August 9, 2015

Step 3: Sam Walton’s Night in a Brazilian Jail, Stealing from McDonald’s, and Michael Jordan’s Humility

The Big Idea: the most successful men are usually the most humble. They read and study constantly because they know there is much they do not know.

  • I’ve never met a player listen so closely and then go and do something like Michael Jordan. —Dean Smith
  • Michael Jordan was cocky but immensely coachable.
  • Sam Walton spent incredible amounts of time in his competitors stores => humility.
  • The humble man reads more books because he understands there is more to learn.
  • Sam Walton got arrested for crawling on the floors of Brazilian stores trying to learn new things.
  • Sam Walton tried to learn something from everyone.
  • Good artists copy. Great artists steal.—Picasso
  • My greatest skill was being teachable. —Michael Jordan
  • Everyone wants the good life, but not everyone is humble enough to get the good life.
  • Jeff Bezos was obsessed with Sam Walton.
  • Jeff Bezos carries a notebook everywhere he went.
  • When you meet with people, how many pages of notes do you take.
  • Warren Buffett started at 7 reading every book on finance in every library in Omaha.
  • Every great man in history had a mentor.
  • Read books, have mentors, study competitors, spend money on learning.
  • Your time on earth is finite, time is the most precious resource so guard it carefully.
  • Read the same great books over and over and over.
  • Bezos practically memorized Sam Walton’s book Made in America.
  • Bezos walked around with a notebook and learned constantly.
  • Fear and childhood trauma can prevent authentic humility.

Tai Lopez is an entrepreneur, investor, and blogger who runs an awesome online book club. 67 Steps is a lecture series teaching how to be successful in health, wealth, love, and happiness.  I’m a big fan.