World Model · podcast knowledge graph

Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)

2023-11-02 · 93 min · 60 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

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    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595
  • → references Good Great Some Companies Others book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
  • → references Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Effective-Executive-Definitive-Harperbusiness-Essentials/dp/0060833459
  • → references Bill Carr person
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    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://linkedin.com/in/bill-carr
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Loonshots-Nurture-Diseases-Transform-Industries/dp/1250185963
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Practice-Management-Peter-F-Drucker/dp/0060878975
  • → references Seveneves Neal Stephenson book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Seveneves-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0062334514
  • → references A Gentleman In Moscow book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/A-Gentleman-in-Moscow/dp/0143110438
  • → references Dune TimothéE Chalamet book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Dune-Timoth%C3%A9e-Chalamet/dp/B09LJXY4PH
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization/dp/0385517254
  • → authored Working Backwards book
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    co-author of Working Backwards
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  • → founded Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • → founded Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • → works at Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • → discusses Technology company
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • → discusses Business concept
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • → discusses Entrepreneurship concept
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • → references penname.co website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://penname.co/
  • → references workingbackwards.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/
  • → references theleanstartup.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://theleanstartup.com/
  • → references Working Backwards Pr Faq person
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq
  • → references deshaw.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://deshaw.com/
  • → references General Motors Business Model person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://fourweekmba.com/general-motors-business-model
  • → references The Effective Decision person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://hbr.org/1967/01/the-effective-decision
  • → references Amazon Flywheel Explained person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://feedvisor.com/resources/amazon-trends/amazon-flywheel-explained
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://barraiser.com/blogs/implementing-amazons-bar-raiser-process-in-hiring
  • → references Oldnewthing website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20231017-00?p=108897
  • → references Wh 303 Ftld A1 website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://sram.com/en/zipp/models/wh-303-ftld-a1

Entities found in this episode

books 22

  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Effective-Executive-Definitive-Harperbusiness-Essentials/dp/0060833459
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Loonshots-Nurture-Diseases-Transform-Industries/dp/1250185963
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Practice-Management-Peter-F-Drucker/dp/0060878975
  • mentioned Seveneves Neal Stephenson book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Seveneves-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0062334514
  • mentioned A Gentleman In Moscow book
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/A-Gentleman-in-Moscow/dp/0143110438
  • mentioned Dune TimothéE Chalamet book
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Dune-Timoth%C3%A9e-Chalamet/dp/B09LJXY4PH
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization/dp/0385517254
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
  • references Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Effective-Executive-Definitive-Harperbusiness-Essentials/dp/0060833459
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Loonshots-Nurture-Diseases-Transform-Industries/dp/1250185963
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Practice-Management-Peter-F-Drucker/dp/0060878975
  • references Seveneves Neal Stephenson book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Seveneves-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0062334514
  • references A Gentleman In Moscow book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/A-Gentleman-in-Moscow/dp/0143110438
  • references Dune TimothéE Chalamet book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Dune-Timoth%C3%A9e-Chalamet/dp/B09LJXY4PH
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization/dp/0385517254
  • mentioned Working Backwards book
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-author of Working Backwards
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-author of Working Backwards

websites 14

  • mentioned penname.co website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://penname.co/
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/
  • mentioned theleanstartup.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://theleanstartup.com/
  • mentioned deshaw.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://deshaw.com/
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://barraiser.com/blogs/implementing-amazons-bar-raiser-process-in-hiring
  • mentioned Oldnewthing website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20231017-00?p=108897
  • mentioned Wh 303 Ftld A1 website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://sram.com/en/zipp/models/wh-303-ftld-a1
  • references penname.co website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://penname.co/
  • references workingbackwards.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/
  • references theleanstartup.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://theleanstartup.com/
  • references deshaw.com website
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://deshaw.com/
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://barraiser.com/blogs/implementing-amazons-bar-raiser-process-in-hiring
  • references Oldnewthing website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20231017-00?p=108897
  • references Wh 303 Ftld A1 website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://sram.com/en/zipp/models/wh-303-ftld-a1

