#235 Outliers: Jimmy Pattison — Building a $16B Empire Without Connections, Capital, or Credentials

In this episode of The Knowledge Project, Shane Parrish explores the life and business principles of Jimmy Pattison, a 96-year-old Canadian billionaire who built a $16 billion empire from humble beginnings. Parrish details Pattison's early entrepreneurial ventures, his rise in the car dealership industry, his foray into conglomerates, and the lessons he learned from both successes and failures. The episode emphasizes Pattison's focus on reputation, adaptability, operational excellence, cash flow, and the advantages of private ownership, highlighting his journey from selling garden seeds door-to-door to becoming one of Canada's wealthiest individuals through a relentless commitment to fundamentals and continuous improvement. Parrish concludes with personal reflections and actionable lessons derived from Pattison's life, emphasizing the timeless nature of his business principles.