Ben Wilson

And that's why I'm incredibly proud that this episode is sponsored by the Austin Lab by Shockworks. They are the best in the business when it comes to creating AI processes and agents for your business. They have an incredible team of researchers and implementation specialists to hold your hand and make sure that you have a successful AI implementation. And they take a very consultative approach.

And that's why I'm incredibly proud that this episode is sponsored by the Austin Lab by Shockworks. They are the best in the business when it comes to creating AI processes and agents for your business. They have an incredible team of researchers and implementation specialists to hold your hand and make sure that you have a successful AI implementation. And they take a very consultative approach.

And they have a ton of experience. They've got a global portfolio with over 150 successful implementations across the world with businesses of all sizes from small to medium-sized businesses to huge enterprise implementations. They are a truly top-rate AI team. one that I would trust with any aspect of my business. And the best part of working with them is they only win if you win.

And they have a ton of experience. They've got a global portfolio with over 150 successful implementations across the world with businesses of all sizes from small to medium-sized businesses to huge enterprise implementations. They are a truly top-rate AI team. one that I would trust with any aspect of my business. And the best part of working with them is they only win if you win.

They only make money if they save you money or grow your revenue. And they have a proven track record of doing exactly that. They can generate more than 40% cost savings and 30% efficiency gains. And they have done this, again, across hundreds of successful launches and implementations. So partner with the best. You won't regret it. Learn more at austinlab.ai.

They only make money if they save you money or grow your revenue. And they have a proven track record of doing exactly that. They can generate more than 40% cost savings and 30% efficiency gains. And they have done this, again, across hundreds of successful launches and implementations. So partner with the best. You won't regret it. Learn more at austinlab.ai.

Again, that is Austin, as in the city Austin, Texas, austinlab.ai, and let them know that I sent you. And the problem with trying to make things the way they were before is that the way Cardinal Richelieu did things really works. And so his systems outlive him. Rochefoucauld writes about it this way. This is what he finds in Paris when he arrives after Richelieu's death.

Again, that is Austin, as in the city Austin, Texas, austinlab.ai, and let them know that I sent you. And the problem with trying to make things the way they were before is that the way Cardinal Richelieu did things really works. And so his systems outlive him. Rochefoucauld writes about it this way. This is what he finds in Paris when he arrives after Richelieu's death.

Quote, I arrived at court and found it as submissive to his will after his death as during his life. His relations and his creatures continued to enjoy all the advantages they had gained through him.

Quote, I arrived at court and found it as submissive to his will after his death as during his life. His relations and his creatures continued to enjoy all the advantages they had gained through him.

and by a turn of fortune of which there are few examples the king who hated him and desired his fall was obliged not only to conceal his sentiments but even to authorize the disposition made by the cardinal in his will of the principal employments and most important places in his kingdom

and by a turn of fortune of which there are few examples the king who hated him and desired his fall was obliged not only to conceal his sentiments but even to authorize the disposition made by the cardinal in his will of the principal employments and most important places in his kingdom

Most painfully for Rochefoucauld, it's not only the king, but Queen Anne herself, who is now, by and large, in charge. You know, this is his old partner in crime who he's tried to, you know, whisk out of the country. She also goes along with this new regime kind of inspired by Richelieu and the way he was doing things. So her two sons are still too young to rule.

Most painfully for Rochefoucauld, it's not only the king, but Queen Anne herself, who is now, by and large, in charge. You know, this is his old partner in crime who he's tried to, you know, whisk out of the country. She also goes along with this new regime kind of inspired by Richelieu and the way he was doing things. So her two sons are still too young to rule.

And shortly after Richelieu, the king himself dies. So Queen Anne of Austria is now queen regent. And so she's totally in control. So this is Rochefoucauld's chance to make everything happen, to finally accomplish all the projects that they had been plotting. And yet now that she's in charge, she sees the wisdom of these reforms.

And shortly after Richelieu, the king himself dies. So Queen Anne of Austria is now queen regent. And so she's totally in control. So this is Rochefoucauld's chance to make everything happen, to finally accomplish all the projects that they had been plotting. And yet now that she's in charge, she sees the wisdom of these reforms.

And of course, now that she's the queen regent, the monarch in charge, centralization doesn't seem so bad, right? She's the one in charge of all these levers of power. So she turns on Rochefoucauld and adopts the policies of centralization advocated by Richelieu and now overseen by his successor, Cardinal Mazarin. Rochefoucauld considers this a betrayal and is one that he never gets over. Okay.

And of course, now that she's the queen regent, the monarch in charge, centralization doesn't seem so bad, right? She's the one in charge of all these levers of power. So she turns on Rochefoucauld and adopts the policies of centralization advocated by Richelieu and now overseen by his successor, Cardinal Mazarin. Rochefoucauld considers this a betrayal and is one that he never gets over. Okay.

By the way, really quick clarification because I've thrown out so many names. So you have Francois de la Rochefoucauld. That's the guy we're talking about. Then you have Richelieu, that's the cardinal who really centralizes everything in France. And then his successors are Mazarin, Cardinal Mazarin, and de Retz. And de Retz is like the big enemy of Rochefoucauld.

By the way, really quick clarification because I've thrown out so many names. So you have Francois de la Rochefoucauld. That's the guy we're talking about. Then you have Richelieu, that's the cardinal who really centralizes everything in France. And then his successors are Mazarin, Cardinal Mazarin, and de Retz. And de Retz is like the big enemy of Rochefoucauld.