In this compelling episode, Charles dives deep with Jeremy Delk, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist who transformed personal tragedy into extraordinary business success. Jeremy opens up about his journey from losing his father at age seven to building multiple Inc. 500 companies, revealing how failure became his most powerful teacher.
From watching his childhood stability crumble after his father's death to losing $2 million in just four days as a young trader, Jeremy's story showcases the resilience that ultimately led him to become the youngest trader in Fidelity Investments' history. He candidly shares the pivotal moment when he turned down a $600 million offer for his business—only to later sell it for just $6 million after regulatory challenges.
Charles and Jeremy explore a refreshing philosophy on failure, discussing how embracing setbacks as part of your growth story creates the courage to take bigger risks. Their conversation unpacks Jeremy's approach to business losses, personal relationships, and finding fulfillment beyond traditional success markers.
Jeremy's insights shine when he breaks down his coaching methodology, revealing how he helps high-achieving professionals—particularly physicians—move beyond the grind to discover real purpose. He challenges conventional thinking about success, advocating for a shift from external validation to internal fulfillment.
Key Takeaways:
* Learn why treating business failures with curiosity rather than despair creates unexpected opportunities
* Discover how therapy and self-awareness transform personal leadership capacity
* Understand the powerful distinction between outward success and genuine fulfillment
* Master the negotiation strategy of listening first to identify others' true needs
* See why purpose—not just profit—creates sustainable business and life satisfaction
Head over to https://provenpodcast.com/ to download your exclusive companion guide, designed to guide you step-by-step in implementing the strategies revealed in this episode.
KEY POINTS:
3:30 - The Ripple Effect of Loss: Losing a father at a young age forced the family into instability, highlighting the stark difference between having resources and struggling without them.
10:45 - The Power of Perspective in Business Failure: A $2 million loss in four days became a turning point. Instead of dwelling on failure, shifting the mindset toward learning from it led to a major career breakthrough.
16:15 - Breaking Emotional Barriers: Years of emotional self-protection made vulnerability seem like a weakness. In reality, avoiding it only led to isolation and deeper struggles.
23:22 - Setting the Standard for Future Generations: A therapist’s advice reshaped the understanding of relationships—children mirror what they witness, making it crucial to create a loving, connected environment.
27:40 - The Truth About Success and Imposter Syndrome: Even the most successful people battle self-doubt. The key is pushing forward despite it, recognizing that no one is inherently more capable.
39:00 - Walking Away from a $600M Deal: Turning down a massive offer in hopes of reaching $1 billion led to unexpected legal battles. Instead of a life-changing fortune, the business sold for $6 million.
40:30 - Embracing Failure as the Ultimate Growth Tool: Failure isn’t a setback but a training ground. The most resilient entrepreneurs are those who have lost and come back stronger.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!