Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business, entrepreneur, and author, is a prominent and provocative voice in the worlds of business, tech, and media. Known for his sharp, unfiltered analysis and "No Mercy/No Malice" mantra, he offers incisive commentary on corporate strategy, the failings of Big Tech, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.

On Big Tech & "The Four"

  1. The Four Horsemen's Appeal to Primal Instincts: Galloway posits that the most successful tech giants appeal to our core organs. Google is our brain (God), Facebook is our heart (love), Amazon is our gut (consumption), and Apple is our reproductive system (sex/luxury).[1][2]
  2. On Facebook's Business Model: "Facebook taps into our instinctive need not only to be loved but to love others."[1] He also critiques its role in spreading misinformation, stating some platforms give "voice to people that's...Latin for we don't want to own up to the responsibilities of a media company."[3]
  3. On Amazon's Strategy: "More for less is the original gangster business strategy...and now it's Amazon, who is going to be the most valuable company in the world."[2]
  4. On Apple's Luxury Status: "Apple is a luxury brand that happens to be in the technology business." He argues its high margins and appeal to status are central to its success.
  5. On Google as a Modern Deity: "Think of everything you have typed into the Google query box, and you're going to recognize you trust Google more than any priest, scholar, rabbi, coach, mentor, boss."[2]
  6. The Transition to an Exploitation Economy: "In the past decade, we have transitioned from an innovation economy to an exploitation economy. Innovation is dangerous and unpredictable."[4][5]
  7. On Breaking Them Up: "We don't break these guys up, because they're evil...We break these guys up, because we are capitalists."[2] He argues their dominance stifles competition and innovation.
  8. The Idolatry of Innovators: "The nation once idolized astronauts and civil rights leaders who inspired hope and empathy. Now it worships tech innovators who generate billions and move financial markets. We get the heroes we deserve."[4] - Adrift.
  9. On Steve Jobs' Legacy: "It is conventional wisdom that Steve Jobs put 'a dent in the universe.' No, he didn't. Steve Jobs, in my view, spat on the universe. People who get up every morning, get their kids dressed, get them to school, and have an irrational passion for their kids' well-being, dent the universe. The world needs more homes with engaged parents, not a better f*cking phone."[6] - The Four.
  10. The Algorithm's Goal: The algorithms of Amazon, Google, and Facebook are the "most valuable man-made things ever created" and are designed to register, iterate, and monetize their audience.[6][7]

On Business, Strategy & Brands

  1. Brands are Two Things: "Brands are two things: promise and performance."[4][5] - The Four.
  2. The Pace of Change: "The world does not belong to the big, but to the fast."[8]
  3. On Luxury: "Luxury is irrational, which makes it the best business in the world."[4][7]
  4. The Unimportance of "The Brand": Galloway has controversially stated, "The Brand is Dead."[9] He argues that in the age of endless information and reviews, the power of a traditional brand name is significantly diminished.[10]
  5. Choice is a Tax: "Consumers don't want more choice, but more confidence in the choices presented. Choice is a tax on time and attention."[4][8][11] - Post Corona.
  6. Agility is Key: "The thing Amazon, Facebook, and no less hot firms, including Zara, have in common is they are agile (the new-economy term for fast)."[6]
  7. Storytelling in Leadership: "The ultimate gift, in our digital age, is a CEO who has the storytelling talent to capture the imagination of the markets while surrounding themselves with people who can show incremental progress against that vision each day."[5][6] - The Four.
  8. The Danger of Playing it Safe: "History favors the bold. Compensation favors the meek... Big companies... play not to lose, and shareholders reward them for it—until those shareholders walk and buy Amazon stock."[4][8] - The Four.
  9. On Entrepreneurs: "The truth about 90-plus percent of entrepreneurs is that we start companies not because we're so skilled, but because we don't have the skills to be an effective employee."[8]
  10. Knowing When to Quit: "Grit is great. Perseverance is a virtue. But, narratively, it's overrated. Greatness is a function not just of grit, but of talent, luck... and knowing when to quit."[12] - No Mercy / No Malice.

