Podcast Summary
Finding Passion in Business: Identifying what you love and connecting it to a business problem can lead to a fulfilling and successful career. Following your passion, building connections, and creating innovative solutions can inspire and motivate us all.
Finding your passion and applying it to a business problem can lead to a fulfilling and successful career. Miguel McKelvey, Co-Founder of WeWork, emphasizes the importance of identifying what you love to do, even if it's something you would do without being paid. By connecting your passion to a business problem, you can create a meaningful impact and find joy in your work. McKelvey's own experiences in architecture and community building led him to co-found WeWork, which has revolutionized the way people work and connect. Additionally, Rich Roll, the podcast host, shares his excitement about creating a live event experience, which extends beyond just a podcast and offers an immersive and entertaining experience for the audience. He encourages everyone to join him at the Wilshire Ebelle Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27th for this unique event. Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of following your passion, building connections, and creating innovative solutions to business problems. Whether it's through starting a business, attending a live event, or simply finding joy in your daily work, these insights can inspire and motivate us all.
Exploring personal purpose and meaningful connections through raw conversations: Voicing Change Media features honest dialogues on mental health, politics, and personal growth, highlighting the importance of connection and purpose in billionaire Miguel McKelvey's success story
Voicing Change Media, a new venture, is a platform for raw and honest conversations on various topics including mental health, politics, and personal purpose, featuring shows like "The Conversation" with Amanda de Cadenet and "Mentor Buffet" with Alexi Pappas. The conversation with Miguel McKelvey, a billionaire and co-founder of WeWork, reveals his success is less about commerce and more about connection and personal purpose. Miguel's upbringing, love for architecture, and career experiences have shaped his communitarian philosophy and business model. The podcast is a testament to the power of intentional conversations and meaningful exchanges. Voicing Change Media offers groundbreaking series to explore and engage in thought-provoking content.
WeWork: More Than Just Physical Workspace: WeWork prioritizes community and connection, fostering meaningful interactions through events and spaces to deepen relationships beyond the physical workspace.
The WeWork community is not just about providing physical workspace, but also fostering meaningful connections between individuals. The founder emphasizes the importance of community and connection in both his personal and professional life, and the WeWork organization reflects this value. The founder shares that the most rewarding experiences for him are those where people come together to share stories and deepen their relationships. However, he recognizes that not all settings facilitate genuine connections, and the WeWork team is actively working on designing events and spaces that encourage meaningful interactions. The founder shares an example of a dinner party where everyone took turns introducing themselves and sharing what's top of mind, which resulted in a more engaging and inclusive conversation. Overall, the WeWork community is committed to creating opportunities for people to connect and deepen their relationships, both within and outside of the physical workspace.
Intentionality fuels meaningful connections: Taking time to thoughtfully engage with others leads to valuable experiences, fostering personal growth and a sense of belonging. Create spaces that encourage connection and openness, and learn practices to foster genuine connection at scale.
Intentionality is key to creating meaningful connections. Whether it's in everyday conversations or larger gatherings, taking the time to thoughtfully engage with others can lead to valuable experiences. This idea was inspired by the communitarian sensibility that has been a part of the speaker's upbringing, having grown up on a commune where community and shared responsibility were prioritized. The speaker believes that by creating spaces that encourage connection and openness, they can help facilitate meaningful interactions at scale. This belief is based on the understanding that such interactions can lead to personal growth and a sense of belonging. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of learning and implementing practices that foster genuine connection, and making these practices scalable so that others can facilitate them as well. Ultimately, the goal is to create a network of spaces where people feel truly seen and connected, leading to a sense of community that goes beyond the physical location.
Growing up in a communal environment shaped the speaker's sense of connection: The speaker's upbringing in a counterculture communal lifestyle fostered a deep sense of belonging and connection, shaping their current efforts to build communities.
The speaker's upbringing in a communal, non-commercial environment had a profound impact on their perspective of community and connection. The speaker's parents were part of a counterculture movement in the 1960s and 70s, living outside of societal norms and relying on communal resources. Though they had to re-enter society formally due to the speaker's education, the communal lifestyle instilled a deep sense of connection and belonging in the speaker. Despite the stigma and weirdness, the speaker felt safe and part of something bigger. The speaker reflects on this experience and wonders how it informs their current efforts to create and foster communities. They believe that humans are evolved to live in tight-knit groups, and that modern culture is not set up to promote this way of living. Ultimately, the speaker questions whether we would be better off if there were more communal living arrangements, providing a stronger sense of connection and human experience.
