I had a wonderful conversation with Carlo Navato on his podcast, The Curiosity Dividend.
Carlo is an old friend, and we shared some adventures in the UK's Lake District in 2024. Plus, we have an equal passion for the Detroit Lions as well as creative pursuits in photography and writing
Carlo is the visionary founder of Haxted Estates, a multi-award-winning property developer who believes his success has come from being passionately curious.
Carlo believes he has no special talents except his ever-curious mindset. For him, curiosity leads to inspiration, which leads to creativity and empowers you to do cool stuff.
A chartered surveyor by training, he is happiest with mavericks in wild places. He is a passionate photographer and lover of books, vinyl, his VW camper van, sports, and wine. He is a founding partner of the Do Lectures.
Here are the top ten insights from our converation on geopolitics, corporate diplomacy, and the shattering of the old world order in these chaotic times:
1. The Trump administration has implemented unprecedented global tariffs that I described as "tariffing the entire planet." Trump's economic decision has caused significant market turmoil and is restructuring global supply chains, with even allied nations seeking accommodations.
2. I characterized Trump as a "day trader" without a long-term strategy: "Trump has no 100-year plan. He has no 10-year plan. He has no 10-hour plan." This short-term approach creates unpredictability in international relations and markets.
3. America's post-WWII economic prosperity created a "false sense of hope" because there was no competition from war-ravaged nations. As countries like Japan, Germany, England, and China recovered and entered global markets, America's economic position naturally shifted.
4. America's national debt, which stands at approximately $30 trillion against a $25 trillion economy, may drive tariff policies as a revenue-generating mechanism rather than just a form of protectionism.
5. I suggested America isn't "globalized enough" and should focus on selling more internationally rather than erecting trade barriers: "Instead of being so fearful of the world, let's get in it. We have the best companies in the world."
6. The Detroit Lions' turnaround under Dan Campbell exemplifies effective leadership by embracing a local identity rather than importing external models. The team hired leadership independently (rather than friends hiring friends) and focused on Detroit's blue-collar, gritty characteristics.
7. I identified several world leaders he considers noteworthy: Italy's Giorgia Meloni for embracing Italian "specialness," France's Emmanuel Macron for starting his political party, and Argentina's Javier Milei for attempting to revitalize a potentially powerful economy.
8. I predicted the political consequences of the tariff policies: "I think these tariffs stay on for a while. I think we go into a recession. I think the Democrats take back the House, and it's a whole new ballgame."
9. On managing information overload, I emphasized distinguishing between signal and noise: "I really focus on the signal, like, what are the four or five data points that really, really matter?" This focus and decision-making enable me to maintain my focus amid the constant news cycles.
10. In the podcast, I revealed my creative interests beyond geopolitics, including photography and writing. I highlighted how diverse skill sets and experiences (what I call a "talent stack") can converge later in life to help you reach your maximum potential.
Enjoy the ride + Plan accordingly.
-Marc
