In Search Of Excellence

Brian Grazer is an Academy Award–winning producer, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment, one of the most successful production companies in Hollywood.
Alongside his longtime partner Ron Howard, Grazer has helped create an extraordinary body of work across film and television, with credits including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, 8 Mile, The Da Vinci Code, 24, Friday Night Lights, Arrested Development, and many more.
His productions have been nominated for 47 Academy Awards, with 9 wins, along with 296 Emmy nominations with 63 wins, and 71 Golden Globe nominations with 11 wins.
Collectively, his films and television series have grossed over $15 billion worldwide.
Brian is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book A Curious Mind, a powerful exploration of how curiosity can expand your life, relationships, and success.

Brian Grazer joins Randall Kaplan for a deeply personal and insightful conversation about what it really takes to create an exceptional life and career. Far beyond Hollywood success, this episode explores the mindset, emotional resilience, and relationship-building skills that shaped Grazer’s rise from a struggling student to an Academy Award-winning producer behind some of the most iconic films and television shows of the last several decades.

The episode also explores:

How to become more interesting by feeding your mind with ideas
Why courage matters more than certainty
How insecurity can either limit you or drive you
Why relationships, curiosity, and timing can change everything
How Grazer built access by asking for five minutes, not a job

Key Takeaways:
One person believing in you can change your life.
Opportunity often comes disguised as a small moment requiring immediate action.
Curiosity is a superpower in business, storytelling, and life.
You do not need a perfect beginning to build an extraordinary future.

Want to Work One-on-One with Me?
I coach a small group of high achievers on how to elevate their careers, grow their businesses, and reach their full potential both professionally and personally.

If you're ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here:
www.randallkaplan.com
 
Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs
 
Listen to this episode on the go!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC...
 
For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/
 
Follow Randall!
Instagram: @randallkaplan 
LinkedIn:  @randallkaplan 
TikTok:  @randall_kaplan 
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
Website:  www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: www.randallkaplan.com

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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In Search of Excellence Podcast - with Randall Kaplan

If you’re looking for career advice, mentorship strategies, LinkedIn networking, extreme preparation, and the mindset behind building a world-class podcast and life, this conversation with Lewis Howes is for you. In Part 2, Lewis and Randall go deep on doing the hard things consistently, earning access to mentors through service, and building relationships (in business and in love) with values, gratitude, and intentionality—the kind of principles that create long-term success and fulfillment. 

What you’ll learn in this episode:
How Lewis went from sleeping on a couch to becoming “the LinkedIn guy” through daily reps, events, and service-first outreach 

A practical framework for earning mentorship (without “Can I pick your brain?” messages) 
Why gratitude + generosity are “the gateway to abundance,” and how Lewis builds them into his daily routine 

Lewis’s definition of greatness—and how to pursue it with impact, not ego 
Relationship wisdom: why “fun first” doesn’t always equal “aligned long-term,” plus a thoughtful conversation on commitment and infidelity

Guest bio: Lewis Howes
Lewis Howes is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach, keynote speaker, former professional athlete, and host of The School of Greatness—one of the world’s leading personal development podcasts, with over 1B+ downloads. Lewis’s mission aligns with Randall’s: to help 100 million people live their dreams. 

If this episode helped you think bigger about mentorship, networking, discipline, relationships, and building a meaningful life, hit Like, Subscribe, and Comment below:

Question: What’s ONE “extreme preparation” habit you’re committing to this week—research, outreach, health, or relationships?

Listen to this episode on the go!
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-search-of-excellence/id1579184310 
🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XICUDIchVrkXBR0i6L

For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/

Follow Randy!
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@randall_kaplan
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallkaplan/
Website: https://www.randallkaplan.com/
1-on-1 Coaching: https://intro.co/randallkaplan

Get More Excellence! 
In Search of Excellence Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@iseclips

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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Lewis Howes, host of The School of Greatness, joins Randall Kaplan for a
raw, high-performance conversation on healing, vulnerability, resilience,
and the hidden costs of “prove them wrong” motivation. In Part 1, Lewis
opens up about childhood trauma, the shame that shaped his drive, and
the emotional work that helped him build inner freedom—not just external
success.

