The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #272: Scott Galloway - The Algebra of Happiness The Learning Leader Show "Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat dad. We should worship character and kindness." -- Scott Galloway Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: They are demonstrably great at multiple specialty areas They have grit -- a willingness to roll up their sleeves. And work a lot. They hold people accountable -- "If they don't perform, show them the door. Strategic firing." They have empathy - They understand other people and what they want to achieve Scott explains why he's a builder and a teacher He's an NYU professor. He also has started and ran three successful businesses at the same time. This allows him to give practical, real life, advice to his students The best method for learning is teaching -- "It forces you to really know what you believe." "You have to prepare, have themes, support them with research. You have to bring it." His viral videos -- "I try to behave as if nobody is watching... I need to be real and myself." Why he said, "Mark Zuckerberg is Putin's bitch." "Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat Dad. We should worship character and kindness." The power of saying "exactly what you think." "You're smart to be afraid when you're younger." Scott Galloway's Career Advice: 1) Get certified. Get your degree. College grades make 2X that of those who don't graduate. 2) Be remarkable ("So good they can't ignore you"). What two attributes can you bring together that make you unique (the artist who knows how to use excel). 3) Invest in variance - find the 6-8 things that are most important to your firm. Become in expert in a couple of them (Be a great public speaker, great writer) 4) Get to a city (Allen Gannett agrees) 5) Boring is sexy 6) Delay gratification - Power of compound interest. Invest in something that will pay off 7) Demonstrate strength and grit. Exercise everyday. Be stronger 8) Don't follow your passion - be passionate about being great at something. 9) Ignore the myth of balance. He has balance now because he worked like crazy for 20 years. 10) Build credibility. Advice I received from my Dad when I first became a manager -- "You can't just be an inspiration guy. You need to understand the numbers, the business side, too." The best managers "move their chair next to the person their leading and have a real conversation with them." The myth of balance: "If you want to be a top 1% earner, then you won't have balance. I don't know anyone who's able to do that who doesn't work their ass off." Did the money bring happiness? "Yes, but also a divorce. Money is a means to an end." The Harvard happiness study: "Happiness is love full stop." -- "Love who you are, who you're with... Love WHAT you do and who you do it with." Sweating vs watching: "You should spend more time sweating than watching other people sweat. High performers are physically fit. Work out." "The only youth serum is exercise." "When it gets real, I want to be able to run fast or kill them all. Working out gives me the confidence to do that." Things vs Experiences: "We overestimate the happiness things will bring us. We underestimate the happiness experiences bring us." The Four: The hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Google = God. Knows more about you than anything else Facebook = Love Amazon = Consumption Apple = Signals your worth. Sex. Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the "Get To Know You Document" Social Media: See why over 91,000 people follow Scott on Twitter: @profgalloway Read: The Four Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Phil Hellmuth, 15-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner known for his 'poker brat' persona, shares sharp stories about competitiveness and fame. He talks about why he taunts opponents, how therapy and relationships shaped him, reading physical tells at the table, and his shift toward positivity and goals. Short, candid, and full of poker life lessons.

Sam Jones, an acclaimed photographer and director known for his stunning portraits in Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, shares his insights on pursuing passion and creativity. He believes a comfortable life is overrated, advocating for following what excites you. Jones reflects on the art of meaningful conversations and the authenticity needed in interviews. He discusses how curiosity drives his work and emphasizes that no one knows you better than yourself, urging listeners to embrace their unique paths.

Ryan Hawk, leadership podcaster and former college/arena quarterback, shares his leadership framework and life lessons. He explores cognitive diversity, the role of preparation in building confidence, earning the right to lead, and why consistency and loving the work matter. He also discusses family influence, choosing the right partner, and practical habits like thank-you notes to strengthen relationships.

Allen Gannett, founder and CEO of TrackMaven and author of The Creative Curve, studies how creativity works and how people spark 'aha' moments. He discusses why hits blend familiar and novel. He explains creativity as social and trainable, debunks genius myths, and shares routines that let insight emerge like walks, showers, and deliberate practice.

Louie Anderson, veteran stand-up comedian, actor, and author with a 40+ year, Emmy-winning career. He explains how a structured catalog of material lets him improvise on stage. He talks about mining personal pain for comedy, scanning and surprising audiences, handling hecklers, and the grind of nightly reps that shaped his voice.

Ryan Caldbeck, founder and CEO of CircleUp and builder of Helio, shares his framework-driven approach to leadership and hiring. He discusses sustaining excellence through persistence, passion, drive, and values. Hear stories about finding purpose, building teams, codifying culture traits like horsepower and integrity, and transitioning from individual contributor to manager.

Clay Mathile, former CEO and owner of The Iams Company and founder of Aileron, scaled Iams into a global brand and now mentors entrepreneurs. He recounts buying and fixing Iams, innovative marketing to vets and breeders, hiring leadership to scale, building a culture that empowers people, and founding Aileron to train and advise business owners.

Liv Boeree, poker champion, astrophysicist, and advocate for effective altruism, joins to explore decision-making through a poker lens. She discusses sustaining excellence with humility and curiosity. She explains thinking in probabilities, when intuition helps, and how to tell skill from luck. The conversation mixes practical table tactics with broader lessons on rationality and hiring.

Charlie McMahan, longtime lead pastor who grew SouthBrook Church to 5,000+ weekly attendees and mentors future leaders. He discusses sustaining excellence, prioritizing family over travel, his five-part speaking process (teaser, tension, truth, take home, together), weaving stories with science, building a loyal tribe through clarity and shared stories, and preparing leaders through mentorship and apprenticeship.