Drift

One of the youngest self-made billionaires and an entrepreneur/author/ultra marathoner get married and have four kids, yet they still manage their own businesses and try new adventures daily. How do they manage it all?&nbsp;In this from-the-vault episode of Seeking Wisdom, DC sits down with founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely, and author, entrepreneur and keynote speaker, Jesse Itzler, to talk prioritization, marriage and extreme sports. DC and Jesse bond over big calendars, and DC learns how Sara and Jesse’s whirlwind love story still works today.

One of the youngest self-made billionaires and an entrepreneur/author/ultra marathoner get married and have four kids, yet they still manage their own businesses and try new adventures daily. How do they manage it all? 



#179 Focusing on the Four Main Buckets with Sara Blakely and Jesse Itzler

One of the youngest self-made billionaires and an entrepreneur/author/ultra marathoner get married and have four kids, yet they still manage their own businesses and try new adventures daily. How do they manage it all? 

In this from-the-vault episode of Seeking Wisdom, DC sits down with founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely, and author, entrepreneur and keynote speaker, Jesse Itzler, to talk prioritization, marriage and extreme sports. DC and Jesse bond over big calendars, and DC learns how Sara and Jesse’s whirlwind love story still works today.


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Want to get better every single day? Tune into Seeking Wisdom, a podcast hosted by Drift's David Cancel. You'll hear about the leadership principles that have changed his personal and professional outlook and the hard-earned lessons he's learned over his 25+ year career as a 5X startup founder.

Seeking Wisdom with David Cancel

What do you do after you accomplish your biggest professional goal at age 33? That’s the question DC asked professional climber Alex Honnold in this exclusive HYPERGROWTH episode of Seeking Wisdom. Alex was the first, and remains the only, climber to free solo El Cap, a 3,000ft granite face in Yosemite National Park, in 2018. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t as easy as he made it look. In this episode, DC and Alex talk about what it was like to train for the climb with an entire film crew by his side, what life’s been like since the release of the Free Solo movie, and what’s next for Alex. <h3>Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at +1-212-380-1036.</h3>&nbsp;For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here:<a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a>

What do you do after you accomplish your biggest professional goal at age 33? That’s the question DC asked professional climber Alex Honnold in this exclusive HYPERGROWTH episode of Seeking Wisdom.


#178: Will Anything Top El Cap? With Alex Honnold

Will Anything Top El Cap? With Alex Honnold

What do you do after you accomplish your biggest professional goal at age 33? That’s the question DC asked professional climber Alex Honnold in this exclusive HYPERGROWTH episode of Seeking Wisdom.

Alex was the first, and remains the only, climber to free solo El Cap, a 3,000ft granite face in Yosemite National Park, in 2018. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t as easy as he made it look. In this episode, DC and Alex talk about what it was like to train for the climb with an entire film crew by his side, what life’s been like since the release of the Free Solo movie, and what’s next for Alex.


Ever blame your unproductive day on too many emails, Slacks, and phone calls? Us too. But on this never-before-released episode of Seeking Wisdom, author, investor and lecturer, Nir Eyal, debunks the myth of technology’s influence on distraction. Because it’s not the technology’s fault you’re distracted – it’s you wanting to be distracted. DC and Nir talk about Nir's background in advertising and gaming, what he's learned from writing two books (Indistractible and Hooked), and why anything that you do that you don't PLAN to do is a distraction. <h3>Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at +1-212-380-1036.</h3>&nbsp;For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here:<a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a>

Nir Eyal

Author, "Hooked" and "Indistractable"

Ever blame your unproductive day on too many emails, Slacks, and phone calls? Us too. But on this never-before-released episode of Seeking Wisdom, author, investor and lecturer, Nir Eyal, debunks the myth of technology’s influence on distraction. Because it’s not the technology’s fault you’re distracted – it’s you wanting to be distracted.




#176: Why Technology Isn’t the Reason You're Distracted with Nir Eyal

Why Technology Isn’t the Reason You're Distracted with Nir Eyal

Ever blame your unproductive day on too many emails, Slacks, and phone calls? Us too. But on this never-before-released episode of Seeking Wisdom, author, investor and lecturer, Nir Eyal, debunks the myth of technology’s influence on distraction. Because it’s not the technology’s fault you’re distracted – it’s you wanting to be distracted.
DC and Nir talk about Nir's background in advertising and gaming, what he's learned from writing two books (Indistractible and Hooked), and why anything that you do that you don't PLAN to do is a distraction.



