How I Built This with Guy Raz Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft
30 snips
Oct 23, 2025 John Zimmer, co-founder of Lyft, shares his insights after stepping away from the company. He discusses his new venture, Yes And, aimed at creating consumer businesses with positive impacts. Early-stage founders call in, seeking advice like inventory financing for Terri Levy’s Ruckstar brand and scaling strategies for Alan’s Shower Spa. Kobe Goodwin of Slow Coco opens up about achieving work-life balance and sustainable practices in his craft chocolate company. John emphasizes the value of mental health and enjoying the entrepreneurial journey.
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Prioritize Sleep, Diet, And Exercise
- Prioritize basic health: sleep, diet, and exercise to sustain leadership performance.
- Neglecting them undermines your ability to serve employees, investors, drivers, and customers.
Test Demand Locally Before U.S. Scale
- Test different use cases and acquisition channels in your home market before investing in U.S. warehousing.
- Use third-party logistics, Shopify, or Amazon to learn unit economics quickly and cheaply.
Hire One Biz‑Dev To Chase Big Channels
- Hire a focused, entrepreneurial biz-dev person to pursue longer-lead channel deals like care-home chains.
- Offer equity or performance incentives if capital is limited to attract talent.