Making a difference in the world can seem out of reach. But it is possible to embrace the mindset of thinking boldly and harnessing game-changing innovations, just like Naveen Jain, the driving force behind groundbreaking companies like Moon Express and Viome.
So who is this revolutionary entrepreneur? And what can you learn from his bold perspective on business and the world?
That’s the very thing Vishen, the founder of Mindvalley, gets into with Naveen on an episode of The Mindvalley Show.
Watch the full 45-minute interview:
The unconventional wisdom of Naveen Jain
For Naveen, the lifeline of existence is intellectual curiosity. It’s what he calls the “moonshot”—essentially, what the world would look like if he (or any other entrepreneur, for that matter) were successful in his goals.
“This is what the world is going to look like, and I describe that world,” he explains in what he tells his investors. “And then I say, ‘this is what I’m doing, and here are the steps for me to get there.’”
He believes that if your dreams feel comfortably achievable, you’re not dreaming big enough. Why aim for a 10% improvement when reimagining can lead to 10x results? This audacity, he suggests, begins with a tiny spark of curiosity.
This isn’t just intuition talking. Research, including an extensive review of 119 studies, has shown that immersing oneself in diverse interactions can supercharge creativity. Or, in Naveen’s take, your next chat with the postman might just lead to a brilliant business idea.
He constantly nudges us all to question the norm. And if you find yourself being the most knowledgeable in a gathering—”If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room!”—his advice is to seek more challenging company.
This approach isn’t confined to business. At home, Naveen swaps out Cinderella for a creative challenge, prompting his kids to craft stories from random words. (He’s definitely nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs, brimming with unique business ideas!)
In essence, Naveen’s message is this: Dream big, stay curious, and always be on the lookout for groundbreaking ideas. If you aim for the moon, you might just end up having a Stark-level revelation.
Naveen Jain’s tips to be a moonshot leader
Ever felt like business is a puzzle where some pieces just won’t fit? Enter Naveen. He’s not your ordinary puzzle solver; he’s the guy inventing a whole new game.
In collaboration with Mindvalley, he serves up a platter of unconventional wisdom for those hungry to lead differently. No cryptic clues here, just straightforward insights.
Here are some of Naveen’s tips from his Mindvalley Quest:
1. Ignite passion and obsession in your team
The line between managing and leading is finer than most realize. While managers efficiently allocate resources and guide workflow, a true leader, much like how Stark instills fervor into his Iron Man projects, sets hearts aflame.
Passion isn’t just about fervent zeal; it’s a driving force. Studies indicate that when employees are passionately engaged, they can outperform their peers by an astonishing 202%.
For Naveen, it’s not just about overseeing tasks but synchronizing every heartbeat to the mission’s rhythm.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “A great leader is someone who is able to ignite the passion, ignite that obsession, and everyone else who is working with them, and meet them at their best. That means your job as a leader is to get the best out of everyone by igniting their obsession about what they care about.”
2. Transfer loyalty from yourself to the mission
It’s common for early supporters to rally behind charismatic leaders. Their passion and vision often magnetize others.
However, for long-term resilience, Naveen insists on a subtle transition: shift the loyalty from the individual to the mission.
As the Harvard Business Review points out, mission-driven companies consistently outpace their competition. It’s about anchoring trust in a purpose that transcends any single person.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “A great entrepreneur transfers the loyalty from a person to actual loyalty to the mission. That means now it doesn’t matter that you as a leader may or may not exist. That means someday you can leave the company and go on to do something different, but the people who joined you, continue on the mission.”
3. Make yourself and your products obsolete
It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? But Naveen stresses the idea of leadership as an evolving role.
A true leader knows when to step aside, making room for fresh perspectives. Additionally, in an age of rapid technological advancements, clinging to past achievements can be a company’s downfall.
It’s crucial to anticipate and even pioneer disruptive changes. This forward-thinking approach ensures the enterprise remains at the forefront of its industry.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “The part of being a great leader is to make yourself completely obsolete. And what I mean by that is, you have to be able to hire people who can do the job that you are doing as good, if not even better than you’re doing.
Every entrepreneur has a limit. And you have to be able to realize, in a certain phase of the company, when you actually have reached your limit and it’s time to hire someone else to be able to take it over and essentially do a better job to continue down that mission.”
4. Push boundaries
Every leader, during their quest to innovate, will confront naysayers. Stark’s journey wasn’t devoid of adversaries, yet he persisted.
In a similar vein, Naveen considers the questions and challenges from skeptics as invaluable feedback. These aren’t just questions for entrepreneurs to casually brush aside; they’re opportunities to refine and perfect.
Opposition, rather than being a sign of failure, shines a spotlight on the trailblazing nature of a new concept. Embracing this feedback not only answers critics but strengthens the very foundation of the venture.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “If you are on a mission to move the humanity forward, you have to constantly keep pushing the boundaries on the innovation. That means taking your product and essentially seeing what are the new ways of doing the same thing that you are doing.”
5. Challenge experts and experiment
Naveen’s mantra? Question everything.
Even experts can become trapped in established paradigms. By encouraging them to validate their assertions, a culture of experimentation emerges, fostering an environment ripe for innovation.
The Harvard Business Review echoes this sentiment. They suggest companies that embrace this experimental ethos significantly out-innovate their more conservative counterparts.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “Your job is to hire these experts in their field. And your job is to challenge them to actually break their current thinking and have them experiment in the new ways.
That means it’s all about experimentation. So when people who are expert will tell you, ‘This can’t be done,’ challenge them and then have them do an experiment.”
6. Uphold honesty, integrity, and transparency
In an era of instant communication, transparency isn’t just ethical; it’s expected.
Taking a leaf out of Stark’s open communication book, Naveen actively promotes candid conversations. His “ask me anything” sessions underscore his commitment to open dialogue.
As Deloitte’s survey findings show, both employees and executives view a culture rooted in honesty as a cornerstone of success.
Insight from Naveen Jain: “There is not a question that you can ask me that I will not answer. And that means I’m going to be very transparent with you. And the only thing we ask in that is, please don’t ask me the question that you don’t want to answer to.”
7. Cultivate a culture of giving back
The thing is, there are studies that show companies with strong community engagement initiatives have higher employee engagement scores.
And for Naveen, that’s what moonshot leadership is about—not only achieving business milestones but also uplifting communities.
And integrating gratitude and philanthropy within an organization’s core ethos does more than just improve public relations. It deeply resonates with employees.
Insights from Naveen Jain: “It doesn’t matter whether you do $1 or $1000,000, but creating a culture of giving back is so important because when we’re no longer doing things that can benefit our community, our country, or humanity, then we really become self-centered people that no one wants to be part of.”
Take the next step
Thinking about the future can be a bit like tinkering in Tony Stark’s lab—full of wild gadgets and bright ideas. With Naveen Jain’s insights lighting your path, the journey seems less about stumbling in the dark and more about following the light of your “moonshot.”
And the best part? That light won’t turn off here.
For a deeper dive into Stark-like ingenuity, gear up with Naveen’s The Power of Boldness Quest on Mindvalley. And when you sign up for a free Mindvalley account, you get a sneak peek at the first few lessons of the Quest.
The horizon of possibilities is vast; all it needs is for you to take that bold step forward. Welcome in.
