E12: Sacha Lord's Diary - The King of Nightlife

Mar 5, 2018 58m 36s 14 insights
Sasha Lord, king of nightlife and creator of Warehouse Project and Parklife, shares his journey from academic failure to entrepreneurial success. He discusses the immense pressure of running large-scale events and his personal strategies for dealing with it.
Actionable Insights

1. Cut Negative People

Actively remove negative individuals and “hangers-on” from your circle who question your beliefs or seek to pull you down, instead surrounding yourself with like-minded people who want to make a difference.

2. Act on Ideas, Embrace Risk

If you have a good idea, “go and do it,” especially when young, as the potential for recovery from failure is high and the world is your oyster.

3. Physical Activity for Stress

Engage in regular physical activity (e.g., gym 5-6 times a week, punching a bag, jogging) to relieve tension and facilitate clear thinking during stressful periods.

4. Strategic Business Partnerships

Seek business partners who complement your skills and personality (“chalk and cheese”) to effectively divide labor and provide mutual support, especially when facing immense pressure.

5. Proactive Crisis Management

When facing a crisis, be transparent and proactive in addressing it, even against conventional PR advice, to educate your audience and build trust with authorities.

6. Dedicated Breaks for Recharge

Schedule dedicated holidays (e.g., 10 days) where you completely switch off from work to create essential “breathing space” and recharge your mental energy.

7. Task Management with Lists

Write down challenges and tasks in lists to avoid forgetting them and to track progress by crossing them off, which helps manage mental load and focus.

8. Strive for Perfection

Maintain a high standard for perfection in your work, as this drive indicates that you believe improvements are always possible and you “could do better.”

9. Embrace Challenges & Growth

Cultivate an enjoyment for “the bullshit” and tough challenges, viewing them as opportunities to stretch yourself and grow outside your comfort zone.

10. Learn from Mistakes

View every mistake as a valuable learning opportunity that contributes to your improvement and helps you move forward in your journey.

11. Embrace Individuality

Actively question conformity and choose to be different, pursuing what you truly want rather than following what others deem “cool” or conventional.

12. Value Freedom in Career

Strive for a career that grants you personal freedom and the ability to live unconventionally, rather than conforming to traditional paths, finding satisfaction in your unique journey.

13. Give Back to Community

Identify ways to give back to the community or environment that supported your growth and success, recognizing the opportunities it provided.

14. Prioritize Fun Over Academics

Encourage children (or yourself) to prioritize having fun and gaining real-world experiences over solely focusing on rigid academic study, as long as basic competence is maintained.