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Nov 22, 2018 · 16m · how-i-built-this

Method's Adam Lowry And Eric Ryan At The HIBT Summit

Adam Lowry · 5m spoken Guy Raz · 4m spoken Eric Ryan · 4m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

Recorded live at the How I Built This Summit, host Guy Raz interviews Method co-founders Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry about their enduring partnership, operational division of labor, and the intentional communication strategies that allowed them to disrupt the cleaning industry while preserving their close friendship.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Guy holds 31.6% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Guy as informed peer 2.7 Guest teaching 1.8 Guest disagreement 0.8 Guy pushing back 0.8
05100:0010:000:57–4:16 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 The Origins and Initial Concept of Method Guy opens the live session warmly, prompting Adam and Eric to describe the origins of Method and how their contrasting skill sets formed a partnership. The founders share lighthearted anecdotes about their early roommate dynamic in a collaborative tone.4:20–8:06 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 Defining Roles and Wearing Multiple Hats in Early Startup Days Guy asks how they navigated distinct roles and managed founder tension. Adam and Eric describe learning on the fly and playfully banter about fighting like cats and dogs in the early days.8:06–11:11 · Guy as informed peer 4/10 Utilizing Business Couples Therapy to Bridge Personality Differences Guy probes into their communication styles and experience in co-founder therapy. Adam articulates the value of trust in turning interpersonal conflict into productive business ideas.11:11–13:57 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 Entrepreneurial Advice and Pioneering the Eco Chic Category Guy circles back to question if their partnership was purely serendipitous. Eric and Adam elaborate on how their opposing aesthetics merged into the first Eco Chic cleaning brand.13:57–16:03 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 Current Endeavors and Reflections on Their Lasting Bond Guy highlights their respective new ventures and asks what they miss most about working with each other. Both founders express mutual admiration and appreciation before Guy wraps up the summit session.16:15–16:33 · Guy as informed peer 0/10 NPR News Now Podcast Promotional Announcement A brief scripted promotional announcement for the NPR News Now podcast with no host-guest interaction.0:57–4:16 · Guest teaching 2/10 The Origins and Initial Concept of Method Guy opens the live session warmly, prompting Adam and Eric to describe the origins of Method and how their contrasting skill sets formed a partnership. The founders share lighthearted anecdotes about their early roommate dynamic in a collaborative tone.4:20–8:06 · Guest teaching 2/10 Defining Roles and Wearing Multiple Hats in Early Startup Days Guy asks how they navigated distinct roles and managed founder tension. Adam and Eric describe learning on the fly and playfully banter about fighting like cats and dogs in the early days.8:06–11:11 · Guest teaching 3/10 Utilizing Business Couples Therapy to Bridge Personality Differences Guy probes into their communication styles and experience in co-founder therapy. Adam articulates the value of trust in turning interpersonal conflict into productive business ideas.11:11–13:57 · Guest teaching 3/10 Entrepreneurial Advice and Pioneering the Eco Chic Category Guy circles back to question if their partnership was purely serendipitous. Eric and Adam elaborate on how their opposing aesthetics merged into the first Eco Chic cleaning brand.13:57–16:03 · Guest teaching 1/10 Current Endeavors and Reflections on Their Lasting Bond Guy highlights their respective new ventures and asks what they miss most about working with each other. Both founders express mutual admiration and appreciation before Guy wraps up the summit session.16:15–16:33 · Guest teaching 0/10 NPR News Now Podcast Promotional Announcement A brief scripted promotional announcement for the NPR News Now podcast with no host-guest interaction.0:57–4:16 · Guest disagreement 1/10 The Origins and Initial Concept of Method Guy opens the live session warmly, prompting Adam and Eric to describe the origins of Method and how their contrasting skill sets formed a partnership. The founders share lighthearted anecdotes about their early roommate dynamic in a collaborative tone.4:20–8:06 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Defining Roles and Wearing Multiple Hats in Early Startup Days Guy asks how they navigated distinct roles and managed founder tension. Adam and Eric describe learning on the fly and playfully banter about fighting like cats and dogs in the early days.8:06–11:11 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Utilizing Business Couples Therapy to Bridge Personality Differences Guy probes into their communication styles and experience in co-founder therapy. Adam articulates the value of trust in turning interpersonal conflict into productive business ideas.11:11–13:57 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Entrepreneurial Advice and Pioneering the Eco Chic Category Guy circles back to question if their partnership was purely serendipitous. Eric and Adam elaborate on how their opposing aesthetics merged into the first Eco Chic cleaning brand.13:57–16:03 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Current Endeavors and Reflections on Their Lasting Bond Guy highlights their respective new ventures and asks what they miss most about working with each other. Both founders express mutual admiration and appreciation before Guy wraps up the summit session.16:15–16:33 · Guest disagreement 0/10 NPR News Now Podcast Promotional Announcement A brief scripted promotional announcement for the NPR News Now podcast with no host-guest interaction.0:57–4:16 · Guy pushing back 1/10 The Origins and Initial Concept of Method Guy opens the live session warmly, prompting Adam and Eric to describe the origins of Method and how their contrasting skill sets formed a partnership. The founders share lighthearted anecdotes about their early roommate dynamic in a collaborative tone.4:20–8:06 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Defining Roles and Wearing Multiple Hats in Early Startup Days Guy asks how they navigated distinct roles and managed founder tension. Adam and Eric describe learning on the fly and playfully banter about fighting like cats and dogs in the early days.8:06–11:11 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Utilizing Business Couples Therapy to Bridge Personality Differences Guy probes into their communication styles and experience in co-founder therapy. Adam articulates the value of trust in turning interpersonal conflict into productive business ideas.11:11–13:57 · Guy pushing back 2/10 Entrepreneurial Advice and Pioneering the Eco Chic Category Guy circles back to question if their partnership was purely serendipitous. Eric and Adam elaborate on how their opposing aesthetics merged into the first Eco Chic cleaning brand.13:57–16:03 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Current Endeavors and Reflections on Their Lasting Bond Guy highlights their respective new ventures and asks what they miss most about working with each other. Both founders express mutual admiration and appreciation before Guy wraps up the summit session.16:15–16:33 · Guy pushing back 0/10 NPR News Now Podcast Promotional Announcement A brief scripted promotional announcement for the NPR News Now podcast with no host-guest interaction.

