Podcast
Greatness
Hosted by Jonathan Watts · EN
Learn from history’s greatest.
Each week, Jonathan Watts dives into the lives and moments of the world's most extraordinary people, uncovering timeless lessons and unforgettable stories.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
161. The Struggle and Burden of Lionel Messi
2w ago00:35:35Tap to summarizeDiving into the struggle Lionel Messi went through to become the greatest soccer player ever, and the burdens he had to carry along the way.-----SourcesLionel Messi - Guillem Balague-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →160. The Mindset of Cristiano Ronaldo
3w ago00:32:10Tap to summarizeDiving into the mental approach and working ways of Cristiano Ronaldo-----Sources:Cristiano Ronaldo - Guilleme Balague-----1:35 - A motivational weapon4:00 - A want to play and work"Ronaldo spent ten to twelve hours with the ball every day.”5:05 - Losing as a certain kind of death7:12: The perfect mother8:55 - The obsessive work ethic11:00 - Never satisfied 14:37 - Earning the right to be confident15:40 - Champions do more than people who think they've done more17:45 - Seek out those who can help you19:33 - The Ronaldo motto 22:00 - The discipline24:29 - An intense competitor27:00 - Confidence29:00 - Ideas thief
Transcribe →159. The Life and Philosophies of Elon Musk (Part II)
3w ago01:38:22Tap to summarizeDiving into the life and story of Elon Musk, from his upbringing in South Africa, to the wild story of building Tesla and SpaceX, to his biggest regrets and mistakes, and everything in between.-----Sources Elon Musk - Walter IsaacsonElon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future - Ashlee VanceWisdom Takes Work - Ryan Holiday-----3:19 - Understanding Elon6:35 - A fanatical reader/tough childhood9:28 - The root of his risk-taking 11:40 - "You'll never be successful."12:45 - The power of asking14:00 - Choosing his future/You can always go back 16:38 - First company and Elon's working ways19:31 - Impossible isn't tolerated20:25 - Putting chips back into the game/his relationship with risk22:45 - Elon's leadership paradox25:52 - "The Man Who Didn’t Understand the Meaning of the Word ‘Risk.’”27:52 - Getting into space + First principles approach33:55 - The odds facing SpaceX's 34:45 - Musk's business principles41:05 - Attention to detail43:40 - SpaceX hiccups/"SpaceX is in it for the long haul, and, come hell or high water, we are going to make this work."47:20 - Barometer for making decisions47:35 - 2008: Pain. Misery. Suffering56:15 - The line between boldness and recklessness is very thin1:03:43 - The role of luck1:09:25 - The Surges1:11:40 - The algorithm1:13:45 - Impulsive decision-making1:16:23 - Elon's flaws1:24:35 - Final thoughts and stories-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →158. The Life and Philosophies of Elon Musk (Part I)
Jun 800:47:19Tap to summarizeDiving into Elon Musk in his own words, everything from his approach to making decisions, the traits that define him, how he thinks about building and creating, and more.-----Sources The Book of Elon - Eric Jorgenson-----2:35 - Be useful4:35 - How Elon makes decisions6:20 - Be curious6:45 - Don't worship anything12:50 - Capacity for pain14:40 - An obsessive work ethic17:05 - On dealing with fear19:07 - First principles approach/relentlessly pursue the truth25:15 - Read. Read. Read.27:10 - Sleep on the factory floor 28:20 - Bring in great people30:33 - Fail and fail fast32:15 - A maniacal sense of urgency34:45 - Advice to entrepreneurs/how he decided to start his companies36:04 - How he decided to start his companies37:10 - The goal of the game is to stay in the game40:10 - Short ideas from Musk-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →157. How the World's Greatest Artists Worked
Jun 201:01:37Tap to summarizeDiving into the working ways of some of the world's greatest artists. -----SourcesDaily Rituals - Mason Currey-----Time Stamps:3:49 - Benjamin Franklin: The two questions and the "air bath."6:05 - Scott F. Fitzgerald: Work like a lion9:04 - Paul Erdos: Drugs and stimulants12:20 - William Gass: Work angry14:07 - Anne Rice: Flexibility, ease, and uninterrupted time16:42 - David Lynch: Find a thinking place17:40 - Umberto Eco: Thinking in the cracks 19:05 - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: Is it sustainable?20:50 - Twyla Tharp: Building a bridge22:20 - Graham Greece: Burn your youth, sustain as you age23:50 - Marcel Proust and Philip Roth: Go monk mode26:25 - Carl Jung: Make it boring28:15 - Thomas Mann: Setting Boundaries30:05 - Gustav Mahler, Twyla Tharp: Preparing to be creative32:47 - Nicholson Baker, Thomas Wolfe, Fredreich Schiller, Woody Allen - Get creative, find your way37:20 - Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky: Do the unpleasant first40:25 - Bernard Malamud: The only thing that matters42:03 - Anthony Trollope - Advice on starting a craft44:52 - Gustave Flaubert: the ups and downs of the creative process46:38 - Ernest Hemingway: Keep some juice in the tank47:30 - James Boswell: The morning reminder49:55 - Gertrude Stein, Martin Amis, Joyce Carol Oates - Genius in endurance in disguise 52:22 - Ideas on making time, finding effortless work, and inspiration54:20 - Karl Marx: The right regrets56:00 - William James: The Solomon Paradox58:26 - Rene Descartes - Don't compromise your working way-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:
Transcribe →156. Marcus Aurelius
May 1900:50:27Tap to summarizeDiving into the life of the last great Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and his own personal notes to himself.-----SourcesThe Lives of the Stoics - Ryan HolidayMarcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor - Donald RobertsonMeditations - Marcus Aurelius-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →155. History Dump: Henry Ford, Richard Feynman, and Chris Hadfield
May 800:39:49Tap to summarizeDoing a new little mini-series called a "History Dump" where I offer stories, ideas, and things I've found interesting from books, documentaries, and anything I've researched recently.This episode focuses on three individuals: Richard Feynman, Henry Ford, and Chris Hadfield. -----SourcesMy Life and Work - Henry FordAn Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth - Chris HadfieldSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →154. Howard Schultz and The Rise of Starbucks
Apr 3000:55:45Tap to summarizeDiving into the early years of Howard Schultz and his unusual path to building Starbucks."I can't give you any secret recipe for success, any foolproof plan for making it in the world of business. But my own experience suggests that it is possible to start from nothing and achieve even beyond your dreams."-----Sources - Pour Your Heart Into It - Howard Schultz-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →153. The Mental Battle of Rory McIlroy
Apr 1900:30:56Tap to summarizeDiving into the emotional ride of Rory McIlroy and his journey to winning the Masters.“You’re trying to overcome all of history. These memories. All these different things that are going through your head while you’re playing that golf course, and trying to win this massive tournament…And that’s one of the hurdles I have found so hard to overcome. You have to get over the demons that you have on that course.” - Rory McIlroy-----Sources: Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →152. Jerry Seinfeld
Apr 1100:41:02Tap to summarizeDiving into the working ways and creative process of comedian Jerry Seinfeld-----“Your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with.”- Jerry Seinfeld -----SourcesIs This Anything? - Jerry Seinfeld#485: Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for SuccessJerry Seinfeld Intends to Die Standing Up Life's Work -----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
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