In the world of startups and philanthropy, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of entreprenuers, investors and philanthropists, Kass and Mike Lazerow. Their journey, marked by both the intense highs of building successful companies, Golf.com and Buddy Media and their profound commitment to a cause like Cycle for Survival, offers invaluable insights into resilience, mission-driven work, and the realities of the entrepreneurial path.
Relationships are vital to success. I worked with them 15 years ago at Buddy Media and have remained in touch. What was amazing was seeing and meeting other folks in their orbit at their book launch party this past Monday. Some of those people they’ve known for the majority of their lives!
In this episode, I invited past show guest Bradley Tusk as my co-host. Bradley is the founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures where he works with startups that have regulatory challenges like Lemonade, FanDuel, Uber, Ro among others. Bradley is the host of ‘Firewall’ a weekly podcast where he discusses the intersection of business, politics and regulation.
Takeaways & Their Impact 🚀
The Lazerows' experiences highlight several critical lessons for anyone navigating the professional landscape:
Mission Drives Impact: Cycle for Survival's remarkable growth from a grassroots effort into a national movement, raising over $400 million for rare cancer research, underscores the immense power of a strong, personal mission. This demonstrates that aligning your work with a meaningful cause can unlock unparalleled dedication and results [01:05], [01:43]. The implication is clear: when individuals and organizations are deeply invested in a purpose, they can achieve extraordinary things.
Culture is King: Buddy Media's enduring success, even post-acquisition, was rooted in its emphasis on transparency and celebrating achievements. This fostered deep employee loyalty [11:26], [11:37], [11:41], [12:18]. The application for readers is to prioritize intentional culture building within their own teams, fostering environments where people feel valued and connected.
Navigating Bureaucracy: The Lazerows candidly discuss the challenges of working within large, often bureaucratic institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering. This highlights the need for agility and innovative strategies, even in established settings [04:33], [07:43]. For those in large organizations, this means finding ways to champion change and maintain momentum despite institutional inertia.
Entrepreneurship is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Their anecdotes about fundraising hurdles, near-death experiences, and the constant "shoveling $h!t" perfectly encapsulate the arduous yet ultimately purposeful nature of entrepreneurship [18:18], [21:27]. This offers a realistic perspective for aspiring founders: it's tough, but the rewards of building something meaningful are immense.
Co-founder Alignment is Crucial: The Lazerows, as a married co-founding team, emphasize the vital importance of shared work ethics, a clear mission, and complementary skills among co-founders [23:52], [24:04]. This is a key application for anyone considering a partnership: ensure your foundational values and working styles are in sync to avoid pitfalls like micromanagement.
Resilience is Cultivated: Kass's story of overcoming a significant career setback and bouncing back with fierce determination demonstrates that resilience isn't just innate; it's developed through a competitive spirit and an unwavering refusal to quit [17:36], [17:49], [18:05]. This takeaway offers hope and actionable strategies for readers to cultivate their own resilience in the face of adversity.
Focus is Paramount for Startups: Mike stresses the critical need for startups, with their limited resources, to maintain sharp focus and avoid being sidetracked by too many initiatives [29:57], [30:06]. The application here is clear: prioritize ruthlessly to maximize impact with the resources you have.
Perspective Shifts Everything: Mike's personal experience with a life-threatening situation dramatically altered his perspective on life and business, diminishing the significance of previous worries [33:03], [33:18]. This profound takeaway reminds us to maintain perspective, especially when facing challenges, and to recognize what truly matters.
Why You Should Read "Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story" 📖
The Lazerows' book, "Shoveling $h!t," promises an authentic and inspiring account of their journey. Here’s why it should be on your reading list:
Real and Raw Entrepreneurial Insights: Expect an unfiltered look at the realities of building a business—the struggles, the triumphs, and the messy bits that are often left out of polished success stories.
"And really what the book is about is there's no worse way to spend your day than being an entrepreneur. You show up, shit hits the fan. You never know what's going to go wrong." - Mike Lazerow
Actionable Advice on Grit and Resilience: Drawing from their personal battles, the book likely offers practical strategies for developing the mental fortitude essential for entrepreneurial success.
Lessons on Partnership and Co-founding: Their unique dynamic as a married co-founding team provides invaluable insights into navigating the complexities and rewards of mixing business with a life partnership.
Inspiration to Do Good While Doing Well: Their involvement with Cycle for Survival showcases a powerful model for creating a successful business that also makes a tangible positive impact on the world.
Humorous and Engaging Storytelling: Given their candid and conversational style, the book is sure to be an entertaining and relatable read, filled with humor and compelling anecdotes.
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