What you’ll learn in this episode
In this deeply personal interview, Randall and Lewis explore:
 Lewis’s upbringing in Delaware, Ohio and how adversity became fuel
(and later, a limitation)
 The long shadow of childhood sexual abuse, why many people never
tell anyone, and what healing can look like
 The moment Lewis finally shared his story in a group emotional
healing environment—and how it unlocked healing for other men, too
 Randall’s parallel experience (Hoffman-style work), and why self-
forgiveness changes everything
 Bullying, being picked last, learning struggles, and the “I’ll prove you
wrong” drive that often powers high achievers
 The shift from ego-driven success to service-driven success (and why
it’s more sustainable)
 College, student debt, and the real-world value of education—plus a
memorable compounding story
Timestamps (Key Moments)

Guest Bio: Lewis Howes
Lewis Howes is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach,
keynote speaker, and 3x New York Times bestselling author. He’s the host
of The School of Greatness, one of the world’s most listened-to interview
shows, and a former professional athlete. Lewis’s mission is to help people
live with purpose, overcome self-doubt, and unlock their version of
greatness. (Apple Podcasts)

Links (Guest + Resources)
Lewis Howes (Official Site): https://lewishowes.com/ (Lewis Howes)

The School of Greatness Podcast: https://lewishowes.com/sogpodcast/
(Lewis Howes)
Lewis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lewishowes (YouTube)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewishowes/ (Instagram)
X (Twitter): https://x.com/LewisHowes (X (formerly Twitter))
Books:
 The Greatness Mindset — https://www.amazon.com/Greatness-
Mindset-Unlock-Power-Today/dp/1401971903 (Amazon)
 The Mask of Masculinity — https://www.maskofmasculinity.com/
(maskofmasculinity.com)

If this episode resonates, hit Like, Subscribe for more conversations on
entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal excellence—and comment
below:
What’s one belief you’re ready to release so you can live with more
freedom?

Want to Work One-on-One with Me?
I coach a small group of high achievers on how to elevate their careers,
grow their businesses, and reach their full potential both professionally and
personally.
If you are ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here:
https://www.randallkaplan.com/coaching
 
Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs
 
Listen to this episode on the go!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC...
 
For more information about this episode, visit
https://www.randallkaplan.com/
 
Follow Randall!
Instagram: @randallkaplan

LinkedIn:  @randallkaplan
TikTok:  @randall_kaplan
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
Website: https://www.randallkaplan.com/
1-on-1 Coaching: https://w

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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Welcome to In Search of Excellence! In this powerful second part of our interview, billionaire entrepreneur and Minnesota Timberwolves owner Marc Lore joins Randall Kaplan to share the unconventional secrets behind his massive success. From selling Diapers.com to Amazon and Jet.com to Walmart for billions, to his latest vision with Wonder, Marc reveals why “leaving no escape hatch” is the ultimate motivator for any founder.

In this episode, Marc Lore dives deep into the “sixth gear” mentality required to scale world-class companies. He details the high-stakes world of angel investing, explaining why he put his entire life savings on the line to secure his first $4 million in funding.

You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes story of the Amazon vs. Diapers.com price war and why Marc chose to take $100 million less to ensure his company’s future.

Marc also shares his “clean slate” philosophy on business pivots, explaining why he took his current company, Wonder, to zero revenue to transition from food trucks to brick-and-mortar. Finally, he discusses the emotional toll of the legal battle for the Minnesota Timberwolves and provides his blueprint for a 21st-century vision for America.

