From starting work at age 12 in a car radio shop in Johannesburg, to building and backing insurance ventures in London, to now advising CEOs across Europe, this is the story of Arthur Goldberg.
In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Arthur to explore how early lessons in hard work and resourcefulness shaped his outlook, why empathy and curiosity remain at the heart of good leadership, and what it really takes to leave corporate security, put your canoe in the water, and start paddling.
Key Takeaways and Highlights:
Hard Work Creates Luck: Growing up with little, Arthur started working in a car radio shop and mowing lawns around the neighbourhood at age 12. “If you wanted to be paid, you had to work. No excuses.” By doing this, he discovered the joy of building something people actually want. As he puts it: “Nothing beats the feeling of selling something — you know you were right, the market wants your product, and it starts to move.”
Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone: Arthur draws on the parable of a Greek fisherman to highlight that not everyone is wired for risk. Many people genuinely prefer the stability of corporate life — and that’s not a flaw. As he puts it, “Some people just want to fish. And thank God, because those people keep most things going.”
Know When to Jump (and When to Quit): After realising he “just couldn’t do it anymore”, Arthur left the corporate world behind and co-founded his own company. His advice to young people: “If your canoe’s not in the water, you can’t paddle. But when you know it’s time, get out — don’t throw good money after bad.”
Empathy as a Superpower: Whether in sales or leadership, connection starts with putting yourself in the customer’s shoes. “You can’t succeed without empathy. It’s the only way to truly connect.”
Values Above All: For Arthur, honesty, transparency, and curiosity are non-negotiable. “Your white lie might be someone else’s black. If you don’t lie, you don’t have to remember.” He believes the same applies to companies: “When businesses become dishonest about their purpose, that’s when they go off the rails.”
Books Don’t Run the Race: Arthur shares the story of meeting a Paralympic marathoner whose only race fuel was Coke and water. For him, it’s a lesson that no amount of theory replaces practice. “You can learn all the books in the world, but at the end of the day, you still have to run the race.”
Enjoy the show!
