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#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity

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Dec 23, 2019

Guest

Tony Fadell

Tony Fadell, known as the 'father of the iPod,' shares insights from over 30 years in tech innovation, including his pivotal roles at Apple and Nest Labs. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks and storytelling in innovation, particularly the bold decision to develop the iPod when Apple was struggling. Fadell also discusses his journey to sobriety and the impact of travel on creativity, urging listeners to embrace downtime for personal growth. His current work with FutureShape focuses on mentoring startups to tackle pressing global challenges.

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ANECDOTE

Finding a Psychologist

Tony Fadell found a psychologist through a friend's recommendation.
He attended sessions twice a week for over a year to understand himself better.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Building Relationships

Tony Fadell's father believed in building relationships with customers, not just transactions.
He would recommend competitors' products if they better suited the customer's needs.

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ADVICE

Conflict Resolution

Tony Fadell advises new managers to handle conflicts directly with their peers.
He encourages open communication and problem-solving before involving higher-ups.

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An Exciting Introduction to a Tech Visionary

04:07 • 3min

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Breaking Free: My Journey to Sobriety

07:30 • 5min

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Roots of Influence in Sales and Tech

12:11 • 14min

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Rebuilding Through Challenges

26:26 • 20min

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The iPod Gamble: A Bold Leap in Innovation

46:21 • 16min

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Finding Perspective Through Travel and Creativity

01:01:51 • 24min

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Empowering Innovation Through FutureShape

01:25:31 • 11min

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Nurturing Mind and Body Through Diet and Yoga

01:36:44 • 1min

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Exploring Movement, Meditation, and Sleep Optimization

01:38:11 • 2min

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Reflections on Alcohol, Culture, and Decision-Making

01:40:21 • 15min

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Embracing Challenges and Continuous Growth

01:55:17 • 6min

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Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity | Brought to you by SuperFat and Four Sigmatic.

“Get bored. Just put away all of your things. Maybe go clean up the garage or whatever it is. Right? Through that, you're going to start to think differently. You're going to act slightly differently and your mind might open up to other sources of inspiration, other problems...” — Tony Fadell

Tony Fadell (@tfadell), sometimes called "the father of the iPod," is an active investor and entrepreneur with a 30+ year history of founding companies and designing products that profoundly improve people's lives. As the Principal at Future Shape, a global investment and advisory firm coaching engineers and scientists working on foundational deep technology, he is continuing to help bring technology out of the lab and into our lives. Currently, Future Shape is coaching 200+ startups innovating game-changing technologies.

Tony founded Nest Labs, Inc. in 2010 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until his resignation in 2016. He joined Apple Computer Inc. in 2001 and, as the SVP of Apple's iPod division, led the team that created the first 18 generations of the iPod and the first three generations of the iPhone. Tony founded the Mobile Computing Group at Philips Electronics and served as its Chief Technology Officer and Director of Engineering 1995 to 1998, responsible for all aspects of business and product development, including the award-winning Philips Velo and Nino PDAs. From 1998 to 1999, he served as Vice President for Philips Strategy & Venture focused on building out its digital media strategy and investment portfolio. From 1992 to 1995, he served as a Hardware and Software Architect at General Magic, which created the precursor to the iPhone 15 years earlier.

Tony has filed more than 300 patents for his work. In May 2016, Time named the Nest Learning Thermostat, the iPod, and the iPhone three of the "50 Most Influential Gadgets of All Time." Tony graduated with a BS degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1991.

Please enjoy!

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