Share
Everyone has a dream. But sometimes there’s a gap between where we are and where we want to be. True, there are some people who can bridge that gap easily, on their own, but all of us need a little help at some point. A little boost. An accountability partner. A Snooze Squad. In each episode, the Snooze Squad will strategize an action plan for people to face their fears. Guests will transform their own perception of their potential and walk away a few inches closer to who they want to become ...
…
continue reading
Manage episode 516111503 series 3501140
Content provided by Ilana Golan. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Ilana Golan or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
Jim McKelvey did the impossible. He beat Amazon. The tech giant launched a product similar to Square’s, undercut their pricing, and leveraged its massive brand. Everyone thought Square was doomed. But a year later, Amazon quit and even mailed Square readers to their customers. That left Jim with a bigger question: “How did we survive when no one else ever has?” The search for that answer inspired his book The Innovation Stack, a blueprint for building a business that cannot be copied. In this episode, Jim joins Ilana to reveal the secret to creating an unbeatable business, why ignorance can be a superpower, and how to survive the impossible as an entrepreneur.
Jim McKelvey is the co-founder of Square (now Block), a billionaire entrepreneur, and author of The Innovation Stack. He also founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit providing free tech education and job placement.
In this episode, Ilana and Jim will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:04) Growing Up as an ‘Uncool’ Kid in St. Louis
(04:01) The Early Hustle That Jumpstarted His Career
(07:47) Launching a Business with 15-Year-Old Jack Dorsey
(13:50) The Birth of Square: From Glass Blowing to FinTech
(20:09) The Art of Selling and Capturing Attention
(26:48) How a Single Demo Won Over MasterCard
(31:04) Amazon's Failed Attempt to Crush Square
(32:17) The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business
(35:55) Why Most Entrepreneurs Give Up Too Soon
(41:32) Why the Best Innovators Are Always “Unqualified”
Jim McKelvey is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist best known as the co-founder of Square (now Block), the fintech company that redefined digital payments. He is the author of The Innovation Stack, which explores how companies can survive by creating solutions that can’t be copied. Jim also founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit that provides free tech education and job placement for aspiring coders.
Connect with Jim
Jim’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mckelveyjim
Resources Mentioned
Jim’s Book, The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time: https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Stack-Building-Unbeatable-Business/dp/0593086732
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training
136 episodes
))
