The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
Michael Ovitz co-founded CAA and helped reshape Hollywood, then took the same playbook into tech investing and advising founders.
In this conversation, he breaks down the operating rules that kept CAA from losing clients, and the personal disciplines that kept him grounded when the stakes got massive.
You’ll learn how to build momentum, tell the truth without hesitation, read for context instead of noise, hire people who raise the standard, and package ideas into outcomes.
—–
Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ fs.blog/membership
——
Approximate Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:58) Appetite For Learning
(03:41) Always Tell The Truth
(05:50) The Loneliest Professions
(08:17) Where Does Hollywood Go Wrong?
(10:16) Importance of Being Well Read
(16:42) Don’t Fight Your Job
(18:28) Managing Relationships
(19:15) Ad Break
(20:46) Hiring Top Performers
(22:35) Creating Depth in Knowledge
(26:47) Staying Grounded
(30:27) What Do You Look For in People?
(33:28) A Meeting with Marc Andreessen
(36:44) Being Fearless
(42:12) Allow People to Keep Their Dignity
(43:42) You Fail, So What?
(47:48) Advice From Michael Crichton
(49:46) What Drives You Today?
(52:49) What This Generation Really Wants to Learn
(57:51) The Woke Culture Influence
(01:01:30) How Do You Keep Up With the Flow of Information?
(01:11:30) What Makes A Good Leader?
(01:14:13) Business Education Curriculum
(01:16:28) How Do You Gain Momentum?
(01:18:16) How Important is Packaging?
(01:24:43) What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
(01:26:30) How Important is Trust?
(01:29:15) What is Success For You?
——
Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
——
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
——
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
Granola AI, The AI notepad for people in back-to-back meetings: https://www.granola.ai/shane
Check out the Granola Notes
Download The League App today and find your perfect match!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#89 Maria Konnikova: Less Certainty, More Inquiry
Professional poker player, psychologist and author of two New York Times best-sellers, Maria Konnikova discusses her mentors, making decisions in environments of uncertainty, the importance of reflection, cooling down your emotions and Sherlock Holmes. — Want even…
#88 Derek Sivers: Innovation Versus Imitation
Musician, speaker, writer and entrepreneur, Derek Sivers chats about creating and running CD Baby, reading, mental models, living a meaningful life and that biggest mistake he’s ever made. — Want even more? Members get early…
#87 Hannah Fry: The Role of Algorithms
Mathematician and author of Hello World and The Mathematics of Love, Hannah Fry discusses the role of maths in society, the dating world and we explore what it means to be human in the age…
#86 BJ Fogg: Create Lasting Change
Behavior scientist and author of Tiny Habits, BJ Fogg, discusses improving decision making, motivation trends, the role of emotion in sense of self and so much more. — Want even more? Members get early access,…
#85 Bethany McLean: Crafting a Narrative
Best-selling author of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils are here, Bethany McLean, discusses how to write a story, the behaviors of CEO’s, visionaries and fraudsters and so much more. —…
#84 Jennifer Garvey Berger: Creating Routine in Chaos
In a more conversational episode than our last discussion (ep. 43), Jennifer Garvey Berger opens up about coping in these uncertain times, and how we’re feeling about the current changing world that has become the…
#83 Brian Koppelman: What Really Matters
Writer and director Brian Koppelman discusses his career ups and downs, dealing with fear, and learning to live a meaningful life. — Want even more? Members get early access, hand-edited transcripts, member-only episodes, and so…
#82 Bill Ackman: Getting Back Up
Legendary activist investor, Bill Ackman talks about lessons he’s learned growing up, raising a family, what drives him forward and back up from failure, consuming information and ideas, and facing criticism. — Want even more?…
#81 Jason Calacanis: Intelligent Risk
Angel investor Jason Calacanis talks high stakes poker, how to make intelligent investing decisions, how systems enable or forbid, and demystifies the culture of Silicon Valley. — Want even more? Members get early access, hand-edited…
#80 John Maxwell: Developing the Leader in You
John Maxwell breaks down the four traits every successful person possesses and how to awaken the leader within you, no matter what your job title says. — Want even more? Members get early access,…