DiscoverThe Knowledge ProjectHarley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year
Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year

Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year

Update: 2025-07-081
Share

Description

Shopify’s Harley Finkelstein reveals the one standard that actually scales your career and your family.


Harley shares why stepping down as COO was his hardest choice, the family motto that guides his daughters, and what makes someone good at storytelling. They discuss AI's real advantage, the calendar system that keeps him accountable, and how he maintains high standards.


If this gives you one standard to raise your team—or your family—share it with a friend who needs to hear it today.


------------


About Harley:


Harley Finkelstein is the President of Shopify. He leads storytelling, external relations, and company energy—translating world-class product into world-class adoption.


Approximate timestamps: 
(00:02:10 ) Living With Unreasonably High Standards
(00:03:40 ) Generational Trauma and Family Relationships
(00:07:52 ) Growing Up With Adverse Circumstances
(00:14:42 ) Prioritizing In Life And Becoming World Class
(00:24:45 ) Requalifying For Your Job
(00:30:05 ) Mindset for Professional Growth and Success
(00:31:33 ) How To Find A Great Business Partner
(00:32:57 ) Switching From COO Of Shopify To President/Chief Storyteller
(00:40:34 ) How Storytelling Impacts Shopify
(00:42:00 ) How To Get Better At Storytelling
(00:46:13 ) Shopify And How Commerce Has Evolved
(00:49:27 ) Forced Entrepreneurship Vs Passion-Based Entrepreneurship
(00:51:34 ) Mentorship
(00:59:41 ) Overcoming Failure And Rejection
(01:02:46 ) Out Caring Is More Important Than IQ, EQ, Raw Talent
(01:06:07 ) Parenting And Teaching A Hardwork Ethic
(01:11:23 ) Teaching Resilience


Thanks to our sponsor for supporting this episode:


SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/knowledgeproject


MINT MOBILE: Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/knowledgeproject


Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.


Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tkppodcast


Follow Shane Parrish


X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Insta ⁠⁠@farnamstreet⁠⁠


LinkedIn ⁠⁠Shane Parrish⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year

Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year

Shane Parrish