Joys of Compounding

Today’s teacher is Jacqueline Morby. She may well be the greatest investor you've probably never heard of. For anyone who invests in software or participates in the now nearly trillion dollar global growth equity industry, chances are Jackie helped to shape and give rise to the professional world you inhabit. In 1978 at the age of 40, and with her only professional experience to date being a few years of substitute teaching, Jackie joined TA Associates, the largest venture capital firm in the world at that time. Within just a few years, she would revolutionize her industry, effectively originating the concept of cold calling profitable bootstrap technology companies not actively looking for funding. While the concept seems so simple, this truly was a radical innovation and in effect pioneering the art of looking for talented people in companies that don't necessarily want to be found, sparking a movement that created what we now know as growth equity. As if that's not enough, Jackie was also one of the very first investors of any kind to recognize the inherent business quality of software companies. Over the next two decades, as software would begin to eat more and more of the world, Jackie would have a front row seat as one of the most important capital partners to the industry. This is Jackie's first podcast of any kind, and we feel so honored to bring this conversation to you, mainly because hers is a story that merits so much more attention. Please enjoy this class with the queen of software, Jacqui Morby. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/joys for $350 off.  —-- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Joys of Compounding, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @Buhrman_Rick  | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Learn About EightSleep (00:05:00) Introduction to Jacqueline Morby: The Queen of Software (00:06:35) Early Life and Education (00:07:44) Jacqui’s Family Life and Early Career (00:11:04) Joining TA Associates and Industry Innovations (00:13:13) Early Days at TA Associates (00:15:17) Impact of Teaching and Overseas Experience (00:16:52) Pioneering Cold Calling in Venture Capital (00:19:05) Cold Calling Success Stories (00:23:17) Missed Opportunities and Big Wins (00:25:45) Investing in Software: A Revolutionary Idea (00:40:07) Philanthropy and Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

This is Rick. Today's teacher is Rich Wells, managing director of Insight Partners, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. I've known Rich for 20 years since our time as section mates in business school, where he was consistently recognized as the smartest person in the room. Rich is universally regarded as one of the preeminent private market software investors of the last 20 years, helping drive Insight's success through agility and excellence. While achieving the highest heights in his career, Rich has also faced profound personal challenges, including the tragic loss of his wife Rachael. This vulnerable conversation offers critical wisdom about resilience and moving forward through life's darkest moments. No matter what life throws at you remember that you've got to find a way to keep going. Please enjoy class with my dear friend and software savant, Rich Wells. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/joys for $350 off. ---- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Joys of Compounding, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @Buhrman_Rick  | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Learn about EightSleep (00:02:57) Meet Today's Teacher: Rich Wells (00:10:04) Early Career Challenges and Lessons (00:14:59) Joining Insight Partners (00:17:20) Reflecting on TCV and Moving to Business School (00:19:11) Experience at Business School and Joining Insight (00:26:05) Insight's Growth and Strategy (00:30:38) Evolution of Software and Investment Strategies (00:34:48) Impact of SaaS and Cloud on Software Development (00:36:41) Investment Philosophy and Market Insights (00:39:01) Empowerment and Team Dynamics (00:43:05) Majority Stakes and Mindset Shifts (00:45:14) Evolution from Value to Growth Investing (00:47:49) Shopify: A Generational Company (00:51:39) Expanding TAM: The Role of Payments (00:55:02) Personal Struggles and Triumphs (00:59:25) Rachel's Legacy and Life Lessons (01:10:06) Future of Software

