Safi Bahcall

And it was turned down by every studio for years and years and years until Fleming had a heart attack one point. And he started to think about his own mortality. And he really wanted entry into this high style life that he was describing and he wasn't quite there. So that's why he was pushing really hard.

And it was turned down by every studio for years and years and years until Fleming had a heart attack one point. And he started to think about his own mortality. And he really wanted entry into this high style life that he was describing and he wasn't quite there. So that's why he was pushing really hard.

So then he gave it to these pair of producers who actually did not have much track record at all. He was kind of giving up. They took it to this one studio, finally agreed to do it. But it was such a lousy idea. The first script was the bad guy was like an evil monkey who would go around on people's shoulders. And all these actors turned down the lead role.

So then he gave it to these pair of producers who actually did not have much track record at all. He was kind of giving up. They took it to this one studio, finally agreed to do it. But it was such a lousy idea. The first script was the bad guy was like an evil monkey who would go around on people's shoulders. And all these actors turned down the lead role.

And they finally found some guy who had been a milk truck driver and had been in two movies. And nobody had heard of him. His name was Sean Connery. The movie was called Dr. No. And the studio said, good God, this is a disaster. We're not going to open it on many screens. We're just going to find two movie screens in the United States. I think it was in some random places and not even big markets.

And they finally found some guy who had been a milk truck driver and had been in two movies. And nobody had heard of him. His name was Sean Connery. The movie was called Dr. No. And the studio said, good God, this is a disaster. We're not going to open it on many screens. We're just going to find two movie screens in the United States. I think it was in some random places and not even big markets.

An opening weekend. And who knew? People loved it. And it grew into the longest running film franchise of all time. So that was an example of a loon shot. And one of the lessons there is all these ideas look really crazy in the beginning, but that's the reason they're such big ideas because everybody else writes them off.

An opening weekend. And who knew? People loved it. And it grew into the longest running film franchise of all time. So that was an example of a loon shot. And one of the lessons there is all these ideas look really crazy in the beginning, but that's the reason they're such big ideas because everybody else writes them off.

and the first person that breaks through is going to do very well so what does the statin drugs have to do with that that was the same idea the statin drugs are the drugs that as you probably know lower cholesterol they're responsible for preventing tens of millions of heart attacks maybe other than antibacterials or vaccines, responsible for the most lives saved over the last 30, 40 years.

and the first person that breaks through is going to do very well so what does the statin drugs have to do with that that was the same idea the statin drugs are the drugs that as you probably know lower cholesterol they're responsible for preventing tens of millions of heart attacks maybe other than antibacterials or vaccines, responsible for the most lives saved over the last 30, 40 years.

And when it was first suggested by a Japanese guy named Akira Endo, who just passed away actually this year, people said, no, that's a dumb idea. There's no way you can take a pill to lower cholesterol. That's the stupidest idea we've ever heard.

And when it was first suggested by a Japanese guy named Akira Endo, who just passed away actually this year, people said, no, that's a dumb idea. There's no way you can take a pill to lower cholesterol. That's the stupidest idea we've ever heard.

And so what James Bond and the statin drugs have in common is that they were all loon shots, they all had multiple deaths, and they all became the most successful franchise of their field.

And so what James Bond and the statin drugs have in common is that they were all loon shots, they all had multiple deaths, and they all became the most successful franchise of their field.

I'll give you three of the Fs. Fear, focus, and framework. Fear we just talked about, but it becomes directly related to your ability to run experiments where if you punish people for failing. I ran an experiment and it didn't work. Oh, you demote it or you don't get a bonus. What are they going to do? They're only going to run experiments that work.

I'll give you three of the Fs. Fear, focus, and framework. Fear we just talked about, but it becomes directly related to your ability to run experiments where if you punish people for failing. I ran an experiment and it didn't work. Oh, you demote it or you don't get a bonus. What are they going to do? They're only going to run experiments that work.

What's an experiment that you know in advance is going to work? Nothing. It's not a real experiment. It's playing it safe. You're not innovating. The second F is focus. Very often, leaders will say, I want everybody to innovate. Innovation is good. Come back to me with your ideas. And then people come back with, well, I'd like us to build a train set. I'd like a credit card.

What's an experiment that you know in advance is going to work? Nothing. It's not a real experiment. It's playing it safe. You're not innovating. The second F is focus. Very often, leaders will say, I want everybody to innovate. Innovation is good. Come back to me with your ideas. And then people come back with, well, I'd like us to build a train set. I'd like a credit card.

I'd like to do a t-shirt. I'd like to open a theme park. And it's like, what are you talking about? You know, we run a tractor company. What are you talking about credit cards and t-shirts and theme parks? So then says no to all these ideas. And what happened? People become demotivated. Like, oh, I'm not taking my ideas here anymore. So the lack of focus is a big problem.

I'd like to do a t-shirt. I'd like to open a theme park. And it's like, what are you talking about? You know, we run a tractor company. What are you talking about credit cards and t-shirts and theme parks? So then says no to all these ideas. And what happened? People become demotivated. Like, oh, I'm not taking my ideas here anymore. So the lack of focus is a big problem.