Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Eric Schleien, a value investor, podcaster, biohacker, and a certified Tribal Leader specializing in empowering organizations to sustainably increase their culture’s effectiveness.
He’s been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and GuruFocus. He has also been featured in Warren Buffett’s Biography, “Of Permanent Value.”
Please tell us about what it is that you do.
I run four businesses. I run an investment management company out of Philadelphia called Granite State Capital Management, LLC. We’re a boutique firm specializing in buying under the radar assets using a value investing methodology. I also run a real estate investment and consulting company called Wyoming Warehousing & Safe Deposit Company. Also, I run a proxy battle firm called ProxyActivism.com, specializing in cultural activism. I’m also a partner and co-founder of Transformational Leadership Associates. As of recently, I’m now also an author, having just published my first book, “Principles Of Power: The Art & Wisdom of Badassery.”
Please tell us more about your journey.
Yes happily. I’ve always been curious about how things work. It’s what led me to learn about investing and get into the deep quantitative and qualitative analysis. It’s also what led me to learn more about human potential and personal development, first by taking courses through Landmark Worldwide and later on getting trained and certified in the Tribal Leadership methodology, which is all about culture and how our environment impacts our day to day lives.
Please tell us about your book ‘Principles Of Power: The Art & Wisdom of Badassery.’
The book was a project that took me 7 years to write. Throughout all the personal development work I have done as well as my own personal experimentation, I had developed about 2,000 pages worth of principles, distinctions, and notes I had taken down based on things I discovered. The book is a cumulation of all of it. It is written in a way that doesn’t claim to have the truth. Instead, it is meant to engage the reader in new ways of thinking or trying on new mental models to then discover new things for him or herself. My aim is that 100 people could read the book and discover 100 unique things distinct to their own personal lives.
Principles of Power can be related to an advanced Coaching Handbook for Leaders.
If you are a leader, an aspiring leader, a coach, consultant, or program facilitator, this book is designed for you. The material is well and thoughtfully organized. The book is written in plain, easily accessible English and delivered inside of a modern leadership context of service and contribution.
The ideas are logically presented, although some may be personally challenging. If you can successfully set your existing belief structures to the side, you will experience several rich and useful insights. You might even find yourself saying the occasional Aha, Duh, and maybe even a few Wows’.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Never stop learning. Always look to break old conclusions. Always look to take your game to the next level. Never take on that you already know or have the way; that kills growth. I never dismiss something because I don’t understand it. I’m consistently reading and also engaged in deep coaching inquiry.
Any message for our readers.
Yes, let the principles and distinctions in the book use you; there’s no need to use the book. Let what you get out of it impact you naturally. Don’t turn anything you discover into new dogma or a new technique. That destroys all the power in whatever you discover. Principles of Power only have power when they use you. You cannot use them.
Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about you?
I’m very active on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I can also be reached on my personal website, or my business website, www.GSCM.co.
Thank you so much for giving us your precious time! We wish you the best for your journey ahead!