David Rubenstein, best known as the co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group, is not a journalist. He is, however, an exceptional interviewer.

His show explores successful leadership through the personal and professional choices of the most influential people in business. Along the way, he uncovers their stories and their paths to success.

Rubenstein does 3 things that make the show so uncommonly good:

1. He has built a first-rate network of colleagues, clients, friends. It is from this network that he draws these phenomenal guests
2. He does his homework. His questions are insightful and often quite amusing.
3. Most importantly, he NEVER interjects himself into the interview.

This past week I saw him in conversation with Masayoshi Son, Founder of Softbank.

I’ve attached a link to the interview here – and highly recommend you watch. In the meantime, here are a few of the things Masa Son revealed about his background that signal how he got to where he is today:

#1:  At 16, while still a student in Japan, he wanted to meet the head of McDonalds Japan

•  The McDonald’s CEO had just written a book that became a best seller. Masa Son was so impressed he felt compelled to meet him.
• He made at least 60 long distance calls to the CEO’s various assistants, always asking: “Can he spare me some time, can you ask him?”
• Finally, he flew to Tokyo because the calls were getting more expensive than an air ticket.
• He again told the assistant: “Tell him he doesn’t have to talk to me, I just want to see his face for 3 minutes, I am so impressed with him and respect him. I will not bother him.”
• His persistence paid off. The CEO finally said ok and met with Masa for 15 minutes.
• Masa asked him one fateful question: “What business should I pursue?”
• The CEO responded: “COMPUTERS, don’t look at past industries, look to the future.”
• And the rest, as they say, is history.

Read on below for how, while a student at Berkeley, he challenged himself to take 5 minutes out of his studies every day, to come up with an idea that would make him $10K per month.  Also, how he decided Jack Ma had what it takes to make Alibaba a worthwhile investment (at a time when it had zero revenue).

 

#2:  While at the University of California at Berkeley, Masa Son set aside 5 minutes a day to come up with an idea that would earn him $10K a month

“5 minutes, I will allow to something other than study. I want to earn $10K per month.”

• He asked friends if there was any job, where for 5 mins a day, he could earn 10K month. They laughed at him and suggested drug dealing.
• But he kept asking himself: “What is the best, most efficient use of my time.”
• He decided it would be inventions.
• He literally set his timer for 5 minutes.
• “COME INVENTION COME”
• And it worked
• He invented the first electric dictionary. A machine that translated language – all the students used it and he sold it to Sharp for $1.7MM.

#3:  Why he invested $20MM in Alibaba (and got an over 4000% return)

This is what he had to say about a young Jack Ma:

• “He had no business plan, zero revenue, BUT his eyes were very strong, shining eyes, I could tell from the way he talked that he has charisma, leadership. He can bring young Chinese people to follow him.”

Bottom Line: Outstanding business leaders who have had the vision and the tenacity to create entirely new industries are my heroes. I admire their courage, I am always inspired by the way they think and I love hearing their stories. Thank you David Rubenstein!