, exploring the different types of excellence each book describes.

Episode 111 - Preserve the Core / Stimulate Progress

In this essential Brief, we distill the central paradox from Jim Collins and Jerry Porras's Built to Last. Our hosts quickly unpack the "Genius of the AND," the counter-intuitive principle that visionary companies embrace. You will learn how the most enduring organizations preserve a timeless core ideology (their fundamental values and purpose) while simultaneously stimulating relentless progress and change in everything else. In just a few minutes, you'll have a powerful mental model for balancing continuity and change.

Episode 112 - Antifragile (Part 1): Beyond Robustness

We continue our exploration of Nassim Taleb's Incerto with a deep dive into his most profound and challenging concept: Antifragility. This episode unpacks the "triad" of Fragile, Robust, and Antifragile. Our hosts explore why the opposite of fragile is not robust, but antifragile—things that actually gain from disorder, volatility, and stress. The conversation explores how this principle applies to everything from biological systems and personal health to economic markets and business strategy. This is an introduction to a powerful new way of thinking about how to thrive in an uncertain world.

Episode 113 - Skin in the Game: The Ethics of Risk

In this deep dive, we explore the core ethical and practical argument of Nassim Taleb's Skin in the Game. Our hosts unpack the concept of symmetry and risk-sharing. The conversation explores Taleb's argument that the modern world is filled with people in positions of power who get the upside of their decisions without bearing any of the downside, leading to reckless and harmful outcomes. We analyze why having "skin in the game" is the only true guarantor of accountability, fairness, and true expertise. This is a powerful look at the hidden asymmetries that define our professional and public lives.

Episode 114 - The Psychology of Marketing: Connecting Cialdini, Godin, and Ries

This thematic deep dive connects the work of three giants of marketing psychology and strategy. We explore how Robert Cialdini's Influence provides the foundational understanding of the psychological triggers that make people say "yes." We then connect this to the philosophy of Seth Godin's Permission Marketing, which argues for a more ethical and effective way to use these principles. Finally, we integrate the ideas of Al Ries and Jack Trout's Positioning, showing how these psychological tools can be used to capture a unique and valuable place in the customer's mind.

Episode 115 - The Steve Jobs Method: A Deep Dive into Product and Design

We take a deep dive into the unique product development and design philosophy of Apple's co-founder, using Walter Isaacson's biography, Steve Jobs, as our guide. This episode explores the principles that led to some of the most iconic products in history. Our hosts unpack Jobs's fanatical focus on the user experience, his belief in the power of simplicity, and his integration of technology with the liberal arts. We analyze his famous "reality distortion field" and the demanding, uncompromising culture he created to achieve his vision of "insanely great" products.

Episode 116 - The Rockefeller Method: A Deep Dive into Monopoly and Efficiency

This episode explores the business philosophy of America's first billionaire, using Ron Chernow's biography, Titan, as our guide. We do a deep dive into the ruthless and brilliant strategies John D. Rockefeller used to build the Standard Oil monopoly. Our hosts unpack his obsession with efficiency, his mastery of logistics, and his use of rebates and drawbacks to crush his competition. We analyze his pioneering role in creating the modern multinational corporation and the complex legacy of a man who was both a predatory monopolist and a model of operational excellence.

Episode 117 - The Carnegie Method: A Deep Dive into Steel and Philanthropy

This episode explores the life of the man who personified the American dream, from penniless immigrant to the richest man in the world, using David Nasaw's biography, Andrew Carnegie. We do a deep dive into the methods Carnegie used to build the American steel industry, from his early adoption of new technologies to his relentless focus on cost-cutting. We also analyze his second act as the world's greatest philanthropist and his influential "Gospel of Wealth," the idea that the rich have a moral obligation to give away their fortunes for the public good.

Episode 118 - The 7 Habits (Part 5): The Principles of Communication

In the fifth part of our series on The 7 Habits, we do a deep dive into the single most important skill for building effective relationships: empathetic communication. This episode focuses entirely on Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. Our hosts unpack the profound paradigm shift required to listen not with the intent to reply, but with the intent to truly understand. We analyze the different levels of listening and the specific techniques of "empathic listening" that can transform a conversation from a debate into a dialogue.

Episode 119 - The 7 Habits (Part 6): The Power of Synergy

In our sixth installment on The 7 Habits, we explore the habit that represents the culmination of all the others: Synergize. This episode is a deep dive into the principle of creative cooperation. Our hosts explore what Stephen Covey meant by synergy—the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We analyze why synergy is only possible in an environment of high trust and high cooperation, and how it allows a team to create new, third alternatives that are better than what any single individual could have come up with alone.