Scott Galloway on Joe Rogan, Career Wins & Losses, and Hiring the Best People

Quick Overview

Scott Galloway explains that he has not been invited to be a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience because his approach, which involves intense reference checking and giving equity to employees, contrasts with the perceived narrative style often seen on podcasts like Rogan's, which he believes can sometimes create false equivalencies regarding serious topics like COVID-19.

Key Points: Galloway states he has not been invited on Joe Rogan's podcast and will not accept an invitation because he avoids being drawn into conflicts or 'food fights' that might occur. He believes Joe Rogan set a precedent for media with his massive audience, which contrasts with traditional media's 3-hour nightly news cycle. Galloway's primary professional highlight was his book, 'Notes on Being A Man,' hitting #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. His main personal highlight was spending significant time with his father before his death, realizing the complexity of their relationship. Galloway's main professional lowlight was not making much money from investments this year, as most stocks were flat, though he does not need the money. His advice for small businesses hiring in a saturated job market is to utilize reference hiring: spread the word, don't wait for calls, and ask to meet candidates immediately. He emphasizes that the key to building a great team is granting agency and equity to employees, making them act like owners.

Context: This episode of 'Office Hours with Prof G' addresses audience questions submitted via Reddit and voice recordings, covering topics from Joe Rogan's influence to year-end takeaways and hiring advice. The host, Scott Galloway, discusses his personal and professional high and low points of the year, followed by offering concrete advice on building a high-quality team through rigorous reference checking and granting employee ownership.

Detailed Analysis

Scott Galloway addresses a question about whether he has been approached to appear on Joe Rogan's podcast, stating he has never been invited and would not accept an invitation because he avoids engaging in public conflicts or 'food fights' that might arise, especially when discussing sensitive topics like COVID-19, where he feels Rogan's platform sometimes creates false equivalencies. Galloway notes that Rogan's success fundamentally changed the media landscape, dwarfing traditional news cycles. Transitioning to year-end takeaways, Galloway cites his book, 'Notes on Being A Man,' reaching #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list as a major professional highlight, despite not making significant investment returns this year. Personally, the highlight was spending quality time with his father before his death, despite their complicated relationship. Regarding hiring, Galloway advises small businesses to use 'reference hiring': actively spread the word, don't wait for candidates to call them, and ask to meet promising individuals immediately, relying on trusted contacts to vet candidates who are 80-90% locked on for the job. He stresses that the secret to building a great team is granting equity and agency, ensuring employees act like owners.