In this revealing episode, Stan sits down with Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills, to delve into his gripping experiences in entrepreneurship and business transformation. Jeremy shares the tumultuous journey of rethinking and reinventing Traeger Grills amidst economic upheavals, tariffs, and a toxic corporate culture. The conversation covers the critical importance of negotiation, managing complex supplier relationships, leveraging partnerships with major retailers like Costco, and the power of transparency in leadership. Alongside anecdotes from his time at Skullcandy and a harrowing poisoning scare in China, Jeremy offers invaluable insights into building a resilient business that's not just about survival, but winning.

00:27 Meet Jeremy Andres: CEO of Traeger Grills

01:12 Navigating Challenges: COVID and Tariffs

02:47 Reinvention and Survival Strategies

05:38 Transparency and Team Communication

10:43 Jeremy's Harvard Business School Journey

13:16 Early Entrepreneurial Struggles

17:17 Joining Skullcandy: The Early Days

21:55 Negotiating Deals and Raising Capital

29:05 Acquiring Traeger Grills: The Surprises

30:04 Acquiring a 27-Year-Old Business

30:35 Cultural Challenges and Realizations

33:01 Negotiating a Buyout

33:34 Revamping the Supply Chain

34:37 Dealing with Toxic Culture

36:59 Retail Negotiations and Battle Scars

37:25 Costco's Tough Negotiation Tactics

48:38 Supplier Negotiations in China

55:54 Building Strong Supplier Relationships

01:03:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

#AllThingsNegotiation #NegotiationStrategy #DealMaking #BusinessLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #MethodicalThinking #BATNA #Leverage #SalesLeadership #FounderLife #CLevelLeadership #StrategicThinking #BusinessPodcast #StanAndJeremy #Traeger

In this episode, Stan welcomes David Neeleman, a renowned figure in the airline industry, for an in-depth conversation on the intricacies of building successful airlines. David, who has founded five airlines including JetBlue and Breeze Airways, shares his insights on effective negotiation, leadership, and personal growth. The discussion covers his career journey, significant milestones, key strategies in negotiating with stakeholders, and maintaining a strong company culture. David also opens up about challenges, including his time at Southwest Airlines and the infamous Valentine's Day crisis at JetBlue, and the lessons learned from these experiences.

01:04 David Neeleman's Early Career and Morris Air

02:21 The Sale to Southwest Airlines

04:43 Challenges at Southwest and Moving On

06:33 Founding WestJet and Navitaire

09:40 The Birth of JetBlue

11:17 JetBlue's Success and Differentiation

13:29 Negotiating with Boeing and Airbus

16:03 Customer Engagement and Communication Strategies

22:14 Total Transparency and Accountability

22:39 The Valentine's Day Massacre Crisis

25:43 Lessons from Getting Fired

29:51 Founding Azul Airlines

32:18 Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges

34:14 The Success of Breeze Airways

42:25 Effective Negotiation Strategies

43:34 Advice for Young Professionals

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.

In this episode, Stan talks with Chip Conley, an iconic entrepreneur and the founder of the Joie De Vivre hotel chain, a key player in Airbnb, and the creator of the Modern Elder Academy. They dive into the principles of karmic capitalism, lessons learned from building and scaling multiple successful businesses, and strategies for maintaining a good reputation.

Chip shares his experiences at Airbnb, dealing with regulation challenges, and the importance of inter-generational collaboration.

They also discuss the Modern Elder Academy, where Chip helps individuals navigate midlife transitions and find new purpose.

This episode is rich with lessons in negotiation, leadership, and holistic thinking.

Check out:

Chip’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast

Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/

Chip’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMidlifeChrysalisPodcast

00:00 Introduction to Karmic Capitalism

00:20 Meet Chip Conley: Entrepreneurial Journey

02:48 Founding Joie de Vivre Hotel Chain

05:55 Negotiating with Bands and Tour Managers

11:26 Risk and Decision Making in Business

15:21 Hotel Vitale: A Case Study in Negotiation

19:26 Managing Through Economic Downturns

23:34 Transition to Airbnb and Burning Man Involvement

29:20 The Ethos of Burning Man

29:39 Negotiation Strategies and Personal Stories

31:46 Joining Airbnb: A New Challenge

33:08 Building Culture and Facing Challenges at Airbnb

36:33 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics

40:28 Regulation and Host Relations

45:02 Founding the Modern Elder Academy

48:09 Helping People Navigate Midlife Transitions

52:25 The Value of Wisdom and Experience

54:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts