A year ago, Uncommon Excellence didn’t exist. What follows is a thank-you to the person most responsible for its existence: David Senra, host of The Founders Podcast.

David has dedicated years to reading hundreds of biographies of history’s greatest founders, distilling timeless lessons on obsession, craft, and long-term thinking.

I discovered Founders in April of 2024, starting with the episode on Walt Disney. What followed was deep immersion and obsession: hundreds of hours spent listening, re-listening, taking notes, and buying the books he studies. Founders didn’t just inspire me; it changed how I approach learning. I didn’t simply enjoy it; I learned to respect it.

That influence led directly to the creation of this podcast, carrying the same spirit forward for younger builders and deeply curious minds. This work exists downstream of Founders.

David, when you listen to this episode, thank you for reading when no one was watching.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

Books:

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson

Disney's Land by Richard Snow

Endurance by Alfred Lansing

How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs

Four Seasons by Isadore Sharp

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

What if one sentence could unlock decades of wisdom from the sharpest minds? These 15 quotes—from Munger's reading obsession to Jobs on simplicity, Tyson's reality check, and Walsh's process mastery—aren't just words. They're tools to think clearly, decide faster, and build better.

Packed with hidden insights on habits that stick, focus that wins, endurance through pain, and what separates the successful from the elite.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

What I learned from Oversubscribed, Key Person of Influence, Entrepreneur Revolution, and 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley

There’s a business hack so powerful most founders never use it — not because it doesn’t work, but because it works too well.

In this episode, we break down a simple but dangerous idea that the world’s best creators, entrepreneurs, and brands quietly rely on to create overwhelming demand. When you understand this concept, it changes how you build, how you launch, and how you think about value forever.

We’ll explore:

Why some brands have people lining up for what they offer

How familiarity and anticipation are engineered

The four ways to differentiate yourself in a crowded world

And the mindset shifts Daniel Priestley teaches that can transform your entrepreneurial instinct

If you’re building anything — a podcast, a business, a personal brand — this episode gives you a mental model that can create massive traction… fast.

Just be careful. It’s the kind of insight that can expose every weakness in your system if you’re not ready.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King

Sam Zemurray’s story isn’t just about building an empire—it’s about what happens when power demands a price. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen battles, the sacrifices made in silence, and the reputation wars that defined the final act of the Banana King’s life. It’s a story about ambition’s cost and the fragile line between legacy and infamy.

Power isn’t just about what you build—it’s about what you’re willing to risk to keep it. But some things—family, integrity, true legacy—are too important to sacrifice, no matter the stakes. As we unpack Zemurray’s last moves, we confront the question every founder faces: When the cost of power becomes personal, how do you decide what’s worth holding onto?

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

What I learned from The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King

In this episode of Uncommon Excellence, we trace Sam Zemurray’s rise from a penniless 14-year-old immigrant to the “Banana King” who built an empire from waste. It begins in 1891, when Zemurray flips overripe bananas into $40 — proof that he could create value in a world that offered him none. By 21, he’s mastered the banana trade through grit, simplicity, and firsthand knowledge of every inch of his business.

When the Honduran government’s taxes threaten to crush his company, Zemurray doesn’t fold — he rewrites the rules, orchestrating a coup that changes the course of his life and Central America’s history.

Zemurray’s story isn’t just about bananas; it’s about defiance, resourcefulness, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity. His maxims still ring true: “Start at the bottom, fight your way to the top.” and “There’s no problem you can’t solve if you understand your business from A to Z.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

In this milestone episode of Uncommon Excellence, we’re celebrating a huge moment—1,000 downloads! What started as a dream for the end of the year has become a reality, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who’s tuned in, shared an episode, or supported the journey so far.

In this, I'll reflect on the lessons learned from building the podcast, highlight some of the most popular episodes, and share a glimpse of what’s next as we set our sights on even bigger goals. This is just the beginning—thank you for being part of the journey! Let’s keep building this together.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.

In this episode, Tyler Schuster explores the principle of extreme ownership, stressing the importance of taking full responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. He explains how this mindset has been shaped by his experiences with business mentors like Patrick Bet-David, who emphasized that true leaders recognize themselves as the common denominator in their challenges. Tyler highlights the value of having difficult but necessary conversations and holding oneself accountable, as well as practices that he believes are critical for both personal and professional growth. At its core, this approach calls for looking inward first, identifying areas for improvement, and taking proactive steps to create lasting change.

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Official Sponsors of Uncommon Excellence:

Uncommon Excellence Merch: This isn’t about clothing—it’s about what it represents. A commitment to never settling, to chasing greatness, and to living with purpose. Every piece is a reminder of the standard we hold ourselves to: uncommon effort, uncommon ambition, uncommon results. Wear it as a symbol of the mindset that builds legacies. Click the link to join the movement.

Uncommon Excellence AI: If you’re tired of settling for average and ready to build something extraordinary, Uncommon Excellence AI is your ultimate tool. Designed to think like a founder, it’s trained on the lessons, books, and mindset that fuel the world’s greatest builders and thinkers. Whether you’re refining a business idea, breaking down a strategy, or tackling your next big move, this AI challenges you to think sharper, act bolder, and unlock your next level. Stop following the crowd—start creating the future. Click here to try Uncommon Excellence AI now

Readwise helps me retain the most powerful ideas from every book, article, and highlight—so I can apply them, not just admire them. If you’re serious about learning at the level of the greats, Readwise is non-negotiable. Start your free trial at Readwise

Join the Uncommon Excellence Notes for my notes for every podcast episode and my Top 10 Highlights of each book.