YouSaid · the spoken record

David Perell

lines on the record: 311
first: 2023-03-29
most recent: 2023-03-29
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“You mentioned it on the Walmart episode where it's like everybody says, Oh, Sam Walton didn't start Walmart he's 44. Yeah, but he was doing 25 years of practice and learning and he wasn't just sitting on his ass.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“At this point. So why we're reading it is like everyone wants to know the climb, right? It's like, how did you guys, I just went through your entire to get part of the prep for Charlie is listening to all of your Berkshire episodes, right? Where you guys do a fantastic job on this because like the first two is like the young Charlie, the young Warren. So I would literally, and I've done this forever, it's like, I don't, when you take a Warren Buffett or Ben Franklin or George Washington or anybody who's super famous, when we see them, it's like, oh, who's the Ben Franklin on the $100 bill? Right? Or who's in Washington on the dollar bill or who's Buffett at the meeting in Omaha? It's like, no, no, that's the guy that is enjoying the fruits of the person actually built the Empire.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“He's got a fascinating story. We can talk about that where he was unbelievably wealthy because of Standard Oil. He's 50, 60, 70 years old when he's doing this. And he's just like, oh, what am I doing now? I'll build an entire state. When he gets to Miami, Miami is a little less than 500 people living in the swamp. Because you can't live there. There was no AC at the time. And so then he builds the world's first railroad over connecting the Florida Keys. He just essentially, like, when you read that book, you're like, oh, humans have no limits other than the ones we put on ourselves. And so that's what Flagler does. He stretches it. And he does some terrible things too.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And all I could think of was like, imagine that guy's mind at 99 is still so sharp. I had brought a gift form because he talks about like Rockefeller all the time. I bought him this special edition. Centennial Edition version of Henry Flagler's biography. Oh, Flagler. So I live in Miami. The guy, Les Sanford, I think is the author of that book. He is good friends with, there's only like one local bookshop in Miami called Books and Books. And so Les is a local author who's good friends with the owner of that bookstore. So they did a, you can't get this book anywhere else. It's a special edition book. Because Flagler moved to Florida after the Standard Oil thing.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I remember asking a question about Henry Kaiser, this guy that was super famous when Charlie was younger. He built like 100 companies, built a Hoover Dam. He was as famous in his time as Elon Musk is today, right? But no one knows who he is. And I was asking questions about Charlie in the book and his recall is just insane. So the point where I asked him, I go, how do you know all this, Charlie? He goes, I knew his partner. Then he starts telling stories about being knowing, like, having a relationship with Henry Kaiser's business partner. And then all these three hours of just unbelievable stories. And then I go, Charlie, like how do you remember all this stuff? Do you write words, like, do you take notes? Do you reread the books over and over again? He's like, nope.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Behind him. So people are like, oh, was he as like you expected? Like they say, hey, be careful, don't meet your heroes, right? It's like he was unbelievably gracious. You know, unbelievable. I was like, hey, Charlie, do you mind if I take a look at your bookshelf? He's just like, do whatever you want, just unbelievably polite, still like biting intellect, ferocious intelligence at 99. At 99. So we were talking earlier downstairs where The scary thing about Charlie is”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I never got the chance to open my phone because I was just sitting there. I was like, I'm looking at him. And he's, you know, very close, like, you know, maybe a little bit further for me. That was super disrespectful to like take up my phone. That too. And I had, you know, read every single book on Charlie. I watched all of his videos. I've studied this guy forever. And so every time he had said, hey, read this book, I go and read the book. And then I see a bunch of the books that he has recommended.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And so we're sitting there. And there's actually a funny thing where it starts out and they know both Warren and Charlie. They've talked to him before. So they go right into it. And then like, I'm sitting there and I had this whole list of probably like 25 questions. I was going to ask if you'd like prepared.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So it's not so one of his family members was there too, and she's like, oh, this is like nothing. This is like the front room. Wait till you see the back. Yeah, so it's like it's similar to like the room we're in, like, you know, very similar size and, you know, floor to ceiling shelves. And so I'm with a small group of friends. In fact, mutual friends from ours, the people that set this up for us or for me was Andrew Wilkinson and Chris from the founders of Tiny, who are mutual friends.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah. And so, and the reason I bring that up is because you think about all the different companies and founders you guys have studied, all the different companies and founders that I've studied, right? And like even amongst the rarest group of people. Charlie still stands out. And the crazy thing is he's 99, right? And so I get there and we start off in his library, which is like the best place for me that you could possibly see. Set the stage more. How big is the”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I had a three hour dinner with Charlie Munger. Where I could ask him any questions that you want. Well, first of all, I guess we should back up. It's like there's a reason that he's so admired, right, by so many people. But for me particularly, you get to meet a lot of really interesting people because of the work that we do, right? And so that's like a blessing and something that I know we've had conversations in the past that we deeply appreciate. But Charlie's a different level for me. Like I literally think of him like the wise grandfather I never had. I met all kinds of people. I don't really get like nervous or starstruck. I was legitimately like shaking the day before. I was like, I cannot believe I did, I didn't want to tell that many people because like this is just, there's no way this is going to happen. Like I just, I won't believe it till it actually happens. We do very similar work, right? Where it's like, how many people have spent six, seven years, tens of thousands of hours reading hundreds of books about the history of entrepreneurship and investing and then not only reading it, taking notes on it, making a podcast.”
2023-03-29 · Founders · A conversation with David and Ben from the Acquired podcast · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source