Before we turn the page on 2024, we wanted to shine one more light on the man behind our most popular class of the last year. And that's Mitch Rales, co-founder of Danaher, one of the most impressive businesses to have been built anywhere in the world this past century. Having co-founded Danaher 40 years ago alongside his brother and best friend Steve, the Rales boys have strung together a track record of compounding that might even make Buffett blush. Consider that Danaher has annualized at over 21% for four decades, resulting in an 1800-times multiple on invested capital! You’ll learn from Mitch about the key inputs to his outlier success: why greatness is a journey that takes an unusual time horizon, the role benchmarking plays in standing up any winning organization, why it is essential to cultivate learning agility and embrace transformational pivots over time, and also the qualities Mitch looks for both in the leaders and businesses he looks to support. While Mitch is a natural teacher, this is actually his first recorded, long-form interview of any kind, and so we feel especially honored to share with you our candid conversation with someone who has shaped and transformed us and the business world in so many positive ways. Please enjoy today’s class with Mitch Rales. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/joys for $350 off. ----- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Art of Investing, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) - Welcome to Joys of Compounding (00:04:32) - The Philosophy Behind Glenstone's Creation (00:11:57) - Benchmarking and Continuous Improvement: Lessons from Danaher and Glenstone (00:20:22) - The Influence of Mitch’s Father and Upbringing (00:27:43) - Transforming Danaher During The George Sherman (00:29:39) - Embracing Long-Term Vision and Patience (00:35:47) - The Role of Leadership in Navigating Change (00:41:21) - Danaher's Evolutionary Journey: From 1.0 to 4.0 (00:55:37) - Building a Culture of Internal Growth and External Innovation (00:57:42) - The Art of Successful Acquisitions and Integration Strategies (01:02:03) - Seeking Leadership Qualities and Business Traits for Long-Term Success (01:05:14) - The Journey from Personal Experience to Philanthropy (01:12:10) - Investment Philosophy: Concentration vs. Diversification (01:28:46) - Operational Expertise as a Catalyst for Company Growth (01:33:17) - Identifying and Supporting Talent in Business (01:42:02) - The Impact of Secular Trends on Long-Term Investments (01:48:53) - Revitalizing the Washington Commanders (01:56:36) - Engaging with Fans and Building a Winning Culture (02:04:16) - The Importance of Long-Term Vision

In honor of Notre Dame clinching a playoff spot, we're replaying our conversation from earlier this year with head coach Marcus Freeman. We discuss the power of relationships and how he talks with his players about the concepts of hard work & love. Marcus delves into what it takes to focus on inputs rather than outputs, especially as the college sports world is changing in unprecedented ways.  And for you football fans out there, we even get into a little bit of what's ahead for Notre Dame’s program in Marcus’s third year as head coach. As alums and lifelong fans of the Irish, it was a real treat to host Coach Freeman at our studios. Please enjoy this class with Coach Marcus Freeman. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  ----- Art of Investing is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Art of Investing, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) - Welcome to Joys of Compounding  (00:04:45) - Confidence and Leadership (00:06:32) - The Profound Influence of Family (00:10:39) - Embracing the Role of a Lifelong Learner (00:12:43) - The Coaching Journey: From NFL Dreams to Notre Dame (00:18:22) - Building Relationships: The Core of Coaching (00:21:53) - Other-Centeredness as a Coaching Philosophy (00:23:55) - The Mindset of Notre Dame Football (00:24:59) - The Power of Relationships and Team Dynamics (00:28:01) - Emphasizing Love and Choice in Team Culture (00:30:37) - Continuous Improvement and Challenging the Status Quo (00:35:17) - Navigating the Upheaval in College Football (00:36:28) - The Importance of Education in Athlete Development (00:39:04) - Family, Balance, and Being Present (00:41:28) - Recruiting Talent and Building Teams at Notre Dame (00:43:55) - Inspiring Today’s Youth and Upholding High Standards

Today’s teacher is renowned historian Patrick Griffin. Patrick is the former chair of the Department of History at the University of Notre Dame. In 2021, he was named the Harold Vivian Harmsworth Visiting Professor of American History at the University of Oxford, perhaps the highest honor an American historian can receive.  He joined us to explore “The Lessons of History” by Will and Ariel Durant, a book that has been repeatedly recommended to us over the years by some of the world's most compelling investors, leaders, thinkers, and builders. To quote the late great Charlie Munger, who was also a student of Durant, “There is no better teacher than history in determining the future.” This 100-page book is a masterful distillation of Durant's 11-volume 10,000-plus page magnum opus, “The Story of Civilization.” Whether you're looking to develop better pattern recognition in your work, or perhaps more existentially how to begin to even think about how and what to paint on this precious canvas that we call a human life. We hope you enjoy this class on “The Lessons of History” with the esteemed Patrick Griffin. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. This holiday season go to eightsleep.com/breakdowns and use code JOYS for up to $600 off the Pod 4 Ultra when bundled.  ----- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Joys of Compounding, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to the Joys of Compounding (00:01:17) The Importance of History (00:04:14) The Historian's Toolkit (00:07:17) Will Durant's Journey (00:09:18) Lessons from 'The Lessons of History' (00:23:08) Human Nature and History (00:34:29) The Role of Economy in History (00:38:01) The American Revolution in Context (00:38:20) The Irony of National Exceptionalism (00:39:00) Revolutions and National Belonging (00:42:17) Geography and the Age of Revolution (00:43:50) Human Ingenuity and Overcoming Geography (00:45:53) The Role of Common People in History (00:47:12) The Immigrant Experience and Personal Reflections (00:50:49) Yankee Sullivan: A Prizefighter's Tale (00:55:55) Boxing as a Metaphor for Human Nature (00:58:49) The Inevitability of War (01:03:10) The Concept of Progress (01:07:14) The Power of Compounding in History

