As original founders, our capacity to affect change and leave a lasting legacy is defined by the thresholds we are willing to cross to get to where we’re meant to be.
Few others epitomize this ability to actualize global stewardship by dissolving internal and external boundaries more than my latest guest on The Wisdom Of… Show.
Recently, I had the profound privilege of speaking with Larry Namer, an entertainment industry mogul with close to 50 years of professional experience in cable television, live events, and new media.
He is the Founder of E! Entertainment Television, a company now valued at over five billion USD, and the creator of several successful companies in the United States and overseas, including Metan Global Entertainment Group, a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for Chinese-speaking audiences in China and abroad.
Our conversation uncovered deep personal and professional insights that have allowed him to create immense impact, cross both literal and figurative borders, imagine the impossible, and do what has never been done.
Ready to cross the thresholds of conventional thought and amplify your ability to connect and contribute to others? Watch the full interview with Larry Namer now.
Boundary #1: The Personal Boundary & Global Stewardship
As we opened our conversation, we began by looking back on his storied career, in which he has left an indelible mark on not only the entertainment industry but, quite literally, hundreds of millions, if not billions of lives. As we did, he recalled others who have inspired him along the way, citing Christopher Nolan, Keanu Reeves, and Taylor Swift.
“She gets it, and not only does she get it. It’s just smart business.” he expressed as he reflected on how she had donated to every city she toured and even allocated a $50,000,000 budget to tip the truck drivers throughout her latest tour.
This capacity to not only preach but fully practice the traits of humility, gratitude, and giving back are some of the commonalities I’ve traced through nearly every original genius I’ve interviewed.
When you transcend this personal boundary and dissolve the ego around it, you often find you’re keeping score not in what actions do for you but in what your actions do for others, a mindset that has proven itself invaluable to Larry as he has worked directly for and with many of the world’s most connected and influential minds.
When adopted and leveraged in our lives as founders, this approach enables us to transcend traditional leadership and become stewards of our gifts, genius, and global impact potential.
Boundary #2: The Professional Boundary & Market Innovation
We continued by shifting our attention back to E! Entertainment and discussed the importance of having really smart people around you who complement your values and carry forward your vision.
“My skill is I know how to manage really smart people,” he told me. “I’ve seen that when you’re trying to do something that is not done before, you have to get people who are used to doing that. You just do it and avoid what the research tells you.”
Ignoring conventional advice is among the only ways to truly innovate, as conventional wisdom, by definition, cannot and will not lead to truly unconventional outcomes. When you are a globally conscious founder trying to create the next big thing, it’s imperative that you not only adopt this perspective but that your team does, too.
When considering your impact as a global leader, ask yourself where you might be playing small. What untapped markets, technologies, or borders (sometimes literal ones) can you cross to live out the fullest measure of your mission? In the wake of this question is the key to radical innovation in this hyper-competitive world.
Boundary #3: The Technological Boundry & The Rise Of AI
Continuing the theme of innovation, we next explored the recent rise of AI and its implications for original thought.
“We’re not gonna stop technology,” Larry started. “But the question is, how do we curtail the bad stuff that could come out of it?”
As someone who has remained at the cutting edge of the entertainment industry, the implications of A.I. and its capacity, both in its benefits and risks, have become vitally important to his work.
“The script summary that used to take me 5 days, I can do now in an hour,” he exclaimed, pointing to his ability to reclaim much of his time thanks to the ease of these emerging technologies.
“But when they (A.I. technologies) start, they don’t have any sense of what’s right or wrong,” Larry continued, referencing not only the limitations of the tools but making a broader point as to its implications on creativity and humanity in art.
As it stands today, while it is a powerful tool, artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human imagination or ingenuity but an amplifier of it—a tool to free up our time to do the profound and essential human work that must be done for the sake of ourselves and the future we wish to create.
Boundary #4: The Cultural Boundary & Global Influence
One of the most striking insights for me was the worldliness Larry gained over time and how his ability to adapt to the cultural contexts of others opened the door for stratospheric success.
“Growing up, I quickly learned about other cultures cause we lived among other cultures. …So when I go to countries, people say, how do you do it? …I’m not there to change their governments or cultures but to entertain them. We program to the taste of what their audiences want.”
His ability to be non-political and non-judgemental without trying to be the moral authority over how his work had to be done or received is one of the most critical advantages that Larry used to succeed in a market where others before him could not.
This capacity to adapt to the shifting contexts of new arenas is imperative to the long-term success and global legacy of national and multinational corporations seeking to break into new verticals or extend the reach of their original genius.
Boundary #5: The Philosophical Boundary & The Art Of Letting Go
As we wrapped up our conversation, Larry shared a powerful discipline that was not only immediately actionable but also encapsulated the philosophy that has catalyzed his expansive global acclaim.
“I’m one of the most “anti-passion” people you’ll ever meet.” Larry began. “I come up with ten new ideas every day, getting my ego out of the way to realize that not everything I come up with is going to be a good idea.”
This ability to both prioritize the quantity and preserve the quality of ideas as well as let go of any unnecessary attachment to them is a practice that has undoubtedly driven Larry to a great number of his most transformational ideas that would go on to redefine the way billions see and experience the world.
This conversation is a must-watch for any leader who wants to transcend their boundaries and canonize their genius on a global scale.
Larry offers timeless wisdom tested by nearly half a century as an entertainment mogul, and frankly, this article just scratches the surface.
So here’s my challenge to you: Watch this episode.
Then, tune in to the profound journey of Larry Namer, whose original genius has shown him to be an uncontested television titan on and off the screen.
Don’t change the channel – be part of the transformation and the conversation.
Watch the full interview with Larry Namer on The Wisdom Of… Show
And don’t miss Simon Bowen’s transformative masterclass on unlocking your hidden genius. Your future self will thank you.
