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In Search Of Excellence — Business
In Search Of Excellence

In Search of Excellence goes inside the lives of extraordinary entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors, athletes, entertainers, and leaders to uncover what it really takes to achieve exceptional success.

Hosted by Randall Kaplan – serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and creator of the Extreme Preparation™ methodology – the podcast explores the preparation, habits, failures, relationships, resilience, mindset, and decisions behind extraordinary achievement.

Randall’s guests include Tony Robbins, Mark Cuban, Gary Vaynerchuk, Mike Tyson, David Solomon, Dana White, Robert Greene, Sammy Hagar, and many more. The show has ranked as high as #3 in Entrepreneurship and #10 in Business on Apple Podcasts.

Each episode delivers practical lessons and powerful stories about building careers and companies, overcoming adversity, making better decisions, developing winning mindsets, and preparing for the moments that matter most.

Copyright: © 2025 In Search of Excellence Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Tim Draper: Think Big and Drive Progress | E05 Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

What does it take to become one of the most iconic and successful venture capitalists of all time? How does a commitment to freedom and trust empower us to think big and drive progress?
Meet Tim Draper. An early investor in Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, Space X, Twitter, Robinhood, Coinbase, and other industry-disrupting companies, Tim began his venture capital journey at age 27 and never looked back. In this episode, Tim breaks down for listeners why thinking for yourself will be the most valuable skill in the 21st century, how cryptocurrency could forever change the economy as we know it, what selling condoms can teach us about running a business, and much more.
Topic Include:
The impending automation revolution, and how to prepare for it. What selling apples as a kid taught Draper about politics. The importance of heroes and superhero figures. The unique curriculum of Draper University. Cryptocurrencies and the future of bitcoin. The art of cold calling, and the ability to close. Working with Elon Musk. The value of mentorship, and other topics.
Tim Draper is a true visionary. A third-generation venture capitalist, Tim is one of the most successful venture capitalists of all time. In 1999, Tim created the first Silicon Valley venture capital firm to raise a global venture capital fund. He was an early investor in bitcoin and has been among its greatest proponents since 2010. He is the author of How To Be The Startup Hero: A Guide and Textbook for Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Entrepreneurs. Tim is also the founder of Draper University whose mission is to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of students from around the world and prepare them for success in the real world.
Resources Mentioned:
How To Be The Startup Hero, by Tim Draper
Draper University

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

Brad Keywell: The Mindset of a World-Class Entrepreneur | E04 Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Randall Kaplan is joined by Brad Keywell to discuss what it takes to achieve excellence at the highest level as an entrepreneur. In this episode, Brad shares with listeners how to out-work and out-hustle the competition, why he channels his entrepreneurial drive into disrupting industries, how he grew Groupon from 124 employees to 5,100 employees in a single calendar year, and much more.
Topics Include:
Brad’s five keys to success. Brad’s early business ventures, including a greeting card business he started at age six. The power of preparation. Brad’s mentorship under Sam Zell. The lasting influence of loving, supportive parents. Tangible versus intangible skills. Fundamental truths about parenting. Working with the energy of fear. Choosing business ventures as an entrepreneur. Overcoming early failures. Focusing on what you can control. Balancing individual needs and collective needs. Mental health, self-care, philanthropy, and other topics.
Brad Keywell is an incredible entrepreneur who has co-founded a variety of companies including Echo Global Logistics, Enterprise Transportation, Uptake, and most famously Groupon. He is currently the CEO at Uptake, which reached the $2 billion valuation faster than any other tech company in history - and was a Co-Founder of Groupon, which at the time reached the $1 billion valuation faster than any other company in history. In 2019, Brad received the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award, becoming one of only three American winners in the award’s 21-year history. He is the co-founder of Lightbank, a venture capital firm with $360 million under management that specializes in making venture capital investments in "disruptive" technology companies in the United States. Brad is also the founder of Chicago Ideas Week, a week-long conference bringing together thought leaders and innovators from around the world to speak on a variety of topics - and he has also signed The Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