persons 12

  • mentioned Bill Carr person
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    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://linkedin.com/in/bill-carr
  • references Bill Carr person
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    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://linkedin.com/in/bill-carr
  • mentioned Lenny Rachitsky person
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • hosted by Lenny Rachitsky person
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • mentioned Working Backwards Pr Faq person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq
  • 0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://fourweekmba.com/general-motors-business-model
  • mentioned The Effective Decision person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://hbr.org/1967/01/the-effective-decision
  • mentioned Amazon Flywheel Explained person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://feedvisor.com/resources/amazon-trends/amazon-flywheel-explained
  • references Working Backwards Pr Faq person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq
  • references General Motors Business Model person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://fourweekmba.com/general-motors-business-model
  • references The Effective Decision person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://hbr.org/1967/01/the-effective-decision
  • references Amazon Flywheel Explained person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)": https://feedvisor.com/resources/amazon-trends/amazon-flywheel-explained

companys 7

  • mentioned Working Backwards LLC company
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    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
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    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • founded Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • works at Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • works at Working Backwards LLC company
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    evidence rules-v4
    co-founder of Working Backwards LLC
  • discusses Technology company
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology

concepts 5

  • mentioned Business concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • mentioned Entrepreneurship concept
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
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    evidence rules-v4
    Unpacking Amazon’s unique ways of working | Bill Carr (author of Working Backwards)
  • discusses Business concept
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    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • discusses Entrepreneurship concept
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    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
Episode description as stored
Bill Carr is the co-author of Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon . With a background at Amazon of over 15 years, Bill played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global digital music and video ventures, including Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Amazon Studios. After Amazon, Bill was an Executive in Residence with Maveron, an early-stage, consumer-only venture capital firm. He later served as the chief operating officer of OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S. Today he’s the co-founder of Working Backwards LLC, where he helps companies implement Amazon’s time-tested management strategies. In this episode, we discuss: • What exactly “working backwards” is, and how you do it • Why having “single-threaded leaders” is so effective • Inside Amazon’s intense product review process • How to actually follow the “disagree and commit” principle • The thinking behind the principle “Leaders are right, a lot” • Input vs. output metrics • Fostering a culture of risk-taking and innovation • The role and responsibilities of a “bar raiser” in your hiring, and how it significantly improves the success rate of new hires — Brought to you by AssemblyAI —Production-ready AI models to transcribe and understand speech | Coda —Meet the evolution of docs | Wix Studio —The web creation platform built for agencies — Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/unpacking-amazons-unique-ways-of-working-bill-carr-author-of-working-backwards/ — Where to find Bill Carr: • X: https://twitter.com/BillCarr89 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-carr/ • Website: https://www.workingbackwards.com/ — Where to find Lenny: • Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com • X: https://twitter.com/lennysan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Bill’s background (04:26) Amazon’s workplace evolution (09:54) Amazon’s “fitness function” (11:44) Single-threaded leadership (18:07) Implementing a program orientation with single-threaded leadership (20:16) The GM model vs. single-threaded leadership (21:31) Functional countermeasures needed for single-threaded leadership (25:22) Embracing the “disagree and commit” principle (30:22) Understanding disagreements (32:41) Deciphering Amazon’s “Leaders are right, a lot” principle (35:25) An explanation of the working backwards framework (41:16) PR FAQ process: Amazon’s innovation engine (44:47) Deconstructing the PR FAQ structure (43:49) The concentric circle model for sharing PR FAQs (44:55) The customer problem-solution statement (47:52) Create a product funnel, not a product tunnel (51:19) How Amazon promotes action vs. talk (54:35) Amazon’s flywheel and input metrics (1:00:51) Signs you’ve got a good input metric (1:04:23) How mistakes can still be made with working backwards (1:06:54) Why disagreements aren’t necessarily signs products will fail (1:08:02) Examples of failed Amazon projects (1:09:55) Cultivating risk-taking and accepting failure (1:13:57) Amazon’s “bar-raiser” practice for hiring (1:18:21) Selecting Amazon’s bar raisers (1:20:41) Advice on implementing practices from Working Backwards (1:23:10) Bill’s work as an advisor (1:26:05) Lightning round — Referenced: • Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595 • Jeff Bezos on X: https://twitter.com/jeffbezos • D.E. Shaw: https://www.deshaw.com/ • Eric Ries’s website: https://theleanstartup.com/ • GM business model: https://fourweekmba.com/general-motors-business-model/ • Rick Dalzell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddalzell/ • The Effective Decision by Peter F. Drucker: https://hbr.org/1967/01/the-effective-decision • Template: Working Backwards PR FAQ: https://www.workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq • Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t : https://www