⸻

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Marc Lore’s “No Plan B” philosophy
02:50 – Is college still necessary in the age of AI and YouTube?
05:35 – Why the “person you work for” matters more than the job
08:33 – Quitting a top Wall Street job with no backup plan
11:00 – How to raise $4M from 80 angel investors

14:00 – Why putting your life savings at risk actually reduces risk
17:20 – The Amazon “Diaper War”: Why selling for $545M was depressing
21:33 – The future of e-commerce: Kiva robots and conversational AI
25:10 – Selling Jet.com to Walmart for $3.3 billion
30:20 – The Wonder pivot: Closing a $100M truck business for brick-and-mortar
38:35 – Winning the legal battle for the Minnesota Timberwolves
46:49 – Marc’s famous “Salary Goals” sign and the power of a mission
51:43 – The truth about 100-hour work weeks and family balance
54:29 – Fill in the Blank to Excellence: Biggest regrets and life advice

⸻

About Marc Lore

Marc Lore is a serial entrepreneur, billionaire, and professional sports owner. He is the founder of Jet.com (sold to Walmart for $3.3B) and Quidsi (parent company of Diapers.com, sold to Amazon for $545M). He currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Wonder, a revolutionary food delivery platform. He is also the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA).

Apply for One-On-One Coaching

If you’re ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here:
https://www.randallkaplan.com/coaching

🎤 Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs

🎧 Listen on the go
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC…

🌐 For more information:
https://www.randallkaplan.com

⸻

Follow Randall

Instagram: @randallkaplan
LinkedIn: @randallkaplan
TikTok: @randall_kaplan
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
Website: https://www.randallkaplan.com
1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.randallkaplan.com/coaching

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

In this explosive episode of In Search of Excellence, Randall Kaplan sits down with Marc Lore—the billionaire entrepreneur, owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the visionary founder behind Diapers.com (sold to Amazon for $545M) and Jet.com (sold to Walmart for $3.3B).

If you think entrepreneurship is glamorous, think again. Marc drops the filter to reveal that "95% of the day is shit work"—boring, repetitive, and unexciting tasks that most people quit on. From hauling thousands of diaper boxes out of Costco in an 18-wheeler because manufacturers wouldn't sell to him , to counting cards in Atlantic City casinos, Marc shares the raw stories of resourcefulness and resilience that defined his path to billions.

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Key Moments & Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Why entrepreneurship is low probability and "shit work" 
01:46 – The Story: Marc’s dad crashing Bruce Springsteen’s house 
03:44 – How Marc’s dad "hacked" the job market for programmers 
07:44 – Marc’s mom becoming a competitive bodybuilder at age 36 
11:31 – The "Farmer Mindset": Creating something from nothing 
13:32 – Nature vs. Nurture: Are entrepreneurs born or made? 
14:44 – Overcoming bullies and the power of being alone 
19:48 – Why "A-students" from top schools often struggle with failure 
23:40 – Hiring Strategy: Why Marc is a "Resume Snob" 
31:30 – Trading options and derivatives at 12 years old 
35:32 – The Fake ID Ring: Deconstructing licenses to beat the system 
40:12 – Why manual labor is the best training for CEOs 
43:55 – The Diapers.com Hustle: Buying inventory from Costco with an 18-wheeler 
45:48 – The "Loss Leader" Strategy: Losing money to win the customer 
48:14 – The Human Calculator: Marc proves his insane math skills live 
51:51 – Why visionary founders are obsessed with magic 

About the Guest: Marc Lore
Marc Lore is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and owner of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. He is one of the few founders to sell a company to Amazon (Diapers.com) and another to Walmart (Jet.com) for multibillion-dollar exits. Known for his "human calculator" math skills and extreme risk tolerance, Marc is currently building the utopian city project Telosa and the food delivery startup Wonder.

About the Host: Randall Kaplan
Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and the founder of In Search of Excellence. He has been an advisor to more than 50 companies and invested in nearly 100, including Google, Lyft, and Seagate.

Apply for One-On-One Coaching
If you're ready to change your life and achieve your goals, apply here: https://www.randallkaplan.com/coaching
 
Listen to my Extreme Preparation TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvlFpoLfgs
 
Listen to this episode on the go!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23q0XIC...
 
For more information about this episode, visit https://www.randallkaplan.com/
 
Follow Randall!
Instagram: @randallkaplan 
LinkedIn:  @randallkaplan 
TikTok:  @randall_kaplan 
Twitter / X: https://x.com/RandallKaplan
Website: https://www.randallkaplan.com/
1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.randallkaplan.com/coaching

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn