What I learned from reading Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography by Rinsey Mills. This was originally episode 99. I wanted to post the full episode on July 4th so we can learn from an American original.[3:27] I love everything about this person. I like the way he thought. I like the way he lived his life.[3:38] It is almost unbelievable all the different events that could happen in one human lifetime.[3:52] He lived to 89 years old and he used every single year that he was alive.[5:22] He could talk his way out of anything.[6:40] He knew what he wanted. He didn't want anybody else telling him what to do.[7:41] He had a love for anything that would go fast.[10:48] He didn’t know what to do with his life.[15:54] Follow your natural drift. —Charlie Munger[17:00] I can't work for anybody.[18:42]  He has fun his entire life. As soon as they stop being fun he runs away.[22:20] A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market by Ed Thorp. (Founders #93 and #222) [24:17]  Money only solves money problems.[26:32] Scratching around doing insignificant races with inferior machinery wasn't an option in which he could see any future.[27:26] Whatever setbacks he encountered he was invariably able to bounce back through a combination of self-belief and an aptitude for making other people believe in him.[27:45] Enthusiasm and passion are universal attractive traits.[28:05] Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans by A.J. Baime. (Founders #97) and Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics, and the Making of an Automobile Empire by Luca Dal Monte. (Founders #98) [30:29] The Purple Cow by Seth Godin[32:22] Distant Force: A Memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created It by Dr. George Roberts. (Founders #110)[32:38] Having extreme focus in the information age is a superpower.[36:13] Racing was a means to an end. He wanted to build his own car. That was his main goal.[42:34] He still didn't know quite how he was going to do it but if he was finally going to produce his own sports car.[53:48] All big things start small.[58:31] 12 months after Shelby was deeply depressed his life is completely different and the Shelby Cobra starts to take shape.[1:00:06] A summary of the early days of Shelby Automotive: Everything had to be done tomorrow and by the cheapest method possible.[1:01:12] It wasn't uncommon for them to work until two or three in the morning and be back down there at 7:30 the next morning.[1:02:22] There's just something special about a group of highly talented, smart people working together for a common goal.[1:03:48] Shelby hates company politics. That is why he wanted to run a smaller company.[1:17:30] My name is Carroll Shelby and performance is my business. —“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested, so my poor wallet suffers. ”— GarethBe like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast