#302 Napoleon The Mind of Napoleon

In this podcast episode, the host passionately discusses the importance of ambition, boldness, and the relentless pursuit of glory, drawing lessons from the life and strategies of Napoleon Bonaparte. The conversation delves into Napoleon's personal philosophy, his meticulous planning paired with audacious execution, and his belief that success and conquest were the cornerstones of his power. Extracting insights from Napoleon's own words, the host emphasizes the significance of learning from history's great leaders and the necessity of adapting to circumstances while maintaining a firm resolve. Advertisers like Eight Sleep, Meter, and Tiny are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, underscoring their alignment with the podcast's values of quality and obsession with product excellence. Napoleon's life is portrayed as a testament to the power of individual will and the impact one person can have on history, encapsulating the idea that a life without legacy is akin to not living at all.

• Speaker A highlights the unique aspect of knowing every company founder that advertises on the podcast.
• The relationship with advertisers is built on a shared obsession for product quality and business building.
• Eight Sleep is mentioned as a supporter, with a personal anecdote about meeting its founder, Mateo.
• Speaker A emphasizes the impact of Eight Sleep on sleep quality through the temperature control feature.

"One of the most unique things about this podcast is that I know the founder of every company that advertises on founders. All of them listen to the podcast, and so it makes building a relationship a lot easier." "Eight sleep is one of the supporters of this episode, and the founder. Mateo and I actually live in the same city."

The quote underscores the close connection between the podcast and its advertisers, which is built on mutual support and personal relationships. The mention of Eight Sleep serves to illustrate this relationship and provide a segue into a product testimonial.

• Speaker A shares a personal story about encountering Eight Sleep's founder and the ensuing conversation with a friend.
• The effectiveness of the Eight Sleep product is highlighted through personal experience.
• Speaker A's wife's comment on missing Eight Sleep during a trip reinforces the product's impact.
• The conversation with Mateo and the humor in it are used to humanize the product and its creator.

"He goes, oh, he looks like he gets great sleep. Mateo is living and breathing his product." "I had never had the ability to change the temperature of my bed before. I had no idea how much that would improve the quality of my sleep."

These quotes reflect personal experiences with the Eight Sleep product, emphasizing its benefits and the founder's commitment to the product. Speaker A's narrative serves as a powerful endorsement, making the case for the product's value in improving sleep quality.

• Speaker A compares Napoleon's need for scalable services to the benefits of Meter's Internet and Wi-Fi.
• Meter is presented as a solution for fast, secure, and reliable Internet that can grow with a business.
• The ease of installation and use is likened to utilities like water and electricity.
• Meter's business model eliminates upfront costs and provides a simple monthly rate.

"Napoleon was busy conquering the world. You're busy building a world-class business. In both cases, it's smart to let meter handle your Internet and Wi-Fi while you focus on what you do best." "Meter gives you faster, simpler, more secure Internet and wifi for any business or commercial space."

The quotes draw an analogy between Napoleon's expanding empire and modern businesses' need for scalable Internet services. Meter is presented as a practical solution for businesses to manage their online presence effectively without the burden of managing IT infrastructure.

• Speaker A discusses Tiny's straightforward approach to acquiring businesses.
• Tiny offers cash exits for founders looking to sell their businesses without hassle.
• Tiny's recent public status is mentioned, suggesting an increase in the scale of their acquisitions.
• The process of contacting Tiny is described as simple and responsive.

"Tiny is the easiest way for you to sell your business." "They provide straightforward cash exits for founders. Tiny is the place to go if you want to sell your business without all the typical hassle and headache."

These quotes emphasize Tiny's business model, which focuses on providing a hassle-free experience for founders looking to sell their businesses. The simplicity and efficiency of Tiny's acquisition process are highlighted as key advantages.

• Speaker A introduces "The Mind of Napoleon," a book that provides insight into Napoleon's thoughts and actions.
• The book is described as a collection of Napoleon's written and spoken words, giving the reader a direct connection to his mindset.
• Napoleon is characterized as a man of action, with a disdain for inaction and a limitless capacity for work.
• His politics are described as being influenced by a belief in the strength of individuals and the pursuit of glory.

"For Napoleon, each thought is a step to an action." "We are born for the enjoyment of life. Happiness is merely the enjoyment of life in the manner that conforms best to our nature."

The quotes encapsulate Napoleon's philosophy of action and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. They provide a glimpse into his mindset and how it influenced his approach to leadership and ambition.

• Speaker A and B discuss the influence of historical figures like Napoleon and Churchill on modern founders.
• The book "The Mind of Napoleon" is presented as a way to understand Napoleon's influence on founders.
• Napoleon's ambition for immortality and his belief in the power of individuals are highlighted.
• The discussion includes the importance of identifying and pursuing one's destiny with passion and energy.

"The great majority of men attend to what is necessary only when they feel in need for it, the precise time when it is too late." "There is no immortality, but the memory that is left in the minds of men."

These quotes reflect Napoleon's views on proactivity and legacy. They emphasize the importance of taking timely action and the desire to leave a lasting impact on history, which resonates with the founder mentality discussed by the speakers.

