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Greatness

Greatness

By: Jonathan Watts
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Learn from history’s greatest.

Each week, Jonathan Watts dives into the lives and moments of the world's most extraordinary people, uncovering timeless lessons and unforgettable stories.

© 2026 Greatness
World
Episodes
  • 143. Morgan Housel - Essays on Human Nature, Failing Well, and Timeless Lessons
    Feb 17 2026

    Diving into some of the very best ideas from one of my favorite writers and thinkers, Morgan Housel.

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    "People can be led to believe and defend almost anything, because the goal of a belief is often not to discover what’s true – it’s to justify past actions, or protect your reputation, or provide hope when it’s lacking, or to maximize your income, or to signal to others that you belong to the tribe."

    - Morgan Housel

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    Sources/Essays are linked in the time stamps below

    1:15 - Why You Beleive What You Do

    14:21 - The Power of Failing Well

    18:40 - The Freakisly Strong Base

    26:25 - You Have To Live It To Believe It

    36:07 - How it All Works (Short Stories on Big Things)

    42:00 - Little Rules About Big Things

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    Check out my books below.

    Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming

    Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

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    You can check stay connected and support below:

    Website
    Books
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    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • 142. George Pocock - The Life of a True Craftsman
    Feb 12 2026

    Diving into the life of craftsman and boatbuilder, George Pocock

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    “It’s a great art, is rowing. It’s the finest art there is. It’s a symphony of motion. And when you’re rowing well, why it’s nearing perfection. And when you’re nearing perfection, you’re touching the Divine. It touches the you of yous. Which is your soul.”

    - George Pocock

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    Sources

    Ready All - Gordan Newell and Dick Erickson

    Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown

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    Time Stamps

    3:40 - Why be a craftsman

    4:55 - George's origins

    5:45 - A motto for life - amor fati

    9:22 - The apprenticeship

    10:50 - The lesson from his dad: “Now you can build your own boat for this race, and I will give you one bit of advice. No one will ask you how long it took you to build it, they will only ask who built it.”

    16:20 - Good work leads to good oppotunities

    18:55 - Great opportunity, followed by great disaster

    20:45 - The craftsman banishes negativity and bullshit

    23:45 - How building boats opened up new opportunties

    26:50 - How Geroge Pocock helped build/get the Boeing company off the ground

    28:45 - Choosing meaning > money

    30:05 - How he dealt with the tough early days as a full-time boat builder

    34:10 - A beautiful story on loyalty

    38:20 - The character building of rowing and finding your "rowing" activities

    42:15 - The craftsman ultiamte goal

    42:53 - Lose yourself in the work

    44:18 - Good work needs good thoughts

    45:00 - The work should touch your soul

    -----

    Check out my books below.

    Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming

    Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

    -----

    You can check stay connected and support below:

    Website
    Books
    Instagram
    X
    LinkedIn

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 141. Thomas Edison's Superpower
    Feb 10 2026

    Diving into the single trait that was at the root of Thomas Edison's greatness.

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    Sources

    Thomas Edison - Matthew Josephson

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    Check out my books below.

    Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming

    Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

    -----

    You can check stay connected and support below:

    Website
    Books
    Instagram
    X
    LinkedIn

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
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