You Don’t Always Need A Perfect Plan

Guy Raz Newsletter – August 22, 2024

A lot of people sit at their desks and dream about starting a business. You might be doing this very thing, at this very moment!

I remember having that feeling…and I remember the anxiety I felt leaving my job to do it. And that its probably why I identify with this week’s episode so much…

Because Mel and Patricia Ziegler were, like me, journalists. Back in the 1970s, they both worked for the San Francisco Chronicle. At the time, this was a primo gig. A job you don’t leave. The Chronicle, back then, was a “prestige” newspaper.

But neither Mel nor Patricia was satisfied. They were searching. The opportunity came when Mel took a work trip to Australia and came home with a few “safari-style” jackets.

You’ll hear the details of how they did it in this week’s episode. (hint: with no plan)

There are reasons to map out a detailed plan before launching a business. (This is a longer topic for a future newsletter). But in most cases, businesses don’t start out that way.

With $1,500 (their life savings…