In this moment of Uncommon Excellence, we dive into the hiring philosophy of Brad Jacobs, one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and the author of How to Make a Few Billion Dollars. Jacobs built his empire by assembling world-class teams, and his insights on hiring A-players are nothing short of a masterclass.

We explore:

• Why hiring is a non-negotiable area where you must aim for perfection.
• The four essential traits of A-players: intelligence, hunger, integrity, and collegiality.
• The dangers of B-players hiring C-players, and how to avoid this trap.
• Why an empty seat is less damaging than a poor fit.
• How to align compensation with performance to attract and retain top talent.

Brad’s approach is simple but profound: If you want to create billions in value, you need a team that’s not just talented but also driven, honest, and collaborative. This episode is packed with actionable takeaways for founders, leaders, and anyone looking to build a team that can achieve greatness.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Get Brad Jacobs’ book How to Make a Few Billion Dollars on Amazon.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

Jonathan Jarecki lives by one principle: question everything.

In this episode, he shares how that mindset has shaped his views on health, decision-making, and entrepreneurship. From rethinking conventional wisdom to building a values-driven protein bar company, Jonathan explains why critical thinking is essential, and how it can change the way you live.

This is a conversation about challenging assumptions, thinking for yourself, and building with purpose.

Get the new revolutionary protein bar here: Foward Bar

Key Topics:

• Why questioning is the foundation of growth
• Rethinking health, authority, and mainstream beliefs
• How personal experience shapes conviction
• What it takes to build something meaningful
• The mindset behind resilience and clarity

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

This episode is about the quiet power of discipline—of showing up even when motivation fades, of sticking to your personal rules when no one’s watching. Whether it’s writing, training, building a business, or simply staying committed to a craft, we explore how consistency and focus often matter more than raw talent.

We unpack the idea that progress doesn’t come from rare bursts of brilliance, but from daily effort—especially on the hard days. From pushing through pain in an ultra-marathon to sitting down at a desk with no guarantees of inspiration, this episode dives into the mindset required to go the distance in anything worth doing.

If you've ever felt like quitting, or wondered why you keep going when it would be easier to stop, this one’s for you.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

What I learned from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

In this solo episode of Uncommon Excellence, I dive into the philosophy of Haruki Murakami and what it means to create, endure, and grow for yourself.

Through quotes pulled from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, we explore the mindset of mastery — the kind that doesn’t seek approval, applause, or quick wins. Just quiet, relentless improvement.

I talk about why I’m committed to going all-in on this podcast, what I’ve learned from long-distance effort, and why “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional” might be the truest advice for any creator.

This is about setting a bar so high only you would know if you missed — and then having the courage to meet it.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

Uncommon Excellence Premium: Founder’s Rate
If you’re tired of average and ready to unlock your next level, Uncommon Excellence Premium is your edge. For a limited time, join the exculsive Founder’s Rate: Launch Special. It's only $4.99/month for the first 100 subscribers. Gain exclusive insights, tools, and content to think sharper, act bolder, and build something extraordinary.

Stop watching greatness—start building it.
Click here to join Uncommon Excellence Premium now.

In this Uncommon Moment, we explore a truth every high-performer faces—pain is part of the process, but suffering is a choice. Drawing from timeless wisdom and modern mental toughness, this episode challenges you to reframe adversity, embrace discomfort, and refuse the victim mindset. Pain might visit you—but you don’t have to let it define you.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

What I learned from Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

What does it take to create something truly new? In this episode, we break down Peter Thiel’s Zero to One—a masterclass in contrarian thinking, monopoly strategy, and building transformative businesses.

We’ll explore:

• Why competition is for losers and how the best founders dominate by being 10x better.
• The difference between horizontal progress (1-to-N) and vertical progress (0-to-1)—and why the future belongs to those who innovate, not imitate.
• The power of secrets: How uncovering hidden truths can lead to breakthroughs no one else sees.
• Real-world examples from Google, Tesla, and SpaceX that show Thiel’s principles in action.

This episode isn’t just about theory—it’s about action. You’ll walk away with practical takeaways to think contrarian, aim for a monopoly, and build something that lasts.

If you’re ready to stop following the crowd and start creating the future, this one’s for you.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

What I learned from Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards

In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we explore the hidden science behind first impressions, connection, and conversation—drawing from Vanessa Van Edwards’ powerful book Captivate. You'll learn why people make snap judgments in under 2 seconds, how your hands, posture, and eyes send powerful social cues, and the real key to being memorable (hint: it's not about you).

We’ll break down:

The “Triple Threat” of first impressions

The psychology of microexpressions and body language

Conversation openers that spark real connections

The exact gestures that increase trust and likability

What to watch for if you think someone’s lying

Whether you're walking into a job interview, meeting new friends, or just want to level up your presence, this 20-minute crash course gives you science-backed tools to connect more deeply and confidently—with anyone.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a simple set of techniques you can apply immediately to leave a stronger impression and build more meaningful relationships.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book

My Key Takeaways from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant By Eric Jorgenson

In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we dive headfirst into the wisdom of Naval Ravikant, unpacking 50 of his most powerful maxims that can transform the way you think about wealth, happiness, and life itself. Naval, the co-founder of AngelList and an early investor in companies like Uber and Twitter, has spent decades mastering the art of living wisely and working intelligently. His insights are a guide to building true wealth—not just money, but freedom.

This isn’t just theory—it’s a practical roadmap for anyone who wants to live a life of purpose, freedom, and excellence. Whether you’re a founder, a creator, or someone hungry to level up, these 50 maxims will challenge you to think bigger, act bolder, and design a life worth living.

_________________________________________________

Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book