Today's teacher is Rich Wong, general partner at renowned venture firm Accel. Rich is a very special investor and leader, and he spent many years as an operator prior to his time in VC. What was going to be a short stint as a venture operating partner nearly 20 years ago turned into a defining pivot for Rich. He not only quickly reached the top of the venture profession but also became the go-to investor for many luminary companies, such as Atlassian, UiPath, AdMob, Checkr, Rovio, Service Channel, and many many more.  His range of interests spans beyond venture, and he's very involved in many of the leading university-based poverty alleviation labs. It's always a treasure for us to find someone who integrates so many facets of life in service of others. Please enjoy our class with Rich Wong. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/joys for $350 off.  ----- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Joys of Compounding, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to the Joys of Compounding (00:04:41) The Atlassian Chase Story (00:07:41) Bootstrapping and Venture Capital (00:18:10) Excel's Founding and Evolution (00:22:14) Rich Wong's Early Influences (00:24:42) Becoming an Accidental Venture Capitalist (00:31:39) Excel's Team Dynamics and Investment Strategies (00:38:28) The Evolution of Mobility and AI (00:39:58) Bottom-Up Innovation and Defense Technology (00:41:25) AI's Role in Incumbents vs. Startups (00:44:53) Service Channel Case Study (00:47:58) Capital Efficiency and Indigestion (00:51:04) The Role of Grit and Overfunding (00:55:29) Venture Capital Ecosystem and Returns (01:04:03) Public Policy and Poverty Solutions (01:11:43) Balancing Career and Personal Life (01:15:37) How Rich Wants His Life To Be Measured

Today's teacher is Ravi Gupta, a partner at renowned venture firm Sequoia Capital. Ravi has had a fascinating and meandering career on his way to becoming a VC, from consulting at McKinsey to private equity at KKR to operations at Instacart as both CFO and COO. All along the way, Ravi was gathering and cultivating a unique set of skills that's equipped him to now identify and support some of the most daring founders striving to build legendary companies. Ravi's life and career are teeming with trials, successes, and applicable lessons for all of us. He's such a thoughtful and deep thinker, and I'd encourage you to check out his personal site, RKG.blog, for more of his musings. We hope you enjoy class with the ever-joyful Ravi Gupta. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by EightSleep, the temperature-controlled mattress cover that heats or cools your mattress to transform your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra is the new gold standard in intelligent sleep systems. It can be added to your current mattress like a fitted sheet and is been clinically proven to give you up to an hour more quality of sleep every night. The cooling capability can cool your side of the bed to 20 degrees below room temperature, all managed by the pod's autopilot feature, which adjusts the temperature throughout the night. Go to eightsleep.com/joys for $350 off.  ----- Joys of Compounding is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Joys of Compounding, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Joys of Compounding (00:05:00) Aspirations and Career Beginnings (00:07:21) The Impact of Indian Heritage (00:12:53) The Notre Dame vs. Duke Rivalry (00:20:51) Lessons from Coach K and Leadership (00:24:18) From McKinsey to KKR (00:44:33) Learning and Humility in Private Equity (00:47:09) Finding Purpose Through Family (00:49:42) Motivation and Desperation at Instacart (00:56:04) The Role of a Supportive Leader (00:58:24) The Instacart Turnaround (01:04:41) Lessons from Sequoia and Venture Capital (01:23:57) Measuring Life by Relationships

