Interview, Fireside Chat
Scooter Braun on Being Enough, Insecurity, Wealth, Investing, Fame, Marriage and Much More
- Scooter Braun (55, founder of SB Projects, artist manager, and investor) and Harry Stebbins (25, venture investor and media founder) discuss the dissonance between external success and internal happiness.
- Braun reveals that at age 27, he surpassed his financial goal of owning a Cadillac dealership but felt "incredibly depressed" because he realized money did not bring peace or happiness.
- Braun's father advised him to list moments of true happiness (playing basketball, helping strangers), leading Braun to the realization that success provides the freedom to pursue happiness, not happiness itself.
- Braun describes a "shame lie" instilled in childhood: that he was not enough and had to build a mask ("Scooter") of achievement to be worthy of love, a persona he maintained until age 39.
- At 39, Braun experienced a personal and marital collapse, forcing him to do the "self-work" necessary to accept being "okay with being a mess."
- Braun identifies the "Hoffman Process" (a week-long intensive therapy retreat) as the catalyst for his transformation, where he turned off his phone for 2.5 months to confront his past trauma.
- Braun discusses the "narrative" of the perfect life he built, which crumbled during his divorce; he notes that divorce forced him to be fully present with his children for the first time due to reduced time together.
- Harry Stebbins admits to a fear of future regret and mediocrity, worrying about becoming a wealthy but isolated figure in his later years despite his current success.
- Braun advises Stebbins to reject the concept of "work-life balance" in favor of "harmony," citing Jeff Bezos's advice that one should not feel the need to separate passions for career and family.
- Stebbins shares a near-miss investment in Facebook where he lost the opportunity due to fear of reuniting with an ex-girlfriend, realizing years later that he lacked understanding of venture capital at the time.
- Braun recounts his early, successful investment in Uber, noting that his team advised against it, but he bet on the founder (Travis Kalanick) because he recognized an entrepreneurial spirit similar to his own.
- Braun discusses his current fund, TQ Group, which manages over $1 billion and recently closed a $500 million fund, emphasizing a partnership model with founders rather than transactional deal-making.
- Stebbins expresses vulnerability regarding his fear of being perceived as "not enough" by his Limited Partners (LPs) and the pressure of his age (25) relative to his investors.
- Braun validates Stebbins, stating his investors are betting on him (his character and potential) rather than just his track record, and urges him to trust the "universe" or "faith" rather than seeking control.
- Braun shares that he recently got a tattoo of the word "Faith" on his ribs to remind himself that the universe has supported him throughout his life and he does not need to control outcomes.
- Braun identifies his "biggest achievement" as his children, admitting he once treated parental love as transactional but is now working to offer unconditional love and approval based on who they are, not their achievements.
- Braun warns against the dangers of wealth for the next generation, highlighting two critical pillars for raising successful children: accountability and a distinct sense of identity separate from the parent.
- Braun discusses the "Manchester concert" following the Ariana Grande bombing as his most powerful moment, citing the bravery of the city and the artists in the face of terrorism.
- Braun reflects on a "riot" incident involving Justin Bieber at a mall in Long Island; he was arrested but the subsequent notoriety launched Bieber to stardom, illustrating how tragedy can be navigated to create opportunity.
- Braun notes that the "internet is not a real place," advising Stebbins to ignore negative online noise, noting that even for someone with 100 million followers, 10,000 detractors is less than 1%.
- Braun explains his shift from "running toward conflict" (driven by insecurity) to "running toward resistance" (using internal friction as a signal to do self-work).
- Braun shares that David Geffen advised him to drop his ego, stating that in 100 years, no one will remember him, and to remove people from his life who stir up drama.
- Braun identifies "mental health" and "suffering" as the biggest struggles in the entertainment industry, noting that the Surgeon General cites depression as a primary killer of young people.
- Braun expresses pride in Daniel Ek and Spotify for transforming the music industry from a "dead" market to the most monetized global industry in history.
- Braun recommends that entrepreneurs and young people take one week a year, with no phone or email, to do deep self-work to avoid the pain he felt waiting until age 39.
- Braun states he is currently "in love" with the name "Scott" (his birth name) for the first time in his life, feeling he can finally integrate his childhood self with his public persona.
- Braun advises Stebbins to stop "scouting" for perfection and instead trust the people around him, acknowledging that his friends and family love him unconditionally regardless of his status.
- Braun emphasizes that "faith" is not about controlling outcomes but participating in the universe's flow, having learned that his "control mechanisms" are often illusions.