Jorge Paulo Lemann - O que aprendi em Harvard (1/2)

Summary

In this reflective account, the speaker shares their personal journey of growth and learning during their time at a prestigious university, likely Harvard. They recount struggles with adapting to academic life, including early challenges and academic failures. However, over time, they developed a strong work ethic, learned the value of big dreams, and honed skills like choosing talented people and thinking long-term. The speaker emphasizes the importance of ethics, simplicity, meritocracy, and teamwork, all of which shaped their approach to business and life. This narrative offers valuable life lessons, particularly for younger individuals navigating their own paths.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on their personal experience at a prestigious institution (likely a university) and emphasizes that everyone must find their own path.
• 😀 They faced significant challenges during their first year, including poor academic performance, homesickness, and a lack of study habits.
• 😀 A major turning point occurred when they were asked to take a break from the institution for a year to mature, which led to a decision to return and finish their degree in a shorter period of time.
• 😀 The speaker used an unconventional method to improve academically, researching past exams and interviewing professors and students to succeed in their courses.
• 😀 They went from one of the worst students to one of the best, demonstrating the power of resilience and strategy in overcoming challenges.
• 😀 Although the speaker didn't fully appreciate the lessons at the time, they later realized the value of their education and the transformative nature of the experience.
• 😀 The speaker learned to dream big, influenced by exposure to philosophical ideas and a broader world view during their time at the institution.
• 😀 They emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with excellent people, as their time at the institution exposed them to some of the brightest individuals in various fields.
• 😀 The power of ideas and long-term thinking became central to the speaker's approach to business, which they later applied to their professional ventures.
• 😀 The speaker learned the value of simplicity over complexity and the importance of ethics, both of which have shaped their business decisions and approach to leadership.
• 😀 The experience helped them understand the significance of meritocracy, ownership, and the importance of working with partners who share in the success of ventures.

Q & A

How did the speaker's experience at university differ from their expectations?

The speaker had a difficult start at university, struggling with academics and adjusting to life in the U.S. They found the cold weather uncomfortable and missed the beach, as they were not accustomed to studying or writing, leading to poor grades initially.

What was the reason for the speaker's suspension during their first year?

The speaker was caught throwing fireworks out of the window to celebrate the end of the year. This led to a recommendation from the authorities to take a year off to mature.

How did the speaker manage to turn around their academic performance?

The speaker developed a strategy to pass courses by researching past exams and interviewing students and professors to understand the course material. This helped them improve and eventually graduate at 20, two years ahead of the usual timeline.

What was the speaker's attitude towards their education at the time, and how did it evolve?

Initially, the speaker did not value the education they were receiving, as they were focused on leaving and had little time for relationships or academic growth. However, over time, they recognized the impact the experience had on shaping their business and life principles.

What was one of the major life transformations the speaker experienced at university?

The speaker's worldview shifted from that of a casual surfer to someone who appreciated a broader perspective on life. They began to think bigger and set higher goals, moving beyond their previous dreams of tennis championships and surfing.

How did the university experience impact the speaker's approach to business and partnerships?

The speaker learned the importance of selecting excellent people and partners through their university experience. This principle influenced their later career, particularly when choosing business partners who shared similar values of excellence.

What did the speaker learn about the power of ideas during their time at university?

The speaker realized that good ideas have a much greater long-term impact than short-term facts. This understanding helped them and their business partners form strong foundational principles for their business decisions.

What was the long-term effect of the university experience on the speaker's career and business decisions?

The speaker gained a long-term perspective, which influenced business decisions made decades ago. They learned that the actions taken today could have far-reaching effects, particularly in the business world.

How did the university's culture of striving for improvement affect the speaker?

The culture of continuous improvement at the university had a lasting effect on the speaker, driving them to always seek ways to improve both in business and in life. This mindset shaped the companies they built.

What ethical lessons did the speaker take away from their university experience?

The speaker learned the importance of ethics during their time at university, which helped them navigate the financial world. Despite temptations in the market to act unethically, the speaker’s university education kept them on track to prioritize ethics in their personal and business life.