by Alex Banayan
ACCLAIM FOR
“A treasure chest of wisdom…knowledge that can be used by anyone, anywhere, who wants to take their journey further…Banayan has become one of the most equipped guides to help you climb higher mountains in your life.”
—SHAWN ACHOR, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential
“Unlike any business book I’ve read. The Third Door is an exhilarating thrill ride of hope, joy, ambition, and self-discovery. I cheered out loud, and at different points, tears trickled down my face….The Third Door motivated me to turn up the volume in my life….A triumph.”
—MAYA WATSON BANKS, director of marketing at Netflix
“A cinematic story full of drama, betrayal, and heartbreak. The Third Door takes you on a narrative adventure packed with life-changing lessons. Once you start reading, you can’t stop.”
—JONAH BERGER, New York Times bestselling author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On
“Powerful…one of the best books of the year…After reading The Third Door, an uncontrollable shift happened in my life—I started to see the challenges in front of me as fun. This book not only gave me new tools to achieve my goals, but it also showed me how exciting it can be to tackle seemingly impossible obstacles. If you want to take your life to the next level, you have to read The Third Door.”
—MIKE POSNER, Grammy Award–nominated and multiplatinum musician
“Banayan’s heart is poured into every page of this book. The Third Door is not only a guide to how the world’s most remarkable pioneers succeeded, but it’s also a magnificent story of one boy’s journey to achieve his dream. The Third Door drips with passion and emotion—and it’s a must-read for anyone wanting to turn their vision into a reality.”
—ADAM BRAUN, New York Times bestselling author of The Promise of a Pencil
“A wild ride…inspiring, hilarious, and insightful. Whenever you start to believe there’s no other way to solve your problem, let Alex Banayan inspire you to think bigger.”
—DAVID EAGLEMAN, New York Times bestselling author of Incognito, host of PBS’ The Brain, and adjunct professor at Stanford University
“As a Jewish mother, I don’t want my teenage kids to read this book and get any ideas about dropping out of school. However, as someone who has served as a senior diplomat, tech executive, and social innovation entrepreneur, I want to put it at the top of their reading list! The Third Door is required reading for anyone in today’s dynamic society who wants to learn success from the best.”
—SUZI LEVINE, United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Ret.)
“In just a few hours of reading this book, Alex Banayan taught me how to meet billionaires, leapfrog my associates, and achieve my dreams in record time. I’ve never read anything quite like this! Whether you are an entrepreneur or trying to jumpstart your career, The Third Door will open up your world of possibilities.”
—TIM SANDERS, New York Times bestselling author of Love Is the Killer App
“My grandfather used to tell me: ‘If a problem has a solution, why worry?’ And it’s precisely that attitude of optimism and possibility that has so inspired me about Banayan’s The Third Door. He wasted little time worrying: ‘What if?’ He went for it. And that made all the difference.”
—JASON SILVA, Emmy-nominated host of National Geographic’s Origins and Brain Games
“Equal parts badass and wise, The Third Door ushers you inside an epic journey of invention and determination. Banayan’s quest to discover the keys to the world’s most impossible doors unlocks the hidden power in each of us.”
—BRAD DELSON, lead guitarist of the Grammy Award–winning rock band Linkin Park
“Wild adventures. Incredible stories. Immensely practical advice. The Third Door has it all—and it’s exactly what our generation has been waiting for.”
—BEN NEMTIN, star of MTV’s The Buried Life and New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?
“Alex Banayan was intent on creating his ‘dream university’—Bill Gates would teach business; Lady Gaga, music; Steven Spielberg, film; Jane Goodall, science—and that vision became a reality. This book proves that education is one of the most powerful forces in the world, and it’s made even more powerful when you take charge of your own learning.”
—KAREN CATOR, former director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education
“Gripping stories…The Third Door is that rare book where the author lives the advice he’s sharing. Alex Banayan redefines the meaning of entrepreneurial hustle and hard work. Prepare to be humbled—and inspired.”
—BEN CASNOCHA, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Start-Up of You
“The Third Door draws upon lessons from some of today’s most inspiring figures in business and popular culture, and by doing so provides a masterclass in innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative problem solving across generations. It is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate leaders alike.”
—LEXIE KOMISAR, global program director for growth and strategic partnerships at IBM
“Banayan personifies creativity, hustle, and passion. He’s the embodiment of the next generation of the entrepreneurial leader, and The Third Door beautifully brings this mindset to life.”
—JOSH LINKNER, New York Times bestselling author of Disciplined Dreaming and Hacking Innovation
“Banayan’s approach to solving problems is as hilarious as it is brilliant. Whether you’re an accomplished entrepreneur, an aspiring one, or an executive trying to get your employees to think outside the box, The Third Door is the way forward.”
