Mike & Kass Lazerow: Shoveling Shit: The Messy Path to Success
My guests on episode #470 of #thePOZcast are Kass and Mike Lazerow — serial founders, visionary early-stage investors, and bestselling authors. Over the last three decades, they’ve built and sold companies like Buddy Media to Salesforce for $745 million and GOLF.com to Time Warner. As investors, they’ve backed more than 100 startups, including billion-dollar breakouts like Scopely and Liquid Death, with their portfolio generating over $10 billion in returns. Their debut book, Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success, became an instant New York Times, USA Today, and LA Times bestseller, praised for its raw honesty about what it really takes to build a business. They’ve been recognized as top leaders, game-changers in cancer research fundraising, and sought-after advisors helping entrepreneurs cut through the noise, scale with clarity, and lead with conviction. Join us as I unpack their journey and wisdom. Get their book! Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success https://www.amazon.com/Shoveling-Story-About-Entrepreneurs-Success/dp/B0DY21NS7W?ref_=ast_author_dp Learn more: https://kassandmike.com/
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Summary
In this engaging conversation, Adam Posner interviews Kass and Mike Lazarow, successful entrepreneurs and authors of 'Shoveling Shit: A Love Story About Entrepreneurship's Messy Path to Success.' They discuss the authenticity of their writing process, the importance of feedback, and how to stay motivated in the face of setbacks. The Lazarows share insights on navigating remote work culture, the significance of work-life integration, and the value of building a strong company culture. They emphasize the importance of networking, philanthropy, and defining success beyond monetary gains, ultimately highlighting the journey of entrepreneurship as a series of challenges and triumphs.
Takeaways
- The writing process was a new venture for both authors.
- Authenticity in storytelling is crucial for connecting with readers.
- Entrepreneurship involves overcoming numerous setbacks and failures.
- Feedback is essential for growth and should be viewed as a gift.
- Setting clear priorities helps in focusing on what truly matters.
- Remote work presents challenges for maintaining company culture.
- Work-life integration is more realistic than work-life balance.
- Quality time with family is more important than quantity.
- Hiring should focus on soft skills and cultural fit.
- Building a strong company culture requires transparency and trust.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Lazaro Duo
02:47 The Authenticity of Writing Together
06:05 The Meaning Behind 'Shoveling Shit'
08:58 Staying Motivated Through Setbacks
11:48 The Importance of Feedback
14:50 Setting Priorities and Focus
17:48 Navigating Remote Work Culture
20:56 Work-Life Integration vs. Balance
23:44 Quality Time with Family
26:36 Hiring and Team Dynamics
29:45 The Role of Culture in Organizations
32:37 The Power of Networking
35:48 Defining Success Beyond Money
38:46 Philanthropy and Company Culture
