September 10, 2024 • 1hr 23min

Alex Smith, Shane Battier, & Ravi Gupta - What Makes A Glue Guy? - [Invest Like the Best, EP.387]

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

This episode marks the launch of a new Colossus show called "Glue Guys" hosted by Shane Battier, Alex Smith, and Ravi Gupta. Each host has reached the pinnacle of their respective professions - Battier as an NCAA and NBA champion, Smith as a #1 NFL draft pick and Pro Bowler, and Gupta as a leader at KKR, Instacart, and now Sequoia Capital. The conversation explores the concept of "glue guys" - people obsessed with helping teams win regardless of their role. It delves into the hosts' experiences building and being part of great teams, overcoming adversity, leadership lessons, and more.

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Key Takeaways

Individual talent vs teamwork: While individual talent is important, great teams are much rarer and more powerful. The best things happen with teams working together towards a common goal.
Key attributes of great teams: High trust, clear mission focus, selflessness, vulnerability, and a shared sense of purpose are critical for building exceptional teams.
Leadership and communication: Great leaders constantly remind people why they're there and communicate the mission/vision relentlessly. Assuming people know why they're there is a mistake.
Mentorship and leading by example: The best teammates and leaders demonstrate vulnerability, set standards through their actions, and lift others up.
Overcoming adversity: Facing and working through difficult challenges as a team builds resilience and creates stronger bonds.
Family influence: The sacrifices and examples set by family members, especially parents and grandparents, can be a powerful motivating force.
Balancing strength and vulnerability: True strength often comes from being willing to show vulnerability and authenticity.
The urge to dominate and win: A competitive drive can be positive when channeled properly as part of a team pursuing a worthy goal.

Introduction

This episode marks the launch of a new Colossus show called "Glue Guys" hosted by Shane Battier, Alex Smith, and Ravi Gupta. Each host has reached the pinnacle of their respective professions - Battier as an NCAA and NBA champion, Smith as a #1 NFL draft pick and Pro Bowler, and Gupta as a leader at KKR, Instacart, and now Sequoia Capital.

The conversation explores the concept of "glue guys" - people obsessed with helping teams win regardless of their role. It delves into the hosts' experiences building and being part of great teams, overcoming adversity, leadership lessons, and more.

Topics Discussed

Individual Talent vs Teamwork (4:24)

The hosts discuss the relationship between individual talent and effective teamwork:

Ravi notes that in venture capital, you need talented individuals but can't succeed alone - sparring partners and teamwork are crucial.
Alex emphasizes that raw talent is common in pro sports, but great teams are much rarer and more impactful.
"Talent's not that rare in sports. Like, especially the higher you get, like, talent's everywhere," says Alex Smith.
Shane shares how his childhood experiences taught him the power of helping others win as part of a team.

Attributes of Great Teams (14:25)

The hosts reflect on the key ingredients that made their best teams successful:

High trust and clear mission focus - Shane cites these as critical for his championship teams at Duke and with the Miami Heat.
Selflessness and putting the team first - Alex notes this was key for his college football team's success.
Shared sense of purpose - Ravi highlights this as crucial at Instacart.
Facing adversity together - Shane shares how overcoming challenges strengthened his Duke team.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Pressure (21:33)

Alex Smith opens up about his struggles with self-doubt and pressure as the #1 NFL draft pick:

He went from playing fearlessly in college to being paralyzed by expectations in the NFL.
The pressure manifested physically - he couldn't eat before games and felt sick with anxiety.
He hit rock bottom during a nationally televised game where he was berated by his coach and fans chanted for the backup QB.
"I had just spent six years worrying. That's all I did was worry," Alex reflects on that difficult period.

Leadership and Communication (54:45)

Shane emphasizes the importance of constant communication from leaders:

Great leaders remind people every day why they're there and what the mission is.
It's exhausting but critical - the moment you assume people know why they're there, you've lost.
"What are you willing to sacrifice to be great as a leader? That's the question you have to ask yourself," says Shane.

Family Influence and Legacy (56:17)

The hosts reflect on how their families have shaped them:

Alex shares the story of his Serbian great-grandfather immigrating to America and taking the name Smith.
Ravi talks about his grandfather coming to the US in 1957 and how that created an "obligation to succeed."
Shane recounts how his parents sacrificed to send him to an elite private school to expand his opportunities.

Balancing Strength and Vulnerability (1:05:26)

The hosts debate whether true strength requires vulnerability:

Shane initially struggles to think of examples, noting athletes are taught to always show strength.
Alex argues the best leaders he knew were able to be vulnerable and "keep it real."
Ravi shares how Pat Grady at Sequoia demonstrates both strength and vulnerability effectively.

The Urge to Dominate and Win (1:11:00)

The conversation turns to the competitive drive to win and dominate:

Ravi embraces the urge to dominate as part of a team, as long as it's channeled positively.
Shane notes the importance of focusing on process and inputs vs outcomes, given how much randomness impacts winning.
They discuss balancing competitiveness with sportsmanship and being a "good dude."

Kindest Thing Anyone Has Done (1:15:05)

Alex Smith shares a powerful story about his wife's support during his comeback from a devastating leg injury:

After getting medical clearance to play again, Alex was filled with doubt and fear.
His wife helped him work through the emotions and gain perspective on the opportunity.
Her support in that moment enabled him to continue his comeback and changed the trajectory of his life.
"My life, I think about my life would be so different if I hadn't done that," Alex reflects on deciding to continue his comeback attempt.

Conclusion

This wide-ranging conversation between Patrick O'Shaughnessy and the hosts of the new Glue Guys podcast offers a fascinating look at what makes great teams and leaders tick. Drawing on their experiences at the highest levels of sports and business, Shane Battier, Alex Smith and Ravi Gupta share candid insights on overcoming adversity, building trust, effective communication, and channeling competitive drive in positive ways.

Key themes that emerged include the power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership, the importance of a shared sense of purpose, and how facing challenges together strengthens teams. The hosts also reflect on the influence of family and mentors in shaping their approaches.

Overall, the discussion provides a compelling look at the human elements that separate good teams from great ones. The chemistry between the hosts and their willingness to share personal stories creates an engaging and insightful conversation that sets the stage for their new podcast series exploring these themes further.