Childhood experiences shaping business and community: Understanding business side essential for community-focused ideas, merge best of both worlds to create successful environments.
The experiences from one's childhood can significantly influence their professional and personal life in unexpected ways. The speaker shares how growing up in a communal hippie environment in Eugene, Oregon, where Nike started, shaped their perspective on business and community. They rebelled against the communal vibe but also saw the commercial success of Nike and other brands, leading them to create a business that combines community and brand. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side to make community-focused ideas mainstream. They also highlight the need to merge the best of both worlds and create an environment conducive to community before claiming it as such. The speaker's personal experience of being tall and interested in sports in this environment further influenced their journey towards becoming an athlete and entrepreneur.
Personal experiences and opportunities shaping identities: Embracing diverse experiences and opportunities can lead to unexpected yet meaningful outcomes in personal growth and future paths
Personal experiences and opportunities, even seemingly unrelated ones, can significantly shape our identities and future paths. The speaker shares how his love for basketball and his mother's supportive approach to his food choices helped him develop important teamwork and self-expression skills. Later, an unexpected comment from a sculpture professor led him to explore architecture, ultimately leading to a successful college transfer and graduate education. These experiences demonstrate the value of embracing various opportunities and allowing them to guide us towards unexpected yet meaningful outcomes.
A year as a busboy led to self-discovery and new perspectives: Taking a break from routine can lead to personal growth and a new appreciation for unconventional thinkers. Intentional design in architecture can significantly impact culture and shape our experiences.
Taking a break from structured routines can lead to self-discovery and new perspectives. During a year of working as a busboy, the speaker gained a deeper understanding of himself and developed a countercultural appreciation for architects like Gere, who challenged conventions. Gere's work, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, transformed urban landscapes and redefined cities, serving as a commercial draw and cultural center. This experience inspired the speaker to pursue architecture with the goal of making a significant impact on culture beyond just good design. Additionally, the speaker emphasized the importance of intentional design in architecture, which can shape how we live and experience life.
Designing with nature in mind: Thoughtful design choices can enhance daily experiences and connection to nature, adding value through intentional transitions and bringing the outside in.
Thoughtful and intentional design can significantly enhance our daily experiences and connection to nature. The speaker shared examples of buildings designed with such intent, like a Tadao Ando house where the transition between living spaces requires going outside and engaging with nature. While some may find this inconvenient, the speaker sees it as a deliberate design choice that adds value to the experience. They also mentioned their own house, which intentionally separates communal and private spaces and brings the outside in, creating a unique and comfortable living environment. The speaker believes that such designs leave an "energetic residue" that enhances the spiritual quality of the space. Overall, the discussion emphasized the importance of considering the flow of life and the role of nature in design.
Game-changing intersection of fitness, wellness, and business: Focus on fitness and business relationships can lead to innovative changes in sports and beyond, resulting in profitable opportunities.
The intersection of fitness, wellness, and business can lead to significant changes in sports and beyond. Chip Kelly's arrival at the University of Oregon brought about a game-changing speed and innovation, fueled by a focus on fitness and Nike's involvement. The power of business relationships was further demonstrated through the transformation of Oregon's uniforms and equipment. Despite initial plans to move to New York City, an unexpected opportunity in Japan led to the creation of a business connecting English language learners with American culture, ultimately leading to a successful and profitable venture.
Adapting to new opportunities: Effective communication and understanding of business can lead to unexpected job opportunities, even in unrelated industries.
Determination and adaptability can lead to unexpected opportunities. The speaker shares their experience of struggling to find a job in the architecture industry after moving to New York, despite having experience as a business leader in Portland. They were able to secure a low-paying job as a draftsman due to their effective communication skills and understanding of business, which set them apart from other young designers. This opportunity eventually led them to work on the American Apparel retail development project, contributing to the growth of the company during its rapid expansion. The speaker reflects on the experience, acknowledging that Dov, the founder of American Apparel, had both positive and negative qualities, but ultimately felt good about being a part of a company that prioritized ethical labor practices.
Learning from Challenging Experiences: Approach challenges with resilience and a growth mindset, fulfill promises made to dynamic leaders, and seek new challenges to avoid stagnation.
Challenging experiences, even those involving harsh treatment or intense pressure, can be valuable learning opportunities if approached with the right mindset. The speaker draws on experiences working with a complicated business figure and in a physically demanding job to assert that they have prepared him for any challenge. Additionally, the speaker's ability to remain resilient and focused under pressure complemented Adam Neumann's charisma and relentless persistence, creating a successful partnership. The speaker emphasizes the importance of fulfilling promises made by such a dynamic leader, and reflects on how this formula contributed to their early success with WeWork. Despite the opportunity to stay in a successful architect role, the speaker was driven to move on and take on new challenges, recognizing that there is a limit to how many times one can do the same thing.
Desire for growth and new experiences: Entrepreneur's drive for unfamiliar and challenging experiences led him to meet charismatic individual and build strong community in Brooklyn
The speaker, an entrepreneur, is driven by a desire for growth and new experiences. This was evident in his time at American Apparel, where he felt the company had reached a plateau and he needed a change. He found this change in a new community in Brooklyn, where he met Adam, a charismatic and confident individual who broke social norms and built a strong sense of community. The speaker was drawn to this energy and discomfort, as it was a stark contrast to his previous experiences. This desire for the unfamiliar and challenging is a fundamental part of who he is and has driven him throughout his entrepreneurial journey.
Embracing Individuality and Unexpected Connections: Embracing individuality can lead to unique perspectives and profound relationships. Unexpected encounters can provide stability and consistency in life.
The speaker's unique perspective and unwillingness to conform to societal norms have driven them to stand out in various aspects of their life, from their architectural preferences to their personal relationships. This inclination towards individuality was further reinforced by a chance encounter with a like-minded individual who provided them with a sense of stability and consistency, leading to a mutually beneficial connection. This story illustrates the power of embracing one's differences and the potential for profound relationships that can emerge from unexpected encounters.
Identifying a gap in the market and responding quickly: Founders Adam Neumann and Marc Benioff identified a gap in the market for serviced office spaces in Manhattan during the residential boom and quickly turned it into a successful business, GreenDesk, by focusing on environmental responsibility and learning from competitors' mistakes.
The founders of GreenDesk, Adam Neumann and Marc Benioff, saw an opportunity during the residential boom in Manhattan to create a serviced office space, inspired by the co-working model. They faced challenges in convincing the landlord to let them use the space, but once they got the chance, they quickly turned it into a successful business. However, their first attempt, GreenDesk, focused on environmental responsibility. The key to their success was their ability to identify a gap in the market and respond quickly with a compelling business model and brand. They learned from the mistakes of their competitors and created a workspace that was inviting and productive, setting the stage for the later success of WeWork.
Creating a supportive community for small businesses: Investing in a coworking space's design and partnerships is crucial, but fostering a sense of community through events and networking opportunities sets a successful space apart.
The success of their coworking space was not only due to its attractive design, but also the sense of community they fostered among its members. The partnership with the building owners allowed them to invest in the build-out and share the costs, leading to a successful business model. However, it was the intentional effort to bring people together through events and networking opportunities that truly set their space apart. Co-founder Adam's background in communal living and love for hospitality played a significant role in shaping their approach. Together, they recognized the value of providing a supportive community for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers, and made it a priority in their business model. This sense of connection not only attracted members but also kept them engaged and committed to the space.
Staying true to a clear, ambitious vision: Adam Neumann and Adam Goldstein's unwavering commitment to their ambitious vision for WeWork led to its success despite economic downturns and industry skepticism.
Having a clear, ambitious vision and staying true to it, even during challenging times, can lead to significant success. The founders of WeWork, Adam Neumann and Adam Goldstein, had a vision beyond just making money or focusing on individual financial success. They saw their venture as part of something bigger. However, executing on this vision required taking risks, such as breaking up with a real estate partner and continuing to invest their resources into new projects. Despite facing obstacles like the economic downturn in 2008 and skepticism from industry professionals, they persisted, confident that their approach was the right one. This unwavering commitment to their vision ultimately paid off, leading to the creation of WeWork, a global flexible workspace provider.
Overcoming Challenges in Starting a Business: Starting a business involves intense negotiations and unexpected costs, emotionally and financially draining, but lays foundation for future success and teaches valuable lessons.
Starting a business involves overcoming significant challenges, both emotionally and financially. The speaker recounted a particularly difficult experience leasing the first building for their company, which was filled with intense negotiations and unexpected costs. This experience was emotionally draining and financially risky, as the company had to pay the rent every month and risked losing the building if they defaulted. However, this challenging experience also served as the foundation for the company and taught valuable lessons that made them more resilient for future endeavors. The success of the business was due in part to the strong community and team that supported it, as well as the fulfillment of bringing the company's values to life in a physical space. As a designer or architect, creating a space that promotes desired values requires careful planning and continuous learning.
