Barry Diller on His Career, Writing His Book, and the Nature of Success

The Genesis of "Who Knew"

• 💡 Barry Diller decided to write his book, "Who Knew," because he felt he had a good story from his life that he could tell truthfully, without it being a promotional or instructional piece.
• 🧠 He found that diving into the writing process brought back memories he thought were lost, making the act of recalling past moments enjoyable.

Early Career and Learning Management

• 🔑 Diller's start at William Morris involved manufacturing his way into their file room, which he saw as a repository of entertainment business history, providing an unparalleled education.
• 🚀 He learned management by being an exceptional assistant, mastering details and processes, which he describes as the foundational DNA of business life.
• 📈 At ABC, in his twenties, he developed the concept of a franchise movie, a responsibility given to him because no one else had experience and everyone expected it to fail.

Confidence, Instinct, and Creativity

• ⚠️ Diller suggests that a lack of confidence, rather than confidence itself, made him effective, especially when undertaking projects with no prior experience.
• 🛠️ He learned management by doing every job in a new venture from the ground up, which provided a deeper understanding than a top-down approach.
• 🎨 While not inherently creative, Diller possessed strong opinions and instincts, and a willingness to argue passionately out of these instincts, which he found crucial for creative decision-making.

Business Philosophy and Data

• 🎯 Diller admits to losing interest once a venture succeeds, preferring to move on to the next unknown challenge rather than shepherding established successes.
• 📊 He expresses a dislike for data that is used predictively for audience taste, viewing it as a grand waste of time and a crutch for insecurity, preferring to rely on instinct.
• 💡 He believes that the Fairness Doctrine, which required balance in reporting, was important for maintaining a societal center and its discarding is a significant loss.

Serendipity and Independence

• ✨ Diller emphasizes the gargantuan and inexplicable role of serendipity in his life, where fortunate circumstances aligned at critical moments.
• 🚀 A pivotal moment was his departure from William Morris, which coincided with a major shift at ABC, propelling him into a significant role.
• ⚡ He describes a strong internal drive for independence, forcing himself to be capable of operating outside of corporate structures to see what he could create on his own.

The Internet and Personal Life

• 🌐 Diller was fascinated by the interactive nature of early screens in the nineties, which led him to explore the nascent internet.
• 📚 While writing his book, he was surprised by his ability to recall specific, undocumented stories and tales from his business life, beyond factual records.
• 💬 He reflects on a lack of courage in his younger years regarding personal declarations, wishing he had been more open, though he believes such matters are less significant now.