—MEREDITH PERRY, founder of uBeam
“A surprising combination of bildungsroman, spiritual journey, and caper comedy, The Third Door creates an opportunity for all of us to inspect what success means, what inspires us, and how we think about our paths through the world.”
—MICHAEL SLABY, chief innovation officer of the Obama 2012 Presidential Campaign and executive director of Chicago Ideas
“Alex Banayan’s The Third Door was absolutely worth the wait! He perfectly captures amazing insights while being funny and approachable. Banayan’s journey leaves you not only inspired but also excited to pursue your dreams and define success in your own way.”
—KAMAURI YEH, director of West Coast Brand Experience at Nike
“Banayan’s hustle is insane. He crouched in bathrooms, chased people through grocery stores—he did whatever it took to make his dream happen. The extents he went through will inspire you to keep grinding on your path. If you are hungry to succeed, trust me: read The Third Door.”
—JERMAINE DUPRI, Grammy Award–winning rapper and music producer
“Engrossing…brilliantly insightful. Applicable and useful. I found myself nodding in places and re-reading passages….Banayan demystifies the hardest and scariest thing many of us have to do to succeed.”
—DR. M. SANJAYAN, CEO of Conservation International and host of PBS’ Earth: A New Wild
“Whether you are just beginning your first act or setting off on your twentieth, this may be the best and most thoroughly enjoyable career advice book you will ever read: fast moving, funny, big-hearted, and constantly insightful.”
—MATTHEW BISHOP, author of Philanthrocapitalism and former business editor of The Economist
“Banayan’s incredible journey, told with wit, warmth, and wisdom, explores his own search for meaning through the personal stories of his heroes. An inspiring read for anyone looking to find their purpose.”
—RUMA BOSE, author of Mother Teresa CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership
“I wish I had The Third Door when I was starting my first business. Thankfully, Banayan has delivered the book we’ve all been waiting for.”
—MICHAEL LAZEROW, former chief strategy officer of Salesforce and founder of Buddy Media
“In this magnificent book, we the reader have the honor of following and witnessing an ambitious, resourceful, and very clever young man turn into a wise, astute, and very successful young adult. The twists and turns, the joys and disappointments, the letdowns and, ultimately, the victories and final realizations read like a movie that grips you with both hands and won’t let go. The best part of all is the author’s growth, self-reflection, and self-discovery. What does it really take to be happy? You really will find the answer in these pages as Banayan and his cast of friends gladly show us the way. Buy copies of this book, both for yourself and your entire family. You’ll be glad you did. And so will they!”
—BOB BURG, coauthor of The Go-Giver and The Go-Giver Influencer
“A brilliant writer…I couldn’t stop reading once I started. The Third Door is a must-read for entrepreneurs.”
—VIVEK WADHWA, columnist for the Washington Post and Distinguished Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University
Copyright © 2018 by Alex Banayan
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Currency, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
crownpublishing.com
CURRENCY and its colophon are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
The Equality Hurdles comic on this page copyright © by Emanu. Published with permission of the artist.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Banayan, Alex, author.
Title: The third door : the wild quest to uncover how the world’s most successful people launched their careers / Alex Banayan.
Description: 1 Edition. | New York : Currency, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018008522 | ISBN 9780804136662 (hardback) | ISBN 9780804136679 (eISBN)
Subjects: LCSH: Success in business. | Motivation (Psychology) | BISAC: SELF-HELP / Motivational & Inspirational. | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs.
Classification: LCC HF5386 .B2293 2018 | DDC 650.1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018008522
ISBN 9780804136662
Ebook ISBN 9780804136679
Cover illustration by Banayan International LLC
v5.2
ep
To my mom and dad, Fariba and David Banayan, who made this all possible
And to Cal Fussman, who turned this dream into a reality
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
STEP 1
DITCH THE LINE
1 Staring at the Ceiling
2 The Price Is Right
3 The Storage Closet
STEP 2
RUN DOWN THE ALLEY
4 The Spielberg Game
5 Crouching in the Bathroom
6 Qi Time
7 The Hidden Reservoir
STEP 3
FIND YOUR INSIDE MAN
8 The Dream Mentor
9 The Rules
10 Adventures Only Happen to the Adventurous
11 Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
12 That’s How You Do Business
13 Exponential Life
14 The Avoidance List
15 You Can’t Out-Amazon Amazon
16 No One Ever Asks
17 It’s All Gray
STEP 4
TRUDGE THROUGH THE MUD
18 Hallelujah!
19 Grandpa Warren
20 The Motel 6
21 Frog Kissing
22 The Shareholders Meeting
23 MR. KINGGG!
24 The Final Bullet
STEP 5
TAKE THE THIRD DOOR
25 The Holy Grail: Part I
26 The Holy Grail: Part II
27 The Third Door
28 Redefining Success
29 Staying an Intern
30 The Collision
31 Turning Darkness into Light
32 Sitting Down with Death
33 The Impostor
34 The Greatest Gift
35 Getting in the Game
Acknowledgments
About the Author
STEP 1
DITCH THE LINE
Life, business, success…it’s just like a nightclub.
There are always three ways in.
There’s the First Door: the main entrance, where the line curves around the block; where 99 percent of people wait around, hoping to get in.
There’s the Second Door: the VIP entrance, where the billionaires, celebrities, and the people born into it slip through.
But what no one tells you is that there is always, always…the Third Door. It’s the entrance where you have to jump out of line, run down the alley, bang on the door a hundred times, crack open the window, sneak through the kitchen—there’s always a way.
Whether it’s how Bill Gates sold his first piece of software or how Steven Spielberg became the youngest studio director in Hollywood history, they all took…the Third Door.
CHAPTER ONE
Staring at the Ceiling
“Right this way…”
I stepped across the marble floor and turned a corner, entering a room with glistening floor-to-ceiling windows. Sailboats drifted down below, gentle waves lapped onto the shore, and the afternoon sun bounced off a marina and filled the lobby with a bright, heavenly glow. I followed an assistant down a hallway. The office had couches with the most plush cushions I’d ever seen. The coffee spoons sparkled in a way I’d never seen spoons sparkle before. The conference room table looked like it had been carved by Michelangelo himself. We entered a long corridor lined with hundreds of books.
“He’s read every one,” she said.
Macroeconomics. Computer science. Artificial intelligence. Polio eradication. The assistant pulled out a book on feces recycling and placed it in my hands. I flipped through it with sweaty palms. Nearly every page was underlined and highlighted with scribbles in the margins. I couldn’t help but smile—the scribbles had the penmanship of a fifth grader.
We continued down the hallway until the assistant asked me to stay where I was. I stood there, motionless, looking at a towering frosted glass door. I had to stop myself from touching it to feel how thick it was. As I waited, I thought of all the things that led me here—the red scarf, the toilet in San Francisco, the shoe in Omaha, the cockroach in the Motel 6, the—
And then, the door opened.
“Alex, Bill is ready for you.”
He was standing right in front of me, hair uncombed, shirt loosely tucked in, sipping a can of Diet Coke. I waited for something to come out of my mouth, but nothing did.
“Hey, there,” Bill Gates said, his smile lifting his eyebrows. “Come on in…”
THREE YEARS EARLIER, MY FRESHMAN DORM ROOM
I flipped over in bed. A stack of biology books sat on my desk, staring back at me. I knew I should study, but the more I looked at the books, the more I wanted to pull the covers over my head.
I tossed to my right. A University of Southern California football poster hung above me. When I’d first taped it on my wall, the colors were so vibrant. Now the poster seemed to blend in with the wall.
I turned onto my back and stared at the silent white ceiling.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Ever since I could remember, the plan was for me to be a doctor. That’s what happens when you’re the son of Pe
rsian Jewish immigrants. I practically came out of the womb with “MD” stamped on my behind. In third grade, I wore scrubs to school for Halloween. I was “that kid.”
I was never the smartest kid in school, but I was consistent. Like, I consistently got B minuses and consistently read CliffsNotes. To make up for my lack of straight As, I always had a sense of direction. In high school I “checked the boxes”—volunteer at a hospital, take extra science classes, obsess over the SATs. But I was too busy trying to survive to stop and wonder whose boxes I was checking. When I’d started college, I couldn’t have imagined that a month later I would be hitting the snooze button four or five times each morning, not because I was tired, but because I was bored. Yet I continued dragging myself to class anyway, checking the premed boxes, feeling like a sheep following the herd.
That’s how I found myself here: lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I’d come to college looking for answers, but all I got were more questions. What am I actually interested in? What do I want to major in? What do I want to do with my life?
I flipped over again. The biology books were like dementors, sucking the life out of me. The more I dreaded opening them, the more I thought about my parents—running through the Tehran airport, fleeing to America as refugees, sacrificing everything to give me an education.
When I received my admissions letter from USC, my mom told me I couldn’t attend because we couldn’t afford it. Although my family wasn’t poor and I grew up in Beverly Hills, like many families, we lived a double life. While we lived in a nice neighborhood, my parents had to take out a second mortgage to cover the bills. We went on vacations, yet there were times when I’d see notices on our front door saying our gas was going to be cut off. The only reason my mom allowed me to attend USC was because the day before the enrollment deadline, my dad stayed up all night, talking to my mom with tears in his eyes, saying he’d do whatever it took to make ends meet.