Designing workspaces for happiness and connection: Natural light, glass walls, multifunctional spaces, and accidental interactions can promote a positive and connected work environment
Creating a positive and connected work environment involves designing spaces that promote happiness, familiarity, and natural flow. The use of natural light, glass walls for increased familiarity, and multifunctional, threshold-free spaces can all contribute to a sense of community and potential for connection. Additionally, providing opportunities for accidental interactions, such as common areas with speakers or events, can lead to unexpected and beneficial encounters. Ultimately, the goal is to create a workspace that feels good and encourages positive interactions between individuals.
WeWork's commitment to evolving workspaces: WeWork continues to innovate, offering various workspaces to meet changing needs and prioritizing human connection, with plans to enhance offerings for specific needs.
WeWork is continually evolving to meet the changing needs of workers by providing various types of workspaces, from phone booths to podcast studios. The company recognizes the importance of human connection and communication in the workplace, regardless of future work models. They plan to build on this social and communal infrastructure to support the evolving nature of work. While they have made strides in this area, such as adding community to schools like Flatiron, they acknowledge that there is still room for improvement and are working on providing dedicated spaces and sales functions for specific needs, like podcast recording studios. Ultimately, WeWork aims to create workspaces that support a range of work types and foster human connection.
Building Communities for Meaningful Connections: Flatiron School fosters connections through online learning, corporate partnerships, and living spaces, aiming to combat disconnection and promote innovation.
As education and work continue to evolve, the importance of creating meaningful connections with others in real life becomes increasingly crucial. Flatiron School, an online learning platform, recognizes this need and strives to build communities and support systems for its learners. The company also partners with large corporations to help them transform their workplaces and cultures to foster openness, connection, and innovation. Flatiron's WeLive initiative is an extension of this mission, creating living spaces with reduced thresholds for connection in New York, DC, and soon Seattle. The ultimate goal is to design environments that encourage face-to-face interactions and combat disconnection, depression, and other societal afflictions. The We Company's ambitious vision of designing entire cities is also in line with this mission, aiming to increase opportunities for meaningful connections in daily life.
A city inspired by college dorms for community and connection: Designing a city prioritizing efficient transportation and eliminating parking spaces to foster community and connection, aligns with the speaker's preference for walking, biking, and public transport.
The ideal city for facilitating connectivity, connection, and community could be inspired by the college dorm experience. This environment fosters a strong sense of community and learning, which leads to happiness and fulfillment. The speaker expresses a desire for more of this in their adult life. However, creating such a city would come with challenges, including the expensive infrastructure required for residential spaces compared to commercial ones. From an execution perspective, designing a "We City" would prioritize efficient transportation and the elimination of parking spaces to free up land for other uses. The speaker's personal preference for walking, biking, and using public transportation aligns with this vision. The idea of a city where no one parks and streets are liberated from cars is an exciting prospect for the future.
Reimagining urban living with flexibility: Urban life could become more flexible with alternative transport, flexible work hours, and spectrum-oriented spaces. Businesses like WeWork are leading the way with sustainability initiatives.
The future of urban living could be characterized by greater flexibility and less compartmentalization, both in terms of time and physical space. This could involve the use of alternative modes of transportation like scooters, a shift away from traditional work hours, and the creation of more spectrum-oriented environments that support a range of activities. Additionally, there's a growing awareness of the impact of personal choices and the role businesses can play in promoting sustainability, as evidenced by WeWork's meatless initiative. These changes could lead to a more untethered, efficient, and environmentally-friendly urban experience.
Making bold statements can inspire change: Making authentic statements, even if not fully baked, can inspire change within organizations and beyond, leading to meaningful conversations and actions.
Making a bold and authentic statement, even when it's not fully baked, can have a significant impact. The example given was when a company executive made a public commitment to eliminate meat from their company's operations. While some people might have dismissed it, others were inspired and took action in their own lives. This ripple effect can lead to larger conversations and changes within organizations and even outside of them. The executive's statement created space for other companies to consider their own alignment with their values and the impact of their choices. The effectiveness of this approach lies in its authenticity and the potential to initiate meaningful conversations and actions. It's not just about making a statement, but also about following through and inspiring others to do the same.
Large businesses can make a big impact on the environment: Large businesses like WeWork can reduce their carbon footprint by making conscious decisions about consumption and sourcing, influencing municipalities to adopt renewable energy, and acting as a convener for like-minded companies to amplify their buying power and drive positive change.