speaking balance: gold is Guy, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Guy 49.2% · guest 50.8%0:00 · Guy 49.2% · guest 50.8%3:00 · Guy 20.4% · guest 79.6%3:00 · Guy 20.4% · guest 79.6%6:00 · Guy 32.2% · guest 67.8%6:00 · Guy 32.2% · guest 67.8%9:00 · Guy 26.5% · guest 73.5%9:00 · Guy 26.5% · guest 73.5%12:00 · Guy 19.2% · guest 80.8%12:00 · Guy 19.2% · guest 80.8%15:00 · Guy 53.9% · guest 46.1%15:00 · Guy 53.9% · guest 46.1%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 7:24 Co-founder bickering over early fighting

Adam claims they fought like cats and dogs and hated each other's guts, while Eric immediately pushes back saying he doesn't remember hating him.

 Hardest push from Guy ▶ 12:15 Guy pressing on serendipity versus deliberate partnership

Guy circles back to their earlier admission that they did not know if they were right for each other, directly pressing whether the partnership was pure luck.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 10:26 Adam breaking down trust and productive conflict

Adam delivers a crisp, insightful breakdown to Guy on how trust allows differences of opinion to build stronger ideas rather than devolving into ego-driven conflicts.

 Guy holds their own ▶ 8:06 Guy demonstrating knowledge of co-founder communication styles

Guy draws upon specific background knowledge of how Adam retreats while Eric becomes communicative under pressure, shaping the direction of the discussion.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicGuy as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementGuy pushing backWhy
The Origins and Initial Concept of Method 3211 Guy opens the live session warmly, prompting Adam and Eric to describe the origins of Method and how their contrasting skill sets formed a partnership. The founders share lighthearted anecdotes about their early roommate dynamic in a collaborative tone.
Defining Roles and Wearing Multiple Hats in Early Startup Days 3221 Guy asks how they navigated distinct roles and managed founder tension. Adam and Eric describe learning on the fly and playfully banter about fighting like cats and dogs in the early days.
Utilizing Business Couples Therapy to Bridge Personality Differences 4311 Guy probes into their communication styles and experience in co-founder therapy. Adam articulates the value of trust in turning interpersonal conflict into productive business ideas.
Entrepreneurial Advice and Pioneering the Eco Chic Category 3312 Guy circles back to question if their partnership was purely serendipitous. Eric and Adam elaborate on how their opposing aesthetics merged into the first Eco Chic cleaning brand.
Current Endeavors and Reflections on Their Lasting Bond 3100 Guy highlights their respective new ventures and asks what they miss most about working with each other. Both founders express mutual admiration and appreciation before Guy wraps up the summit session.
NPR News Now Podcast Promotional Announcement 0000 A brief scripted promotional announcement for the NPR News Now podcast with no host-guest interaction.

Statements from this episode (10)

Opinion
Ryan: The cleaning category was a massive "sea of sameness"
“We saw a really big category, which was a sea of sameness, and we started looking at the category and started to see some opportunities.”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 1:48
Insight
Eric Ryan: Successful founders need business partners with opposite mindsets
“As a founder, you often look to partner with businesses with people who are similar to you, but what you need is someone who's the complete opposite of you to make a business successful.”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 2:58
Assertion Supported
Ryan: Method divided co-founder roles between inside and outside the bottle
“Very simply, Adam's inside the bottle. He understood that the chemistry, the chemical engineering the sustainability behind it, and I was outside of the bottle, which was the design and the branding of it.”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 3:42
Insight
Eric Ryan: Co-founder partnerships are like marriages without makeup sex
“And you're doing this as a partnership, and I always tell people it's a lot like a marriage, but it's even harder because you can't have makeup sex. So you've got to find alternative ways through it.”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 6:37
Insight
Lowry: Constructive co-founder relations matter more than getting your way
“The key for us was recognizing that it was way more important for the business That we have a constructive relationship than to get our own individual way”
Adam Lowry Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 7:39
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Ryan: Method Co-Founders Did Therapy Together
“We did therapy together.”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 8:58
Insight
Lowry: Co-Founder Therapy Helps Navigate Divergent Stress Responses
“I'm a big proponent of that because it's what helps you understand this, like this situation that we just talked about, where when things get stressful, Eric talks a lot, and Adam shuts up. Right. And that's two different people responding in different ways th…”
Adam Lowry Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 9:04
Insight
Lowry: Trust turns team conflict into better ideas rather than ego battles
“Conflict is a great thing, because it's where you are able to build an idea into a bigger, better idea, and You're going to have differences of opinion, and trust is what allows you to evaluate that objectively as something that's a better way of solving a pro…”
Adam Lowry Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 10:35
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Eric Ryan: Method was the first 'Eco Chic' high-design sustainable brand
“We're going to take credit for it, because we haven't found anybody who did it first, but really the first Eco Chic, a product that was high design and deep sustainability, which is really hard to do, and we were both insistent that it would have these qualiti…”
Eric Ryan Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 13:00
Insight
Adam Lowry: Starting a business is at least a ten-year commitment
“You start a business, that's at least a ten-year commitment.”
Adam Lowry Nov 22, 2018 ▶ 13:24
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