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What Got You There with Sean DeLaney — Business
What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

What Got You There is a study of mastery, judgment, and the inner lives of people who have become exceptionally good at what they do.

For more than a decade, Sean DeLaney has sat down with world-class investors, founders, CEOs, athletes, writers, chefs, artists, and other remarkable performers to understand how they think, what they notice, how they make decisions, and what their lives have taught them.

The conversations go beyond tactics and accomplishments into the harder questions: How do you develop unusually good judgment? What does mastery actually require? How do you sustain ambition without being consumed by it? What changes as success compounds? And how do you build a life that is as good on the inside as it looks from the outside?

With more than 400 conversations, What Got You There is an ongoing attempt to distill the ideas, practices, stories, and ways of seeing that are worth carrying forward.

Sean is a private advisor to a small number of founders, CEOs, and investors, and the author of three books.

🎧 Subscribe to join the journey.
📬 Connect at whatgotyouthere.com

Latest Episodes:

Howard Marks & Michael Mauboussin: The Art of Clear Thinking Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Over the history of this podcast there are two people who have probably influenced the way I think more than anyone else: Howard Marks and Michael Mauboussin.

For this special episode, I went back through my conversations with both of them and brought together the sections I continue to learn from. They were recorded separately, but the ideas speak to each other in a way that becomes especially powerful when you hear them together.

Howard Marks on standing apart from the herd, why "it's not what you buy, it's what you pay," the decision he's proudest of (deploying $7B during the 2008 crisis), and the most important thing in life outside of investing.

Michael Mauboussin hita on the discipline of clear thinking, why behavioral mistakes are the most durable source of edge, the decision journal Daniel Kahneman told him to keep, and how his career was launched by a trash can.

Watch or read the transcript HERE

About Sean DeLaney

Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to a small number of founders, CEOs and investors, working with them over long periods of time as they navigate consequential decisions across business and life.

He is also the host of What Got You There, where he has spent more than a decade studying how exceptional people think, make decisions, develop their craft and live.

Learn more about Sean → SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

Environmental Leverage: Your Position Changes Your Ability Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

We tend to think of ability as something contained within the person.

But the same trait can become extraordinarily valuable in one environment and almost useless in another.

Patience. Obsession. Aggression. Curiosity. Judgment.

Their value changes depending on the game, the incentives, the people around you, the time horizon, and the structure you're operating inside.

In this episode, I explore an idea I've been thinking about as Environmental Leverage.

Warren Buffett's patience becomes far more powerful because of the structure around him. A talented athlete can look ordinary in the wrong system. Great people inside badly designed organizations can spend more of their ability navigating the organization than doing great work.

Which raises a different kind of question.

What conditions would make the best parts of me become much more valuable?

Your position changes your ability.

About Sean DeLaney

Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to a small number of founders, CEOs and investors, working with them over long periods of time as they navigate consequential decisions across business and life.

He is also the host of What Got You There, where he has spent more than a decade studying how exceptional people think, make decisions, develop their craft and live.

Learn more about Sean → SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

00:00:00 The Lever and the Place to Stand 00:01:00 Environmental Leverage 00:02:40 Why Buffett's Patience Works 00:5:00 The Terrain Changes the Trait 00:8:00 Nature–Game Fit 00:11:00 Leading Teams

Robert Hagstrom: Buffett, Munger, Mental Models and the Art of Great Investing Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Robert Hagstrom is one of the most thoughtful multidisciplinary investors and writers of this generation. He is the author of seven investment books, including The Warren Buffett Way, and is the Chief Investment Officer at Equity Compass Investment Management and senior portfolio manager of its Global Leaders Portfolio.

In this conversation, Robert explains why investing is the last liberal art and how ideas from philosophy, psychology, biology and literature can create an advantage in markets.

We explore how Wittgenstein helped Bill Miller recognize Amazon's true business model, why great investments underperform more often than most people realize, the difference between conviction and stubbornness and how Robert rebuilt after the devastating experience of the global financial crisis.

Robert also shares his approach to reading, portfolio concentration, return on invested capital, holding multibaggers and distinguishing between investments that are easy, impossible or simply too difficult to understand.

This is an episode about investing, but even more than that, it is about how to think.

Topics include:

Buffett, Munger and Bill Miller
Multidisciplinary thinking and mental models
The Amazon IPO
Investor psychology and self-reliance
Holding great businesses through drawdowns
Concentrated portfolios
Reading to become wiser
The changing structure of financial markets

Learn more about Robert Hagstrom and his work at Equity Compass.

About Sean DeLaney

Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

For more from Sean, visit SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com.