• Napoleon Bonaparte's assertion on human motivation: fear and self-interest.
• Advertising industry founders like Albert Lasker, Claude Hopkins, and David Ogilvy understood and utilized the concept of self-interest in marketing.
• Customers are primarily interested in what a product can do for them, not the product itself or the company behind it.

"Men are moved by two levers, only fear and self interest." "Humans are guided by nothing else than self interest."

These quotes highlight Napoleon's belief that human actions are driven by fear and self-interest. The relevance is in understanding human motivation and its application in marketing and personal interactions.

• Napoleon's cynical view of human nature and his own nature.
• He anticipated the worst in people, including himself, and used this to avoid being deceived.
• Napoleon's extreme nature is exemplified by his indifference to his wife's potential death in relation to his plans.

"I start out by believing the worst. I defy anyone to trick me. Men would have to be exceptional rascals to be as bad as I assume them to be."

This quote reveals Napoleon's defensive and mistrustful approach to interpersonal relations, assuming the worst in people as a protective strategy.

"My wife could have died and it would have not interfered for a quarter of an hour with the execution of my plans."

This quote demonstrates Napoleon's extreme dedication to his objectives, to the point of appearing insensitive to personal loss.

• Napoleon's philosophy on life and death: living with purpose and the willingness to die.
• His disdain for suicide, viewing it as a surrender to despair and a waste of potential future existence.
• The pursuit of immortality through actions and the legacy one leaves behind.
• The importance of knowing oneself to achieve greatness and fulfill one's destiny.

"One must have the will to live and be willing to die."

This quote encapsulates Napoleon's belief in living a life of purpose and the readiness to face death, which is a testament to one's conviction and courage.

"Everything on earth is soon forgotten except the opinion we leave imprinted on history."

Napoleon emphasizes the enduring nature of one's legacy over material accomplishments, suggesting that history's remembrance is the true measure of greatness.

• Napoleon's relentless ambition and its consequences for governance and personal fortunes.
• His view that ambition is an insatiable force that only ends with life.
• The idea that seizing opportunities and not neglecting any chance for advancement is key to success.

"Ambition is a violent and unthinking fever that ceases only when life ceases."

This quote reflects Napoleon's intense drive and the destructive potential of unchecked ambition, likening it to a fever that consumes one's life.

"All great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything, neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity."

Here, Napoleon advises on the importance of vigilance and opportunism in achieving success, suggesting that even small oversights can lead to failure.

• Napoleon's skepticism about humanity's ability to learn from history.
• His belief that individuals and nations mostly learn through personal experience and misfortune.
• The importance of studying historical figures and their traits to emulate or avoid in one's own life.

"Nation and individuals alike learn only from their own experience and most of the time, from misfortune."

This quote highlights Napoleon's view that true learning comes from direct experience, often through adversity, rather than from the study of history alone.

"All my life, I have sacrificed everything, comfort, self interest, happiness, to my destiny. Destiny must be fulfilled. That is my chief doctrine."

Napoleon expresses his personal dedication to fulfilling his perceived destiny, prioritizing it above all personal comforts and desires.

• Napoleon found inaction intolerable, preferring action and consolidation of power.
• He believed that historical figures like St. Louis wasted time on prayer instead of taking decisive action.
• The importance of learning from history is emphasized, with Napoleon taking cues from past leaders like Frederick the Great.

"In the introduction, it says that to Napoleon's mind, inaction was unbearable. And so he says, St. Louis spent eight months praying when he should have spent them marching, fighting, and consolidating his hold over his country."

The quote highlights Napoleon's disdain for inaction and his belief that historical figures should have been more proactive in their leadership.

• Studying history's greatest founders is akin to studying the birth of industries.
• Napoleon believed that revolutions and progress cannot be stopped, only directed.
• He recognized the inevitability of change and the importance of guiding it.

"A revolution could be neither made nor stopped. The only thing that can be done is for one or several of its children to give it a direction."

This quote encapsulates Napoleon's philosophy that revolutions are inevitable forces of change, and the role of leaders is to steer them rather than attempt to initiate or halt them.

• Despite his historical significance, Napoleon was human, with inherent hypocrisies and contradictions.
• The book's editor shows Napoleon's changing views over time, highlighting his human fallibility.

"He was human. And all humans are full of hypocrisies and contradictions."

This quote reminds us that even figures like Napoleon were not immune to the contradictions and complexities that characterize all human beings.

• Napoleon initially opposed book censorship but later established it, showing a shift in his stance.
• He understood the power of controlling public opinion and used propaganda to shape perceptions.
• Napoleon's actions demonstrate the importance of managing information, whether in governance or business.

"In 1810, however, Napoleon did establish book censorship."

This quote shows a specific instance where Napoleon contradicted his earlier beliefs, illustrating how his views evolved over time, particularly regarding the control of information.

• Napoleon believed in thinking on a grand scale, without self-imposed limits.
• His ambition extended to all areas, including leadership and religion.
• He was willing to take decisive action against any opposition, including the Pope.