We are back with a summer special and to celebrate, we have a cast of teachers joining us. In this episode, you’ll hear from the Mount Rushmore of business podcasters–Patrick O’Shaughnessy, David Senra, and Acquired’s David and Ben–as well as two of our favorite entrepreneurs. We’ll also reflect on what we’ve learned from our guests, from hosting the show, and discuss what’s next for this podclass of ours. Wherever you’re spending the summer, we hope you enjoy this episode! For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- Art of Investing is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Art of Investing, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Follow us on Twitter: @ArtofInvest | @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Art of Investing (00:00:56) Rick & Paul reflecting on season 1 of AOI and their summer (00:06:31) The spirit of shinise: Lessons from long-lived Japanese companies (00:14:44) Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Invest Like the Best & Colossus (00:40:10) Julian Flannery, Summus Global (01:08:08) Rick & Paul discussing key lessons from their guests (01:14:01) David & Ben, Acquired (01:41:43) David Senra, Founders (02:09:31) Rick & Paul recapping more of their guests (02:26:41) Nick Cromydas, Hunt Club (02:45:50) What to expect from season 2

Today we are replaying our classroom session with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, founders of Acquired, the podcasting sensation telling the stories and strategies of the world's great companies. In this episode, we turn the tables on Ben and David in order to discover their own stories and the fairy dust behind acquired success. We'll cover the history of the formation of one of the most successful podcasts in the world, why having a co-founder & friend is vital to building an enduring company throughout the highs and lows, and their most valuable lessons learned from dissecting the greatest stories in business, investing, and entrepreneurship. Please enjoy our class with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- Art of Investing is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Art of Investing, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @ArtofInvest | @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:05:36) First question - Acquired podcast's journey, founders' insights, and entrepreneurial lessons (00:11:00) David Rosenthal's journey from 80s Pennsylvania to entrepreneurship (00:23:12) How David's exposure to entrepreneurship shaped his beliefs and co-founder dynamics (00:14:12) How Ben and David forged a unique friendship through their shared passions (00:30:54) Exploring side hustles & transforming hobbies into career opportunities (00:42:07) Why building success requires nurturing intrinsic compounding factors (00:52:15) The roles of luck and persistence in achieving success (00:56:35) Prioritizing product over monetization for long-term success (00:60:57) The importance of staying authentic amidst success (01:08:15) Balancing success and well-being with Acquired's freedom-driven approach (01:10:37) Recognizing the value of ownership in the journey to success (01:15:32) The power of optimism in overcoming challenges and achieving success (01:19:27) The significance of authenticity in long-term success (01:25:07) Upholding integrity in interactions as an essential component of success (01:35:04) Why successful companies often mirror the founder's personality (01:43:17) Acquired's biggest strength and the potential risk on the horizon

Today, we are replaying our conversation with Ho Nam, co-founder of Altos Ventures. As the numbers go, Altos is one of the greatest venture capital firms of the last quarter century. We unpack Ho's origin story and the values that shaped him most as a person and investor, and then we then turn to Altos itself. Altos has emerged as one of the most elite venture investors by breaking traditional VC rules, by backing hedgehogs rather than foxes, by focusing relentlessly on capital efficiency, by investing at all stages of a company, and by displaying an unusual dose of kindness and patience along the way. This is a remarkable story of the art of what's possible when a group of investors are first and foremost in service to founders. It is also a tale of great struggle and resilience, constant evolution and self-discovery, and the courage to be different. Please enjoy our class with Ho Nam. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- Art of Investing is a property of Pine Grove Studios in collaboration with Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Art of Investing, visit StayGrovey.com.  Follow us on Twitter: @ArtofInvest | @Buhrman_Rick | @PaulBuser | @JoinColossus Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Art of Investing (00:04:19) Ho’s early life and formation leading up to Altos Ventures (00:09:00) How seeing his parents at work shaped his career and investing perspectives (00:12:53) Developing a habit of hard work before finding the thing you love (00:17:53) The inter-title organisms and what drew him to Harvey Mudd (00:22:56) Working on a summer project with Henry Singleton; The Outsiders (00:24:06) Early career experiences that shaped the kind of investor he is today (00:37:10) Why getting into Stanford was yet another “sliding door” moment  (00:40:54) The decision he took that lead to founding Altos and becoming an entrepreneur (00:45:42) Whether or not their initial mission aligned with what Altos eventually became (00:55:54) How critical points of differentiation came together and where the courage came to double down on them  (01:01:40) An overview of the hedgehog concept  (01:07:29) How to adhere to the hedgehog concept in light of so much noise today writ large (01:11:40) What makes an Altos investment and where it starts (01:25:32) How he works with entrepreneurs and helps them along the way  (01:34:24) The importance of conviction rather than convention  (01:40:12) Reflections on what he hopes to get out of the rest of his life