Ex-Amazon VP tells us what it’s really like working with Jeff Bezos
October 28, 2026 · 1 h 16 min
🎙️ Full episode
DEBRIEFWritten and voiced by AI from the episode's audio
Ethan Evans, a former Amazon VP who spent 15 years at the company, joins Shaan Puri and Sam Parr to discuss what it's really like working with Jeff Bezos. Evans shares candid insights into Bezos's leadership style, including his tendency to give only criticism without praise, his relentless drive for tactical execution despite long-term strategic patience, and his famous "question mark emails" that forced rapid accountability. The episode explores how Bezos built Amazon's culture of high performance, the importance of pattern recognition in leadership, and the role of opportunity selection over raw ability. Evans also discusses his transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and coaching, emphasizing the importance of ten-year plans and using current opportunities to build toward future impact.
🎧 AI Debrief
Show notes
Sam's database on how long it takes to become a millionaire: https://clickhubspot.com/tewg
Episode 877: Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) and Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) talk to Ethan Evans about what it’s really like to work with Jeff Bezos.
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Show Notes:
() Intro
() Criticism without praise
() The every-great-man flaw
() Attack mode
() “Sometimes all you need is a B”
() Question mark emails
() Strategically patient, but tactically impatient
() Work hard, long, and smart
() Where high-performers go to feel bad about themselves
() Ethan evaluates Shaan
() Project selection
() Waiting for fat pitches
() Jeff’s security detail
() The story of Amazon Prime
() Amazon's idea tool
() Good design vs. bad design
() The morality of Amazon
() Who Jeff studied
() Post-Amazon
() Streaming career advice on Twitch
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Links:
• https://www.ethanevans.com/about
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My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by HubSpot Media // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano /