Jeff Bezos interview on Starting Amazon (2001)

“I’m going to go do this crazy thing. I’m going to start this company selling books online.”

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In 1994, Jeff Bezos was a 30-year-old vice president of a New York investment firm, newly married, with a secure and prosperous future ahead of him. He decided to give it all up and drive to Seattle with his wife, in a used car, to start a business in their garage. He was betting his own savings — and his parents’ and friends’ — on a totally untried notion: that people would buy books through a little-known network of computers called the Internet.

As the company’s capitalization soared, Bezos embarked on a risky strategy of expansion, forgoing immediate profits to secure an ever-larger share of the Internet market, not only in books, but in music, videos, electronics, toys and clothing. At the turn of the 21st century, the Internet bubble burst, and fortunes seemingly made overnight literally vanished. Yet Amazon flowed on like its mighty namesake, still expanding, but also showing profits, while other promising start-ups faded from the scene. Once-daunting competitors had become grateful partners. The vision of Jeff Bezos had prevailed, and the world of commerce had changed forever.

[wootsaejao]

36:18 "Stress comes from ignoring things that you should not be ignoring."

[MilesBellas]

one thing I would regret is never having

[grott]

Absolutely brilliant. His vision and ideas turn out to be scary correct.

[nelsonthekinger]

"I lost my library privileges one time which was really, you know, inconvenient for me because I was actually.. for laughing. I know you'll never believe this, but laughing too loudly. PWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[justicewillprevail]

He’s right. Hard work, intelligence are just not enough. Luck plays a big part.

[simonbuxton]

He's practicing for when he takes over the world...

[Kisiibarbie]

Success is well earned. It’s against our nature to take risks. It’s not an easy task being open to listening to feedback that doesn’t align with what we think is best.

[peace-hupn]

It very nice to hear these conversation and also feel very satisfieing but for avarage individual like me it's harder for me to stay on such words of wisdom ❤️

[bhaskersriharshasuri]

Half way through the video I am now able to predict when he is gonna drop that laugh.

[aliqazilbash]

Jeff reminds me of some of my best friends, I wish I had seen this interview sooner because I have interacted with him while lacking any characteristic depth, wholly superficial.

[atmant]

The way he talks. He refers to money as a "Financial Resource". Or a computer as a "Tool". It's small but it's so big I can't explain it

[ranjeetkummar]

Child like true laugh, straight from the heart.. More I learn of him, more I admire..

[johnpauldelrosario]

imagine making that laugh your phone ringtone haha

[christopherarmstrong]

"Normal, everyday Non-Murderers" ...Classic

[joshkaye]

Lesson learned: invest in your children - in everything. LOVE them like nothing else. Give them a good happy childhood, a happy home and family life. Encourage them to find their passion. Their success will be YOUR success.

[Macmittens]

OMG... 5:10 - Serial killer confirmed. That laugh and the keys don't lie. 😢

[jimsmith]

In my opinion that laugh at 1:06 symbolised Jeff's ambition to reach for the stars.

[theebeautifultruth]

Garunteee Jeff didn’t lose his library privileges for laughing. It was how he was laughing 😂.

[alhassankassama]

Damn!! That laugh scared the shit out of me🙄🙄

[ajoseph]

1:00 his laughing here proves he’s an alien