What do you do when the world keeps telling you no? Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer reveals how rejection, curiosity, creativity, and relentless belief helped him build one of the most extraordinary careers in Hollywood history.

In this powerful episode of In Search of Excellence, host Randall Kaplan sits down with Brian Grazer to explore the real lessons behind success in film, business, and life — from mentorship and intellectual property to storytelling, resilience, preparation, and the mindset required to achieve greatness.

Brian shares unforgettable stories about Lew Wasserman, Ron Howard, Splash, 8 Mile, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and the career-defining moments that taught him why owning ideas matters more than chasing relationships — and why “no” is often just a temporary point of view.

In this episode:
Why intellectual property is the foundation of lasting success.
The lesson Brian learned from hundreds of rejections.
How curiosity opened the door to new opportunities and major films.
What it feels like to lose at the Oscars — and finally win.
Brian’s views on preparation, creativity, storytelling, and greatness.

About Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer is an Academy Award-winning producer who has produced 130 feature films and 45 television shows, including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, 8 Mile, The Da Vinci Code, 24, Empire, Friday Night Lights, and Arrested Development. His productions have received 47 Oscar nominations with 9 wins, 296 Emmy nominations with 63 wins, 71 Golden Globe nominations with 11 wins, and have generated more than $15 billion in worldwide box office. He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book A Curious Mind.

About Randall Kaplan
Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and executive coach. He is the co-founder of Akamai Technologies, an early investor in Google, and a mentor to founders, CEOs, executives, and business owners through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology.

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