#131: Conversation with David Senra: Lessons Learned from Reading 200+ Biographies on Founders

Chiwi Journal

My guest today is David Senra. David is the host of podcast shows Founders. Every week, he reads a biography of an entrepreneur so listeners can learn the lessons from those greatest history and modern figures.

In this episode, we discussed:

1. What motivated David to start this niche show to share his learnings of biography and autobiography?
2. How many founders were influenced by those who came before (e.g. Jobs influenced by Edwin Land, Bezos influenced by Sam Walton etc.)? And what’s so special about Benjamin Franklin?
3. What’s the most inspiring story among 200+ founders stories David read? And what’s one unbelievable story from listeners that drove David jumped out of bed every morning?
4. What are the top THREE lessons previous founders can teach and impact current founders?
5. Where do founders like Micheal Jordan and Larry Ellison’s drive come from?
6. What are some intriguing individual connections among founders that surprised us?
7. What creators can learn from Ernest Hemingway, George Lucas and Stephen King?
8. What essential mindset should founders have to turn problems into opportunities?
9. Why shouldn’t current founders follow the formula but focus on the lessons provided by the previous founders?
10. What’s the ONE thing that founders regret on their deathbed?
11. What would David’s biography be? What legacy does he want to leave to his children based on his learnings?

Books/links mentioned in this episode:

• Dan Carlin Hardcore History
• Kevin Rose interviewing Elon Musk
• Jocko Podcast
• The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by ERIC JORGENSON
• Founders Podcast Books List
• Insisting On the Impossible : The Life of Edwin Land
• Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire
• Indie Hackers Interviewing Pieter Levels
• Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics and the Making of an Automobile Empire
• Born of This Land: My Life Story by Chung Ju-Yung
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
• Most Recommended Books by Richard Reis
• Made in Japan: Akio Morita and Sony by Akio Morita
• Dru Riley 100 Rules — Personal Philosophy
• Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life
• Driven From Within by Michael Jordan and Mark Vancil

Full shownote