"It didn't matter if you were the leader of a country, the leader of a religion. If you got in his way, he was going to do something about it."

This quote reflects Napoleon's assertive approach to obstacles and his belief in the boundlessness of one's ambitions.

• Napoleon was known for his attention to detail, often micromanaging aspects of his empire.
• He believed in the power of morale and spent considerable effort communicating with his troops.
• His micromanagement extended to personal matters, such as dictating his wife's itinerary.

"Napoleon's inability to leave even the most trivial detail to others."

This quote highlights the extent of Napoleon's need for control, which often led him to involve himself in minutiae that could have been delegated.

• Napoleon's life was characterized by extreme actions and a unique mindset.
• He saw himself as above conventional rules and norms, which influenced his strategic decisions.
• His disregard for neutrality and willingness to exploit situations for advantage exemplify his ruthless approach.

"I have not recognized its neutrality. Consequently, I have a right to enter its territory."

Napoleon's response to General Mack's comment about neutrality underscores his belief in his own exceptionalism and his strategic opportunism.

• Studying historical figures like Napoleon reveals the true nature of human behavior.
• Napoleon's interactions with General Mack demonstrate a lack of understanding of human psychology on Mack's part.
• Understanding human nature as it is, not as we wish it to be, is crucial in life and leadership.

"This is why it's so important to understand humans as they actually are, not as we want them to be."

This quote emphasizes the significance of having a realistic grasp of human nature, especially when dealing with individuals like Napoleon, who operate outside the typical moral and ethical boundaries.

• Ambition is portrayed as all-consuming and potentially destructive.
• Success is equated to winning, which is seen as the ultimate goal.
• There's a recognition of the lengths some people will go to achieve their ambitions, sacrificing time, money, relationships, and ethics.
• The idea that to win, one must be willing to do everything necessary, and this often comes at a cost.

"You should presume there is someone out there who will devote all their time, money, relationship, sense of ethics, everything in sacrifice of that one goal."

This quote underscores the extreme commitment some individuals have towards achieving their ambitions, often at the expense of other aspects of their life.

"They will destroy everything in their path in many cases to get what they want."

This quote highlights the destructive potential of unchecked ambition, where the pursuit of success can lead to collateral damage.

• Leadership involves understanding and influencing the mentality of your team.
• A leader must win the confidence of their team to be effective.
• Napoleon's approach to leadership involved boosting morale and providing a vision of success to inspire his soldiers.
• The balance between timidity in planning and boldness in execution is emphasized.

"A leader's principal talent consists in knowing the mentality of your team and winning their confidence."

This quote captures the essence of leadership as being about understanding and gaining the trust of those you lead.

"Once I have made up my mind, everything is forgotten except what leads to success."

This quote illustrates the focus and determination required once a leader has decided on a course of action.

• The parallels between military strategy and business are drawn.
• The study of history and great leaders is emphasized as a way to learn the art of war and, metaphorically, business.
• Attention to detail and seizing every opportunity are seen as key to success.
• The concept of 'squareness,' a balance of intellect and character, is admired.

"Knowledge of the grand principles of warfare can be acquired only through the study of military history and of battles of the great captains and through experience."

This quote suggests that learning from history and experience is crucial in understanding strategic principles.

"To make use of every possible opportunity of increasing your chances of victory on the battlefield."

This quote reflects the importance of being opportunistic and proactive in seeking success.

• The cost-conscious approach in both warfare and business is crucial for survival.
• The metaphor of a startup being "hard to kill" by operating cheaply is discussed.
• Napoleon's own meticulous planning and consideration of risks is likened to startup strategies.

"The surest route to success is to be the cockroaches of the corporate world."

This quote conveys the idea that resilience and cost-efficiency are vital for a business to survive and thrive.

"My soul is made of marble. Lightning has found no grip on it and has had to slide off."

This quote from Napoleon reflects his perceived invulnerability and determination to succeed despite obstacles.

• Napoleon reflects on his legacy and the reasons behind his actions.
• The struggle between personal ambition, power, and the judgment of history is contemplated.
• The idea that power and glory are intertwined and necessary for maintaining one's position is discussed.

"My power is dependent on my glory, and my glory on my victories."

This quote illustrates Napoleon's belief in the symbiotic relationship between power, glory, and success.

"Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take her away from me."

This quote personifies power as something to be won and jealously guarded, emphasizing the all-consuming nature of ambition.

• The podcast host encourages listeners to support the podcast by purchasing recommended books and subscribing to premium content.
• The importance of community engagement through AMAs (Ask Me Anything) is highlighted.
• There's a commitment to the long-term goal of reviewing a vast number of books.

"Another way to support the podcast is to sign up for founders Premium, and if you subscribe to that, you can listen to the AMA."

This quote promotes the podcast's premium content as a means for listeners to engage more deeply with the content and support the show.

"That is 302 books down, 1000 to go, and I'll talk to you again soon. Bye."

This quote reflects the host's ambitious goal of reviewing a significant number of books and their dedication to the podcast's mission.