Getting There by Gillian Zoe Segal Summary
Overview of Getting There
Thirty industry titans, including Warren Buffett and Sara Blakely, reveal their unfiltered paths to success in this Vanity Fair-endorsed collection of "life-changing, real-world advice." What setbacks did these visionaries overcome that might transform your own journey?
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Key takeaways
When Success Looks Nothing Like You Imagined
A young woman lives in her car, surviving on $2.50 a day while trying to sell hair products salon by salon. A lawyer discovers he can't read until third grade. A future media mogul gets fired after fifteen years of loyal service. These aren't cautionary tales - they're origin stories of billionaires and industry titans. The mythology of success tells us about overnight breakthroughs and natural-born talent, but the reality is far messier and infinitely more interesting. What separates those who make it from those who don't isn't genius or luck - it's how they respond when everything falls apart. The most accomplished people in business, entertainment, and science share a common thread: they all faced moments when continuing seemed impossible, yet they found ways to keep moving forward. Warren Buffett keeps only one diploma on his office wall - not from Columbia or the University of Pennsylvania, but from a Dale Carnegie public speaking course. Why? Because the Oracle of Omaha was once so terrified of speaking that he'd become physically ill. That $100 course, paid in cash to force his attendance, transformed not just his career but his entire life, even giving him the courage to propose to his wife. This reveals something profound: our greatest weaknesses often point toward our most important growth.
The Inner Scorecard and Learning from Rejection
The Seven-Year Overnight Success and Creative Persistence
From Fired to Billionaire and Turning Setbacks into Launches
When Failure Becomes Your Education and Limitations Become Superpowers
Finding Purpose Through Tragedy and Developing Compensatory Strengths
The Winding Road Forward and Refusing to Let Rejection Define Your Trajectory
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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