This conversation is for educational purposes and should not be considered personalized investment advice.

Boyd Varty — Trust Your Inner Guide Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Eight years ago, I had Boyd Varty on the podcast for the first time. At the time, I knew I resonated with his work. But I don't think I fully understood the role it would go on to play in my life. Since then, Boyd's book The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life has become one of those rare books I return to again and again. It's one I've gifted countless times. The first time I read it, I remember feeling like something in me both softened and intensified at the same time. That is hard to explain, but I think anyone who has encountered Boyd's work in the right moment knows exactly what I mean.

In this episode, Boyd and I talk about what has changed in his life over the last eight years, the cultivation of presence, the practice of returning to center, and what it means to build a life that is both intentional and fluid. One of the central questions we explored is: How do you learn to trust your inner guide?

And right now you can sign up for Boyd's Masterclass to explore learning to trust your inner guide - https://boydvarty.com/course-listing/track-your-life-masterclass

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

In this episode, Boyd and I explore:

What has changed in Boyd's approach to life over the last eight years
The embodied state of awareness and presence
How to cultivate deeper self-trust
Goethe's line: "As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live"
Building a life architecture rooted in listening and fluidity
Josh Waitzkin's idea of "form to leave form"
Why inner work is a lifelong practice
The importance of returning to center
What supports you when nothing external supports you
The meaning of mastery
Why being yourself in any situation is so difficult and so powerful
The wisdom of letting go
Fatherhood, maturity, and the healthy masculine
How younger unconscious patterns show up in adult relationships
Making the unconscious conscious
Tracking recurring patterns and upper-limit dynamics
Finding what truly matters
David Whyte's "conversational nature of reality"
Why being fully yourself gives others permission to do the same

Chris Begg — An Investor's Search for What's Timeless, Beautiful, and True Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Chris Begg is the founder and CIO of East Coast Asset Management and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia Business School, where he teaches Security Analysis in Ben Graham's seat. This is one of the most original and wide-ranging conversations I've had on this podcast.

Read the full written distillation: whatgotyouthere.com/the-distillation-of-chris-begg

In this conversation we go deep on graph theory as a general principle for identifying the greatest compounders of the next 30 years, a word Chris coined called "Compressence" (compressing something to its essence), the simplicity on the other side of complexity, how Chris and his team built an AI analyst called Faraday in six weeks, his framework for navigating clouds of uncertainty, Value 3.0 and where the frontier of value investing is heading, the danger of putting circles around things you think you understand, three-month immersive deep dives as a learning method, right brain and left brain integration through the work of Ian McGilchrist, Lila and the Sanskrit concept of eternal play, how Chris designs his life around freedom and spaciousness, the hare over the wave and what Egyptian hieroglyphs taught him about renewal, why the best investors are also artists, and why duration is a design principle.

Chris also discusses David Whyte and the pilgrim's path and how that inspires his new music project he wrote inspired by the Camino de Santiago.

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

My Books

Masterpiece In Progress: A Daily Guide to a Life Well Crafted & Insights of the Ages: Quotes for a Life Well Crafted!

Checkout what people are saying about the book: "Intensely positive and upbeat, Sean DeLaney crafts a master class in personal development. This book is about the art of AMPing up your life." – Frank Slootman, CEO, Snowflake and author of Amp It Up

"The brilliance of Masterpiece in Progress is its ability to impact us all and in all aspects of our lives, whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, author, aspiring executive, parent, friend, coach or mentor. Sean's insights light your path as he delves deep, providing not just inspiration but tangible tools to help you craft the life you envision. A masterclass in self-growth and a must read." – Scott O'Neil, CEO, Merlin Entertainments and former CEO of Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils

"Operating in some of the world's most challenging environments, I've seen firsthand the importance of grit, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Masterpiece in Progress embodies these principles, offering a roadmap to all who aim to conquer their personal and professional battles."— Michael Burns, US Navy SEAL (Retired), Bronze Star Medal with Valor

"Sean's beautiful, thoughtful writing reminds you what's important and calls your attention to a perspective that lifts your spirit each day. Highly recommended." – Derek Sivers, author, sive.rs

What I Hope My Kids Learn By Watching Me — Beneath The Surface with Sean DeLaney Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Beneath the Surface, Sean DeLaney shares the foundational lessons he hopes his kids absorb not from what he says, but from how he lives every day. For parents who want to live intentionally, this episode shows how to model an authentic path, love with full attention, and give kids both roots and wings.

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

Stay Connected with Sean

🌐 Explore more at WhatGotYouThere.com 📚 Get my latest books, tools & coaching SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com 📩 Reach out or connect with me directly Info@whatgotyouthere.com

If this resonates, share it with a friend who's walking a similar path.