What do skiing, rock climbing, and photography have in common? They can all become part of one story – if you seek the parallels.&nbsp;For this episode we went back into the crates to bring you an exclusive episode with the one and only Jimmy Chin. Jimmy, who is a professional climber, photographer, and Academy-Award winning film director, talks with DC about what it was like to grow up as the “other.” He shares how his early understanding for different worlds helps him to draw parallels between seemingly strikingly different things today. But Jimmy would not be the success story he is without the help of his mentors, so in this episode DC and Jimmy geek out on storytelling and mentorship.&nbsp;<h3>Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at +1-212-380-1036.</h3>&nbsp;For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here: <a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a>

Jimmy Chin is a National Geographic photographer and mountain sports athlete known for his ability to capture extraordinary imagery and stories while climbing and skiing in high-risk environments and expeditions. Jimmy is an Academy Award winner for his work co-directing Free Solo.

Jimmy Chin

Academy Award winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer and mountain sports athlete

What do skiing, rock climbing, and photography have in common? They can all become part of one story – if you seek the parallels.


#175: Bridging the Gaps Between Skiing, Climbing & Filmmaking with Jimmy Chin

#175 Bridging the Gaps Between Skiing, Climbing & Filmmaking with Jimmy Chin

What do skiing, rock climbing, and photography have in common? They can all become part of one story – if you seek the parallels.
 
For this episode we went back into the crates to bring you an exclusive episode with the one and only Jimmy Chin. Jimmy, who is a professional climber, photographer, and Academy-Award winning film director, talks with DC about what it was like to grow up as the “other.” He shares how his early understanding for different worlds helps him to draw parallels between seemingly strikingly different things today. But Jimmy would not be the success story he is without the help of his mentors, so in this episode DC and Jimmy geek out on storytelling and mentorship.


Leo Tenenblat (Drift's Chief Product Officer) is back to talk with DC about iteration. Leo shares what iteration is like at Drift and how it compares to other companies he's worked at – from the big ones (like Salesforce where he drove the Einstein platform) to the small ones (like the startup he founded called AppMesh). DC discusses the difficulty of tying together marketing and product releases too tightly. They also touch on the importance of feedback loops and why product teams need to get as close to the customer as possible. Is this really just a veiled 1-on-1 meeting for DC and Leo? You can be the judge.Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at +1-212-380-1036.For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here: <a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a>

Currently, Leo leads product at Drift. Prior to that he drove the Einstein Platform at salesforce.com, founded a mobile CRM startup, AppMesh, invested and advised other startups, and before that was at salesforce.com serving in roles across Sales, Operations, and R&D, helping drive the company's stellar growth from 2006-2012.

Leo Tenenblat

Chief Product Officer, Drift

Leo Tenenblat (Drift's Chief Product Officer) is back to talk with DC about iteration. Leo shares what iteration is like at Drift and how it compares to other companies he's worked at – from the big ones (like Salesforce where he drove the Einstein platform) to the small ones (like the startup he founded called AppMesh). DC discusses the difficulty of tying together marketing and product releases too tightly. They also touch on the importance of feedback loops and why product teams need to get as close to the customer as possible. Is this really just a veiled 1-on-1 meeting for DC and Leo? You can be the judge.


#174: Never Stop Iterating

DC's goal in life? To replace himself. On this episode, he's joined by Leo Tenenblat (Drift's Chief Product Officer) to talk through what this means in the context of a scaling company. Together, DC and Leo talk about their approaches to hiring and team building, projecting yourself into the future, and the one thing Leo thinks DC should stop doing. Digressions include some Portuguese lessons (for DC) and comparing astrological signs. Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at&nbsp;+1-212-380-1036. For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a>

Currently, Leo leads product at Drift. Prior to that, he drove the Einstein Platform at salesforce.com, founded a mobile CRM startup, AppMesh, invested and advised other startups, and before that was at salesforce.com, serving in roles across Sales, Operations, and R&D, helping drive the company's stellar growth from 2006-2012.


Chief Product Officer

DC is joined by Leo Tenenblat (Drift's Chief Product Officer) to talk through what it means to replace yourself in the context of a scaling company. Together, DC and Leo talk about their approaches to hiring and team building, projecting yourself into the future, and the one thing Leo thinks DC should stop doing. Digressions include some Portuguese lessons (for DC) and comparing astrological signs.


#173: Replacing Yourself

Replacing Yourself

DC is joined by Leo Tenenblat (Drift's Chief Product Officer) to talk through what it means to replace yourself in the context of a scaling company. Together, DC and Leo talk about their approaches to hiring and team building, projecting yourself into the future, and the one thing Leo thinks DC should stop doing. Digressions include some Portuguese lessons (for DC) and comparing astrological signs. 


