In this candid and introspective conversation, Scooter Braun, a prominent figure in the music and investment industries, delves into personal growth, the importance of self-acceptance, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Braun, known for managing top artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande and for his investment acumen through TQ Ventures, reflects on the pivotal moments of his life, including the profound impact of his divorce and the realization of the need for self-work. He emphasizes the significance of embracing one's inner child and the journey towards feeling genuinely successful, independent of external achievements. Braun also discusses the evolution of the music industry, highlighting the role of technology in its growth, and shares insights on parenting in the context of wealth and fame. Throughout the discussion, Braun and the host explore themes of identity, the quest for parental approval, and the struggle with the duality of personal and public personas, ultimately underscoring the universal human experience of seeking happiness and fulfillment.
"Being mature is loving your twelve year old self... you were always good enough at twelve before you started going through that teenage and security stuff."
This quote reflects the idea that maturity comes with self-acceptance, looking back at a younger self without the judgments or insecurities that come later in life.
"I'm becoming more and more successful, but I'm not becoming happier."
Harry expresses a common misconception that success brings happiness, but finds the reality to be different, prompting a reevaluation of his beliefs.
"I thought if I got this much, I would feel at peace. And now I could just go through life and be happy. And nothing had changed."
Scooter Braun shares his experience of reaching a financial milestone only to find that it did not bring the expected sense of fulfillment or happiness.
"If Harry Stebings builds this VC firm, if Harry Stebings builds this media company, if these help people, if he can be an example to other people of success, then he doesn't have to tell everyone the fear that he has or the frustration he has, or the childhood that he had to step up to always be an example."
Scooter Braun discusses the pressure to be a role model and the internal struggles that can be masked by outward success.
"Since I've done this work, not only are there a lot of people there for me, but I also came to the realization that there were always a lot of people there for me and I just wasn't letting them in because I thought that it was weak to do."
Scooter Braun reflects on how his willingness to be vulnerable has opened up his support network and allowed him to realize the support that was always there.
"Boundaries are there for you to teach other people how to treat you."
Scooter Braun highlights the importance of boundaries in teaching others how to engage with you, especially when success changes relationship dynamics.
"The Internet is not a real place... if someone is taking time out of their day to write you something negative and they don't even know you online, it's usually because they're hurting."
Scooter Braun shares his perspective on handling online criticism, emphasizing the disconnect between internet personas and real life.
"What I run towards is the resistance I find within myself. If I find resistance in myself towards something, then I have something unresolved, and I need to look inside myself on what is unresolved and get to that work."
Scooter Braun discusses his approach to dealing with conflict, focusing on internal resistance as a path to self-improvement.
"Almost every single time, something bad happens, or you would assume it's a bad situation, I always say, okay, there's something in this for us, or there's a message in this."
Scooter Braun reflects on his experiences of turning challenging situations into pivotal moments that propelled his and his clients' careers forward.
"I think we both have a love of storytelling, and it's not tied to lessons."
Harry acknowledges the importance of storytelling in creating meaningful discussions and connections, beyond just conveying theoretical knowledge.
"My most painful professional mistake. I have lots of them, honestly, but I don't see them as mistakes. I see them as the greatest moments of perspective because I needed them."
This quote highlights Braun's perspective on mistakes as valuable lessons rather than setbacks, emphasizing the importance of gaining perspective through challenging experiences.
"So I gave $50 million of my own stock away to my employees and my artists when I received my payment."
Braun shares an example of how he applied the lessons he learned from past experiences to a significant business transaction, choosing to prioritize inclusivity and generosity.
"But ambition can also hurt you. And what I mean by that is there are plenty of times in my career where I can look back, and if someone's frustrated. I said I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything by the book. This is business, and I did everything right. But I, in my heart, I could have done it a different way."
Braun reflects on the drawbacks of being overly ambitious and the importance of considering alternate approaches in business that align with one's values.
"I decided to do HYBE because I wanted partners."
Braun explains his motivation for the HYBE deal, highlighting his desire for partnership and a shift in his professional focus.
"In the west, you guys always talk about transaction, and in the east, we actually talk about what we're going to do after the transaction."
This quote from Chairman Bang during the HYBE deal negotiations impressed Braun and played a role in his decision to proceed with the partnership.
"The best deals are the ones where everybody wins."
Braun shares wisdom from his grandfather, which has guided his approach to business negotiations, focusing on creating deals where all parties feel they have won.
"I don't have as much regret anymore."
Braun expresses his current perspective on regret, indicating that he has come to terms with past decisions as integral to his journey.
"And then something called thefacebook.com launched, and Emery was one of the first eight or twelve schools."
Braun recounts his initial encounter with Facebook, which sparked his interest in the tech space and venture investing.
"It was a company that was valued at $400 million in San Francisco, and it was only in San Francisco, and it was a cab company called Uber."
Braun describes one of his early investment decisions, which turned out to be highly successful, highlighting the importance of recognizing potential in new ventures.
"We have over a billion in under management."
Braun provides an overview of the scale of TQ Ventures and the success of their investment strategy.
"I'm very honored to be in business with those guys and it's been a lot of fun."
He expresses gratitude for his partnership with TQ Ventures and the positive experiences they've had in the investment space.
"Why should you have to balance two things that you love? You should harmonize them."
This quote from Jeff Bezos, shared by Braun, encapsulates the idea of integrating rather than balancing work and personal life, which Braun has embraced.
