Title: Key Insights from Dinner with Speechify's CEO Cliff Weitzman
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Cliff Weitzman
This article marks the beginning of my "3 Takeaways" series. During my time at Brown University, I encountered remarkable individuals, including Cliff Weitzman, the CEO and founder of Speechify. He made a memorable entrance with a backflip and spent an engaging hour sharing his experiences and philosophies. Following this, I had the opportunity to dine with him and delve deeper into his insights.
Section 1.1: Embrace Action
Cliff has developed numerous applications during his academic journey. He recounted creating a freelancing platform and an early version of Speechify among the 36 projects he launched while studying. His approach is centered on a bias towards action; when inspiration strikes, he dives headfirst into executing his ideas.
When I inquired about his idea generation process, his response was thought-provoking. He pointed out an individual holding a banana and mused, "Imagine if that banana exploded in his backpack—what a mess! That leads to the thought: banana holder. Observing your surroundings can spark improvements. Expect many ideas to fail, some to succeed, and occasionally, you'll stumble upon a truly great concept."
Subsection 1.1.1: Seize Opportunities
Section 1.2: Be a Go-Getter
A significant lesson from our conversation was the power of asking for what you want. Cliff shared how he negotiated discounts with airlines for conference flights and found creative ways to gain free access to events. He emphasized the importance of writing down your objectives during travel—be it on a plane, train, or car ride—and persisting until you achieve them.
On one occasion, he recounted how he took initiative at a conference, walking onto the stage after the keynote speaker had finished. He connected his laptop and demonstrated Speechify, showcasing how taking chances can lead to success.
Chapter 2: The Philosophy of Leading with Love
Cliff's actions are deeply rooted in a philosophy he describes as "leading with love." His aspiration is to create substantial value in the world, but he insists that doing so without adhering to his ethical values renders that value meaningless. The concept of "love" as a guiding principle in leadership is not often discussed.
As the acclaimed film "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" suggests, kindness is fundamental to a fulfilling life. Cliff explained that his leadership style is influenced by literature, particularly "The Way of Kings." Imagine for a moment: what does "leading with love" mean to you?
If you use Speechify or the audio feature on Medium (powered by Speechify's API), we’d love to hear your thoughts on these insights in the comments below!