Sharon Stone: I Will Do Whatever It Takes | E03 Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Randall Kaplan is joined by global superstar Sharon Stone to discuss what it took for her to achieve excellence in Hollywood as an outsider, how she managed to claw her way back from a crippling brain aneurysm, why being of service goes hand-in-hand with pursuing excellence, and much more.
Topics Include:
Growing up dirt poor. Sharon’s early jobs and experiences as a model. Challenges as a woman and an outsider in Hollywood. The need to constantly prove yourself as a woman. Setting clear goals and pursuing dreams. The primacy of professionalism and kindness. The challenges of being a global superstar. The prevalence of sexual assault in the US. Finding ways to be of service every day. Sharon’s charity and philanthropic work. And other topics.
Sharon Stone achieved global superstardom for her performance in the blockbuster film Basic Instinct and has appeared in over fifty-two movies. She has won 43 awards for her acting including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture and an Academy Award nomination for the film Casino. Sharon is intimately involved in humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, and received the Nobel Peace Summit Award in 2013. In March of 2021, Sharon released The Beauty of Living Twice, an autobiography that details her life and the incredible challenges she’s managed to overcome.
Resources Mentioned:
The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone
Teenline, emotional support line for youth – 1.800.852.8336
Hotline for victims of domestic abuse – 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Homeless Not Toothless
Planet Hope

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

Kliff Kingsbury: Work Ethic Is Everything | E02 Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Randall Kaplan is joined by Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury to discuss going all-in on your dreams, dealing with setbacks, dedicating yourself to your craft, cultivating the "work ethic is everything" mindset on our path to excellence, and much more.
Topics Include:
Following through and finishing what you start. The relationship between integrity, punctuality, and excellence. The power of work ethic to carry us through losses. Harnessing inspiration from elite performers. Recruiting and coaching Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. Dealing with public criticism and setbacks. The pressures of being a head coach. The importance of presentation and style. Partnering with people who share your core values, and other topics.
Kliff Kingsbury is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals (2019-Present), and the former head coach of Texas Tech (2013-2018). Kliff is a former NFL quarterback who won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in college as the nation’s best passer at Texas Tech. He is considered an offensive genius and has coached four former Heisman Trophy winners including Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray.

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

Sam Zell: Think Different | E01 Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Randall Kaplan is joined by American billionaire businessman and philanthropist Sam Zell to discuss daring to be different, finding and capitalizing on opportunities, what it means to go for greatness, and much more.
Topics Include:
How Sam’s parents escaped from Poland prior to Nazi invasion. What freedom and an opportunity to thrive in the US meant to the Zell family. Sam’s early success in real estate during his college years. The power of clarity to transform your business. Getting turned down by 43 consecutive law firms. Evaluating and taking on risk as a business owner and investor. The importance of culture, access, and a lack of hierarchy within an organization. Thoughts on current investment trends such as digital currencies. And other topics.
Samuel Zell is the chairman of Equity Group Investments and five publicly-traded companies on the NYSE. He is considered one of the grandfathers of the modern real estate investment industry and was recognized by Forbes as one of the greatest living business minds. A self-made billionaire with a net worth of over $5 billion, Sam is an active philanthropist with a focus on entrepreneurial education.
Resources Mentioned:
Am I Being Too Subtle by Sam Zell
“The Grave Dancer” by Sam Zell

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

We all have dreams of being successful and achieving excellence in our lives, but we inevitably experience resistance, challenges, and obstacles in the pursuit of our dreams.
In Search of Excellence provides us with the inspiration we need to overcome these obstacles and accomplish our goals by taking us through the stories, routes, and strategies of people from hundreds of different backgrounds who have achieved excellence in both their professional and personal lives.
In this introductory episode, host Randall Kaplan shares his intentions for the podcast, and what listeners can expect in forthcoming episodes.

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X

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