This was one of my favorite business conversations that I've ever had on the Diary of a CEO

podcast and it's frankly set the bar for every CEO or co-founder that I ever interview.

Brian taught me more so than any other guest I've ever had on the show how important hiring,

culture and team building is. The reality of running a small business is that switching off

is never really an option.

Even when you try, the ideas, the excitement and all the responsibility is always there.

And because you're always switched on, it's only fair that your hiring partner should be too.

LinkedIn Jobs, who are the sponsor of this moment's episode, has been that hiring partner for me and for years.

Because it's always working away in the background.

My team can post our jobs for free, share them with our networks and reach top talent all in the

same place. So let's get into today's conversation. At the very beginning, I saw this email,

which I think is really important because maybe it's the most important thing,

because there are going to be people starting companies now that are getting a lot of emails

like that.

This is from August 1st, 2008, by the way, so let me give the context this email.

So Joe Nate and I were trying to raise money.

For everyone trying to raise money, I want you to know that Airbnb was trying to raise $150,000

at a $1.5 million, I think, post-money valuation.

I'll give you that right now.

Exactly.

And here's one of many rejection letters.

Hi, Brian.

...