The world of marketing is constantly evolving, but understanding people? That will always be fundamental. Today, marketing expert Rebecca Messina joins David to share her biggest learnings from the 22 years she spent at Coca-Cola, what it was like to be Uber's first-ever CMO, and how she's applying both of those experiences to her work as a senior advisor at McKinsey. DC and Rebecca go deep on the importance of brand building and brand love, the psychology of marketing, and what it means to be a brand vs. an icon. <h3>Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at&nbsp;+1-212-380-1036.</h3> <h3>For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--btn-color);">https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a></h3>

Rebecca is a c-suite executive focused on helping a portfolio of companies use 21stC thinking to change 20th century paradigms across how we live, eat, drink, and grow. Bringing almost 30 years of global marketing experience in consumer products and tech, living on 4 continents and 7 cities, with an emphasis on impact and empathy in working with CEOs, CMOs, leadership teams and organizations. A global citizen with a belief in humanity. Leads with heart and takes the long view. Advisor, Mentor, Investor, Board Member. Former Global CMO Uber, Beam Suntory. Lived, loved, worked globally with Coca-Cola.

Rebecca Messina

Global CMO; Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Co; Board Member; Advisor

The world of marketing is constantly evolving, but understanding people? That will always be fundamental. Today, marketing expert Rebecca Messina joins David to share her biggest learnings from the 22 years she spent at Coca-Cola, what it was like to be Uber's first-ever CMO, and how she's applying both of those experiences to her work as a senior advisor at McKinsey.


#172: Brand Love with Rebecca Messina

There's a saying at Amazon: "Good intentions don't work. Mechanisms do." For well over a decade, Colin Bryar and Bill Carr worked in tandem with Jeff Bezos, building out the mechanisms and leadership principles that shaped the company into what it is today. How'd they do it? They started with a relentless focus on the customer – and worked backwards from there. Colin and Bill were in the trenches for the creation of some of Amazon's most innovative products and services including Kindle, Amazon Prime, Amazon Studios, and Amazon Web Services. And on today's episode of Seeking Wisdom, they sit down with DC and talk about what Amazon was really like in the early days, the development of critical processes like the PR FAQ, single-threaded teams, and their best practices for hiring the right talent. <h3>Like this episode? Be sure to leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ review and share the pod with your friends. You can connect with DC on Twitter @dcancel @DriftPodcasts or text him to share your feedback at +1-212-380-1036.</h3> <h3>For more learnings from DC, check out his weekly newsletter, The One Thing. You can subscribe here: <a href="https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drift.com/insider/learn/newsletters/dc/</a></h3> Buy a copy of Working Backwards here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595</a>

Colin coauthored the upcoming book, "Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon," which is a first-person account of how Amazon created and implemented the principles and processes that have made it successful. The book will also take you in the room and show how these principles and practices were used to create four key Amazon business: Kindle, Amazon Prime, Prime Video, and Amazon Web Services. They provide practical steps for applying them in your own organization, large or small. He is also a co-founder of Working Backwards, LLC where they help companies learn how to work backwards.

Colin Bryar

Author, Advisor, Speaker, Co-Founder Working Backwards LLC, Former Amazon VP

Bill coauthored the upcoming book, "Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon," which is a first-person account of how Amazon created and implemented the principles and processes that have made it successful. The book will also take you in the room and show how these principles and practices were used to create four key Amazon business: Kindle, Amazon Prime, Prime Video, and Amazon Web Services. They provide practical steps for applying them in your own organization, large or small. Bill is also a co-founder of Working Backwards, LLC where they help companies learn how to work backwards.

Bill Carr

Author, Advisor, Speaker, Ex-Amazon VP of Digital Media

There's a saying at Amazon: "Good intentions don't work. Mechanisms do." For well over a decade, Colin Bryar and Bill Carr worked in tandem with Jeff Bezos, building out the mechanisms and leadership principles that shaped the company into what it is today. How'd they do it? They started with a relentless focus on the customer – and worked backwards from there. 



Recent Episodes

SEASON 2

#178: Will Anything Top El Cap? With Alex Honnold

#176: Why Technology Isn’t the Reason You're Distracted with Nir Eyal

#175: Bridging the Gaps Between Skiing, Climbing & Filmmaking with Jimmy Chin

#174: Never Stop Iterating

#173: Replacing Yourself

#172: Brand Love with Rebecca Messina

#171: Working Backwards with Amazon's Colin Bryar and Bill Carr

About The Show

Seeking Wisdom with David Cancel

David Cancel

Co-Founder & CEO, Drift