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Why Did Josh Wolfe Warn Shane About Control Freaks?

On The Knowledge Project, Josh Wolfe of Lux Capital tells Shane Parrish that control freaks rarely do well as CEOs. A founder can be a brilliant storyteller in a one-hour pitch and still fail once the firm sees how the business is run. Wolfe says a control freak often has not hired well and therefore will not trust the team enough to delegate. Others insist on being in every decision. If they control every decision, he says, either their standards are so high that they trust no one, or they are trying to control the information. He treats that pattern as an early sign the person is not who the pitch suggested.

Transcript

Inventing the Future ·

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

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  2. What Does Josh Wolfe Say Lux Capital Does?On The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish, Josh Wolfe says Lux Capital finds brilliant people and backs them.
  3. How Do You Distinguish Real Visionaries From the CharlatansMost important companies that are going to exist, have not existed before, so to fund them one has to take risk ,and yet while technology changes, but human…
  4. How Do You Get the Best Deals in Venture CapitalAccording to Josh Wolfe, the best way to get returns in venture is to have people agree with you, but later, meaning you'd want to seek out undiscovered…
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  6. What Are the Patterns of Successful Leaders and EntrepreneursThe best CEOs can tell great stories and inspire others to follow them. But there are of course storytellers who are also excellent con artists.
  7. How Can Being a Parent Prepare You for Being a Better EntrepreneurPatience. You can try every technique and tactic in your arsenal, but your kids wouldn't budge. It helps to learn how to be patient in those situations.
  8. What Is One Key to Success in LifeLuck and timing play a huge role in success and failure. You might be in a good mood and write an investment check that you would not have done in bad mood.
  9. What SucksThe best of technologies start when someone sets to make a product that beats on that sucks.
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