Businesses, particularly those on a large scale like WeWork, have the power to make a significant impact on the environment by making conscious decisions about consumption and sourcing. This can include reducing meat consumption at events, understanding the origins and disposal of building materials, and even influencing municipalities to adopt renewable energy. WeWork is already exploring these avenues and aims to be carbon neutral by 2023. By acting as a convener for like-minded companies, WeWork can amplify its buying power and influence positive change on an even larger scale. While there may be challenges, particularly in areas where renewable power is not readily available, the potential benefits for the economy and the environment make it an exciting endeavor.
Focus on profit, people, and the planet for a successful business: Discover what you love and care deeply about to create a unique contribution to the world, look for opportunities to address real-world problems and make a positive impact, even in small or obscure markets.
For young entrepreneurs in 2019, considering a triple bottom line approach to business is important. This means focusing on profit, people, and the planet. However, finding success isn't just about starting the next trendy business. Instead, it's about discovering what you love to do and what you care deeply about. When these two things align, you'll find your unique contribution to the world. Look for opportunities to address real-world problems and make a positive impact, even if it's in a seemingly small or obscure market. By doing so, you'll create a business that feels like a full expression of yourself. As the speaker mentioned, there are countless opportunities to make a difference, and they often come in unexpected forms. So, stay grounded, keep an open mind, and remember that the most impactful businesses often start by solving a problem that truly matters.
Staying authentic in business and life through partnership and personal growth: Partnering with someone who supports personal growth and authenticity allows for building a brand and experience that feels natural. Lead by example and promote authenticity within the team to avoid losing sight of it.
Maintaining a strong sense of self and authenticity in business and life comes from being true to oneself and having a supportive partnership that allows for personal growth and freedom to be authentic. Miguel, the speaker, attributes his ability to remain authentic to his partnership with Adam, who has been the public face of their business, allowing Miguel to focus on building the brand and experience in a way that feels natural to him. He emphasizes the importance of leading by example and promoting authenticity within the management team. The danger of losing sight of authenticity is exemplified by recent high-profile cases of entrepreneurs whose egos spiraled out of control, leading to a disconnect from reality. Miguel continues to evolve and find out who he is, seeing his journey as ongoing and complex.
Fostering meaningful connections for personal growth and effective leadership: Leaders can positively impact their teams by prioritizing introspection, vulnerability, and relationships, while maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.
Creating meaningful connections, whether it's with oneself or others, is essential for both personal growth and effective leadership. By making time for experiences that allow for introspection and vulnerability, leaders can show up differently and positively impact their teams. However, leading a large organization can be challenging and requires constant negotiation and problem-solving. It's crucial for leaders to find balance in their personal lives and prioritize their relationships to avoid burnout and maintain overall well-being. Ultimately, the responsibility of leading a massive organization lies in helping team members connect to a larger purpose and feel that they are making a positive impact.
Unexpected sources of personal growth: Find joy in simple pleasures, be present, practice gratitude, and learn from personal stories to grow and live a purposeful life.
Personal growth and self-discovery can come from unexpected places, such as relationships and experiences outside of work. The speaker shares how he went through a divorce and met someone who helped him appreciate the joy of simple pleasures like enjoying meals and being present. He also emphasizes the importance of being present and practicing gratitude in all areas of life, not just at work. The speaker encourages listeners to find balance and be aware of the inputs that can distract them from being present. He also emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories to learn and grow from experiences. The speaker's commitment to being present with his partner and his focus on impacting the world through his work are inspiring examples of living a purposeful life. To learn more about the speaker, listeners can check out his WeWork profile or watch his commencement address on YouTube.
An authentic and engaging conversation with Miguel McKelvey on the Rich Roll podcast: Listeners appreciated Miguel McKelvey's cool demeanor and openness during the podcast, and were encouraged to engage with him on social media and visit the show notes for more information on WeWork.
The authenticity and unpretentiousness of Miguel McKelvey's conversation on the Rich Roll podcast was appreciated by the host and listeners. McKelvey's cool demeanor and openness resonated with many, making for an enjoyable and informative conversation. The listeners were encouraged to engage with Miguel on social media and visit the show notes for more information on WeWork and Miguel. Additionally, Rich Roll promoted his upcoming live event and his plant power meal planner, emphasizing its convenience, affordability, and customized nutrition plans. The podcast is a team effort, with special thanks given to the production team and supporters. The upcoming episode will feature Food and Drinks Editor from Esquire Magazine, Jeff Gordinier.
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