On Career & Success

  1. The Cardinal Rule: "Don't follow your passion, follow your talent. Determine what you are good at (early), and commit to becoming great at it."[4][6][7] - The Four.
  2. The Myth of Balance: "Balance when establishing your career, in my view, is largely a myth... if balance is your priority in your youth, then you need to accept that, unless you are a genius, you may not reach the upper rungs of economic security."[4][5][7][13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  3. Serendipity and Courage: "I tell my students that nothing wonderful, I'm talking really fantastic, will happen without taking a risk and subjecting yourself to rejection. Serendipity is a function of courage."[4][7][13][14] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  4. Get the Easy Stuff Right: "Getting a good job, working long hours... these are all really hard. In contrast, respecting institutions, having manners, demonstrating a level of humility... these are all (relatively) easy. Get the easy stuff right."[4][7]
  5. The Importance of Density: "Opportunity is a function of density. Get to a place that's crowded with success. Big cities are Wimbledon—even if you aren't Rafael Nadal, your game will improve by being on the court with him."[13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  6. Compounding Career Growth: "You want to cover more ground in less time than your peers. This is partially built on talent, but mostly on strategy and endurance."[5][8][13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  7. Failure is Part of the Process: "Failure and invention are inseparable twins. To invent you have to experiment, and if you know in advance that it's going to work, it's not an experiment."[4][5][6][7] - The Four.
  8. Stay in the Game: "If you’re doing well at a good firm during a boom time (now), stay put."[15] - No Mercy / No Malice.
  9. Success is Not a Straight Line: "A step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction."[5]
  10. On Leaving a Job: "People remember more about how you leave than what you did while there. No matter the situation, be gracious."[16]

On Life, Happiness & Relationships

  1. The Algebra of Happiness Equation: Happiness = (Someone to love + Meaningful work + Financial security) / Perspective.
  2. Defining Wealth: "Wealth is the absence of economic anxiety. Freed of the pressure to earn, we can choose how we live."[7]
  3. On Love: "Love was a willingness to take the life you've built for yourself and tear it up for the other person."[4][7][13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  4. Find Joy in the Simple Things: "Pay special attention to things that bring you joy that don't involve mind-altering substances or a lot of money... Being 'in the zone' is happiness."[4][13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  5. The Importance of Shared Experience: "The most rewarding things in life are family and professional achievement. Without someone to share these things with, you've seen a ghost—it sort of happened, but not really."[14]
  6. Sweat Every Day: Galloway frequently advises that one of the keys to staying mentally and physically healthy is to sweat for at least 30 minutes every day.
  7. On Self-Perception: "I believe most people are especially repelled by attributes in other people that remind them of things they loathe about themselves."[4][5][13][17] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  8. Manage Your Temper: "One of the biggest indicators of success in life is your ability to delay gratification. The second biggest is your ability to manage your temper."
  9. The Power of Small Investments in Relationships: "Take a ton of pictures, text your friends stupid things, check in with old friends as often as possible... The payoff is small at first, and then it's immense."[13] - The Algebra of Happiness.
  10. On Being a Parent: "You can be a good, even great, dad on a lot less than I thought I needed to earn."[14] - The Algebra of Happiness.

On Society, Education & The Economy

  1. The Great Unraveling: "For the first time in a century, 30-year-olds are worse off than their parents at 30."[18]
  2. Education as a Caste System: "We like to position education as the great leveler. But in fact it has become a caste system, a means of passing privilege on to the next generation."[7][11] - Post Corona.
  3. The Crisis of Young Men: "A large and growing cohort of bored, lonely, poorly educated men is a malevolent force in any society, but it's a truly terrifying one in a society addicted to social media and awash in coarseness and guns."[19][20] - Adrift.
  4. The Pandemic as an Accelerant: "COVID-19 has initiated some trends and altered the direction of others, but its most enduring impact will be as an accelerant. Take any trend—social, business, or personal—and fast-forward ten years."[21] - Post Corona.
  5. On Income Inequality: "In America, it's never been easier to become a billionaire—but it's never been harder to become a millionaire."[19] - Adrift.
  6. Advocating for Gap Years: "Gap years should be the norm, not the exception. An increasingly ugly secret of campus life is that a mix of helicopter parenting and social media has rendered many 18-year-olds unfit for college."[4][8][11] - Post Corona.
  7. The Need for Government: "We need to take government seriously—as a respectable, necessary, and noble institution—so that we can return to taking capitalism seriously."[21] - Post Corona.
  8. On Partisanship: "Separate people from ideology, or you give up access to 50% of potential relationships and allies."[4]
  9. The Decline of the Middle Class: "We've gotten closest to realizing our ideals when we've balanced ruthless capitalism with the ballast of a strong middle class."[22] - Adrift.
  10. On Falsehoods: "It's easier to fool people than to convince them they've been fooled."[4][7]

For further exploration of Scott Galloway's insights, you can find his work at:

  • Blog/Newsletter: No Mercy / No Malice (profgalloway.com)
  • Podcast: Pivot with Kara Swisher (link)
  • Podcast: The Prof G Pod (link)
  • Books: His books, including The Four, The Algebra of Happiness, Post Corona, and Adrift, are widely available from major booksellers.

Sources

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  5. quotefancy.com
  6. goodreads.com
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  9. system1group.com
  10. medium.com
  11. goodreads.com
  12. profgalloway.com
  13. goodreads.com
  14. bookey.app
  15. medium.com
  16. davidsonhang.com
  17. davidsonhang.com
  18. medium.com
  19. goodreads.com
  20. 15minutebusinessbooks.com
  21. nextbigideaclub.com
  22. sobrief.com