That Will Never Work

In the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog, this book reveals the untold story of Netflix's journey from concept to company, narrated by co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph. In 1997, when brick-and-mortar video stores dominated and video streaming was unheard of, Randolph had a simple idea: leverage the internet to rent movies. This was just one of many proposals he pitched to his business partner, Reed Hastings, during their daily commutes. Intrigued, Hastings invested, and the two founded a company that would eventually boast over 150 million subscribers. However, Netflix's path to success was fraught with challenges and skepticism. From pitching his mother to secure early investment to navigating server crashes on launch day, Randolph's journey exemplifies how determination and gut instincts can lead to transformative change. The narrative not only chronicles the rise of an iconic company but also explores fundamental questions about entrepreneurship and life: How do you start? How do you handle failure? What defines success? With counterintuitive insights and engaging prose, this story serves as both an inspiring parable for dreamers and a dramatic account of modern entrepreneurship.