Ari Emanuel's Secret Question
Thousands of phones calls a day started with one question...
Good morning, everyone.
This week’s newsletter includes: Ari Gold’s Emanuel’s inase ability to build relationships, and why he thinks 3-day workweeks are in all of our futures.
The Blacklisted Billionaire Framework
At 34, Ariel Emanuel was fired and blacklisted from Hollywood’s elite circle.
Here’s how one question took him from humiliation to self-made billionaire…
Ari Emanuel landed his first job working for a Hollywood talent agency by calling three times a day - for two weeks - until they finally gave him a shot.
He made his way up the ladder and ended up at talent powerhouse ICM.
Ari was a senior agent, but wanted more.
So, he and three colleagues decided to break away and start their own firm. But ICM found out and the trio were fired immediately.
Worse, ICM hit them with a lawsuit - accusing them of conspiring to steal clients and company secrets.
From a small office above a burger shop, Ari and his colleagues launched Endeavor.
The industry blacklisted them and the media laughed at them.
Ari said: “we were sued, we had no money and no clients.”
The situation was bleak...
But Ari had a secret weapon – an insane ability to build relationships.
From the start of his career, Ari made hundreds of phone calls every day, keeping every relationship warm with short check-ins.
His secret sauce: one simple question…
“Can I help you with anything?”
When Ari wanted super-agent Patrick Whitesell to quit his job and join Endeavour, he called him every morning…for two years:
“Can I help you with anything?”
Eventually, Patrick agreed to join.
Endeavor was thriving. And then came the ultimate revenge move…
In 2009, Ari led a takeover of William Morris Agency, the oldest and most prestigious firm in Hollywood.
The same executives who once laughed at him - now worked for him.
By 2024, Endeavor was worth $13 billion. Ari reflected on his approach to building relationships...
“Don’t be afraid to call people, start a conversation. At the very least, you’ll be more interesting and at the most you’ll take your business in new and bigger directions.”
Recommendation’s
Very worthwhile, recent long-form interview with Ari here. He talks about how the data he see’s point to a 3-day work week in the near future.
1,000 smart finance and business executives subscribe to Business Story, including senior exec’s from Blackstone, PIMCO, Goldman Sachs and Citadel. If you know someone who would enjoy this kind of content, forward this on to them.
Joseph Cass