I am Sean DeLaney, the executive performance coach with over a decade of experience working with CEOs, executives, and leadership teams, guiding them beyond traditional definitions of success.

Interested in working together? https://seandelaneycoaching.com

I exclusively work with high-achieving CEOs, executives, and professional athletes who, even at the height of their careers, continue to explore deeper avenues of potential. While these driven individuals aspire for elevated professional heights, they equally crave profound personal fulfillment and a distinct path to infuse their lives with more clarity, direction and purpose.

My Books

Masterpiece In Progress: A Daily Guide to a Life Well Crafted & Insights of the Ages: Quotes for a Life Well Crafted!

Suffering Can Be Your Greatest Teacher — Beneath The Surface Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

In this soul-stirring episode of Beneath the Surface, Sean DeLaney invites you into a deeper conversation about something every human must face, suffering.

Unlike most self-help content that offers quick fixes or tips to "overcome" pain, this episode cuts through the noise. It won't give you shortcuts. Instead, it guides you into a new, more powerful relationship with suffering.

Drawing from the wisdom of Carl Jung, Viktor Frankl, Rainer Maria Rilke, James Hollis, and more, this episode breaks down three types of suffering:

Inevitable Suffering – the necessary pain of being human
Destructive Suffering – the pain we perpetuate by avoiding what's real
Sacred Suffering – the pain that initiates transformation

You'll learn why most people unknowingly amplify their suffering by resisting what must be felt, and how shifting that resistance into curiosity can completely change the trajectory of your life.

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

🌐 Explore more at WhatGotYouThere.com 📚 Get my latest books, tools & coaching SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com 📩 Reach out or connect with me directly Info@whatgotyouthere.com

If this resonates, share it with a friend who's walking a similar path.

I am Sean DeLaney, the executive performance coach with over a decade of experience working with CEOs, executives, and leadership teams, guiding them beyond traditional definitions of success.

Interested in working together? https://seandelaneycoaching.com

The Identity Trap: Evolving Beyond the Role You Think You Are — Beneath The Surface Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

In a world that tells us to measure our worth by what we do, it's easy to confuse our roles, titles, and achievements for who we are. But what happens when the job changes, the title disappears, or the success fades? Who are you beneath all of that?

In this episode, we go beneath the surface to explore the truth about identity—why tying your self-worth to external success creates a fragile life, and how to build an identity rooted in values, presence, and essence.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

Why success-based identity creates burnout and emotional instability
How labels, even positive ones, limit your growth and potential
How to create a personal code that grounds you in who you truly are

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

The Art of Seeing — Beneath The Surface Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

We live in a world desperate to be seen, but rarely do we slow down enough to truly see one another.

In this soul-stirring episode, Sean DeLaney explores the quiet, transformative power of presence, attention, and attunement. You'll discover that seeing others isn't just a relational skill, it's a transformative act. One that can heal, connect, elevate, and awaken the humanity in us all.

We'll explore:

Why presence is the most profound form of recognition
The difference between transactional attention and soulful seeing
Cultural and spiritual practices like "Sawubona" and "Namaste" that honor the sacredness of others
How to become an illuminator, not a diminisher, in people's lives
What happens when we witness others into their own becoming

You'll hear quotes and insights from Simone Weil, Maria Popova, David Brooks, Peter Kaufman, and more—all pointing to one truth: the quality of your attention is one of the most powerful forces in the world.

"Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." — Simone Weil

If you've ever felt unseen, or you're ready to offer others the kind of presence that changes lives, this episode is for you.

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

Explore more at WhatGotYouThere.com

The Architecture of Confidence — Beneath The Surface Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Sean DeLaney goes beneath the surface of what confidence truly is and what it isn't. From earned self-trust to emotional fluency, from identity clarity to the quiet strength of presence, this episode will dismantle the myths you've been sold and rebuild your understanding of real, lasting confidence.

We'll explore:

Why confidence is contextual, not universal
How self-trust—not achievement—is the root of confidence
Practices to train confidence like a muscle
How to evolve beyond confidence into liberation

You'll learn that true confidence isn't loud, it's grounded. It doesn't come from controlling outcomes, it comes from knowing who you are, even when nothing feels certain.

About Sean DeLaney Sean DeLaney is a private advisor to founders, CEOs, and investors, an author, and the host of What Got You There.

Website: https://SeanDeLaneyCoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-delaney-00909190/ X: https://x.com/SeanDeLaney23

Explore more at WhatGotYouThere.com

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