"It's not that they are scaring you, it's that you don't trust them to see you fully." "It's because maybe we don't trust them to see us fully because we haven't accept ourselves fully."
These quotes discuss the idea that trust issues with others may actually be a reflection of one's own lack of self-acceptance. The speaker suggests that people might project their insecurities onto others, blaming external factors for their own feelings of inadequacy.
"It took me years to get up drinking because, said, I look at my biggest deals, it's because I went drinking with them and I went drinking with them and I used it as this crutch to keep on going for myself."
The speaker reflects on how they used drinking as a crutch in their professional life, suggesting that personal growth often requires confronting and overcoming such dependencies.
"They're betting on you because they like you and they want to see you win."
This quote emphasizes that investors or supporters often choose to back individuals because of their potential and character, not just their current achievements or age.
"I believe that one of the next great firms will be built with media at the very center of it, and leverage media to find. To pick, to help the best companies in the world."
The speaker shares their vision of integrating media into the core of venture capital to create a unique and impactful firm.
"I'm desperately alone, bluntly. And you turn off the lights at night, and you're suddenly. The silence is very loud."
This quote reveals the speaker's personal struggle with loneliness, highlighting the contrast between professional success and personal fulfillment.
"I think if it shows up, just pay attention to that."
The speaker advises that personal relationships and opportunities should be valued and not be sacrificed for professional success alone.
"Those kids are the best thing that ever happened to me."
This quote expresses the profound impact that having children has had on the speaker's life, shaping their priorities and mindset.
"I think that trauma was in me. And I just thought, well, I'm building this and it's significant."
The speaker acknowledges the impact of personal trauma on their ability to be present and appreciate their achievements, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues for personal growth.
"Are you not fearful of mediocrity? I'm almost like, I don't want to go into a relationship. I don't want to have kids because I'm like, I'll be mediocre like everyone else."
This quote reflects the speaker's internal struggle with the fear of mediocrity and how it affects their personal decisions regarding relationships and family.
"Richard Branson was, like, the entrepreneur that I looked up to massively."
The speaker discusses the influence of Richard Branson on their life, highlighting the importance of role models in shaping aspirations and values.
"Once a year, take a week off, no phone, no emails and do a week of self work."
This quote advocates for the practice of taking dedicated time away from distractions to focus on self-improvement and mental health.
"You were paying attention to Richard Branson because of all the achievements."
The speaker points out that while achievements are celebrated, it is important to recognize and value the personal qualities and relationships that contribute to one's overall success and identity.
"I think the most important thing is starting to realize that this brand you created was created by you."
The quote emphasizes the realization that the strength and success attributed to a public brand actually originate from the individual's own capabilities and efforts, not the brand itself.
"I do worry about that. So I spoke to a lot of kids who I thought were amazing human beings who came up with a lot of wealth and two common denominators I found after interviewing so many kids and their parents, of the great ones, one, accountability is the number one common denominator."
This quote highlights Scooter Braun's concern about the influence of wealth on children and the importance of accountability as a key factor in raising well-adjusted individuals.
"I think having a sense of your own identity is really important. And I want my kids to know that they're allowed to have their own identity."
Scooter Braun emphasizes the significance of children, especially those from wealthy backgrounds, developing their own identity separate from their family's achievements.
"I want my kids to know. And I think you deserve to know. And I deserve to know that you don't need to do anything to have love this way."
Scooter Braun expresses his belief in unconditional love for children, where they don't have to earn approval through achievements.
"I think the most important thing a kid can hear is that the parent feels the exact same way, that I'm proud of you because of who you are, exactly the way you are."
This quote conveys the idea that children should be assured that their parents' pride in them is not conditional on their successes or actions.
"I think for the first time in my life, I'm getting there."
Scooter Braun reflects on his evolving perception of success, which now includes a sense of self-acceptance.
"Being mature is loving your twelve year old self."
This quote from Scooter Braun's grandmother encapsulates the idea that maturity involves embracing and accepting oneself, including the person one was at a younger age.
"In 100 years, no one's going to remember him, so they sure as hell won't remember me. So don't have an ego."
David Geffen's advice to Scooter Braun serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of individual legacy and the importance of not letting ego drive one's actions.
"I have the financial freedom to take time off, to go work on myself."
Scooter Braun acknowledges the privilege of financial security and its enabling role in allowing for personal growth and breaking generational patterns.
"I think the biggest struggles in life aren't getting on that stage or how do I make another hit song? Or how do I build a vc? Or how do I build a company? It's how do I get through the suffering of the human experience?"
Scooter Braun reflects on the universal struggle of navigating the human experience, which transcends professional achievements and industry success.
"I think a company like Spotify is going to grow 10% to 12% year over year for the next ten years."
This quote highlights Scooter Braun's optimistic outlook on the growth potential of the music industry, specifically the role of companies like Spotify in driving this expansion.
"I think for the first time in my life, I don't know. And I'm excited about that."
Scooter Braun expresses his openness to the unknown future and his commitment to being involved in his family and personal growth.
"I'm very proud of the achievements of. But when you asked me that question, even though I posed it to you, I felt this visceral reaction inside of me of then he's asking the wrong person."
Scooter Braun discusses the internal conflict he feels when considering his own success, indicating a shift towards self-acceptance and pride in his identity beyond his achievements.