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How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#133: Bill Farish, Founder of Woodford Racing and GM of Lane’s End Farm – Invest in your industry

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

David Novak Leadership

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management

4.8596 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Just in time for this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, today’s guest is Bill Farish. He’s the founder of Woodford Racing and the general manager of Lane’s End Farm, one of the world’s premier thoroughbred breeding farms. Their horse Charismatic actually won the Derby in 1999. And just last year, their horse Flightline won the 2022 Breeders’ Cup by a record distance.  This conversation will give you a rare, close-up look into the world of horse racing. But it will also give you a close-up look at a REALLY special leader.  For all his success and world-class reputation, Bill is an incredibly humble guy with the heart of a genuine caretaker. He loves his work. He loves his horses – his athletes, as he rightfully calls them. He loves to see the people he hires succeed. And he’s trying to leave his industry better than he found it.  It’s the kind of quietly outstanding leadership that we don’t always see elevated or showcased, but it teaches us SO much about what it really looks like to lead well.  Plus, he gives us HIS pick for the horse he’s backing this weekend, and you do NOT want to miss that!  You’ll also learn: Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about horse racing, ownership, and breeding The #1 thing you need to do as a leader to create alignment and ownership One hiring practice that can help you attract great talent (but it has a downside, too) Practical advice for working in a family business What it was like to host the Queen of England at his farm Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very best leaders in the world.

0:10.2

I break down the key learning so by the end of the episode, you'll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader.

0:17.5

That's what this podcast is all about.

0:20.4

Well, this Saturday, we all get to experience the most

0:24.0

exciting two minutes in sports. That's right. It's time for the Kentucky Derby right here in my hometown

0:30.5

of Louisville. And that gives me the perfect opportunity to sit down with my good friend, Bill

0:36.4

Ferris. Bill is a giant in the world of horse

0:39.8

racing. He's the founder of Woodford Racing and the general manager of Lane's End Farm, which I got

0:46.1

to tell you, is one of the world's premier thoroughbred breeding farms and an absolutely magnificent

0:53.0

place to see. Now, this conversation is going to give you a rare

0:57.3

close-up look into the world of horse racing, but it's also going to give you a close-up look

1:02.7

at a really special leader. See, for all his success and world-class reputation, Bill is an

1:09.5

incredibly humble guy with the quiet spirit of a leader

1:13.9

who just knows how to treat people and knows his business. He loves his work, he loves his horses,

1:20.8

he calls them his athletes. He loves to see the people he hires succeed, and he's trying to leave

1:27.3

his industry better than he found it.

1:29.9

It's the kind of quiet, outstanding leadership that we don't always see elevated or showcased,

1:36.0

but that can teach us so much about what it really looks like to lead well.

1:40.3

Plus, he gives us his pick for the horse he's backing this weekend, and you do not want to miss that.

1:47.2

So here's my conversation with my good friend and soon to be yours, Bill Ferris.

1:58.3

In just a couple of days, we're going to have the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

2:03.3

What's a Kentucky Derby story you just love to tell?

...

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