Podcast: The Power Of Calling Your Own Bluff (with Julien Smith)

Julien Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Breather, a company that allows anyone to book beautiful, private, professional spaces whenever they need them. However, it’s an idea that almost didn’t happen. In this interview, Julien shares why he felt the need to launch something, why it’s important to be an “operator”, and why you need to focus on building something a few people will love rather than something a lot of people will like.

Books mentioned:
The Flinch
Trust Agents
The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Insights:
– You need to become an operator, not just a theorist.
– “You have to tow the line between confidence and doubt.” You must execute, even when you’re not 100% certain.
– “You have to know when to be the tree that resists and when to be the tree that bends.”
– “Build something that a few people will love rather than something a lot of people will like.”

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Freshbooks. To claim your free month trial – with no credit card needed – visit Freshbooks.com/accidental.

Music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.

Todd Henry

Positioning himself as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution”, Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of five books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, Herding Tigers, The Motivation Code) which have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work.

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