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Why Following Your Dreams Isn't Enough

Shownote

Entrepreneurs typically have no shortage of passion, heart, and vision. But at Stanford University, Huggy Rao says there are other elements that may matter more when it comes to whether their projects succeed or fail. This week, we'll examine how this prob...

Highlights

What causes some ambitious projects to collapse while others thrive, even when led by passionate visionaries? Behind every high-profile failure lies a common thread—not a lack of big ideas, but a neglect of the unglamorous work that holds them together. From abandoned skyscrapers to political polarization, this episode explores the invisible systems that determine success or failure in both organizations and relationships.
00:01
More spending on weddings correlates with shorter marriages
22:08
Plumbing problems are undervalued orphan work, often done by women and under-compensated.
25:36
Achieving great things requires getting the plumbing right
38:30
People find it easier to imagine why a plan might fail than why it will succeed
52:22
Presenting facts often leads to defensiveness; shared values are more persuasive.
1:12:03
Clarifying definitions helps avoid pointless arguments caused by misinformation.

Chapters

What happens when a dream event turns into a disaster?
00:00
Why did a towering Pyongyang hotel remain empty for decades?
10:47
How fixing small problems can prevent big failures
25:36
Can imagining failure actually save a project?
35:30
What does it take to turn visionary ideas into real results?
45:16
Who are the people who bridge political divides—and how do they do it?
1:05:24
How can we reconnect across ideological lines through shared humanity?
1:19:03

Transcript

Shankar Vedantam: This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedantam. The year was 1964. The legendary singer, Frank Sinatra, met Mia Farrow, an up-and-coming actress, on a soundstage at 20th Century Fox. Despite their 30-year age difference, the two began dating ...