«You need to be like a Renaissance man», — Walt Stinson, head of a six-billion-dollar business

 

 

Why Should Engineers Read Books? Why Do Egocentric «Jerks» Succeed in Business? American entrepreneur and founder of ListenUp, Walt Stinson, shares insights on geniuses without higher education, the love for learning, and how to become the author of your own life’s masterpiece.

He considers himself a Renaissance man, believes that happiness is not the ultimate goal, and sees Steve Jobs as a brilliant but egocentric «jerk». He values the ability to self-educate over formal education. Meet Walt Stinson — an original thinker and an iconic figure in American business.

From a young age, Walt Stinson aspired to become an electronics engineer, but he began his journey by studying the humanities. He entered the consumer electronics business in the early 1970s when the market was still in its infancy.

In 1972, he founded ListenUp. Today, the company boasts a unique 50-year history of developing and implementing audio and video technologies, as well as smart home systems.

Stinson played a key role in uniting fragmented companies to establish industry institutions and create a thriving consumer electronics market. He continued this effort as a co-founder of the PARA trade group — the largest association of specialty audio system manufacturers and dealers in North America.

His contributions to the industry were recognized in 2009 when the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) inducted him into the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame. Since 2000, this honor has been awarded to leaders whose creativity, persistence, determination, and personal charisma have shaped the consumer electronics market and improved people’s lives.

That memorable year, Stinson was inducted alongside such notable figures as Steve Jobs (Apple), Irwin M. Jacobs (Qualcomm), John Shalam (Voxx), and Richard E. Wiley, often referred to as the «father of high-definition television».

Today, Stinson leads ProSource — a trade group with an annual revenue of $6 billion.

The company is a leader in managed IT services, cybersecurity, enterprise content management, print services, digital transformation, and office and industrial equipment solutions. Additionally, Walt Stinson actively collaborates with the United Nations Commission on Human Security.

Now, he shares his unique life and professional experiences with the readers of Huxley Almanac.

 

 

BROAD THINKING — A TRAIT OF A LEADER

 

Humanities knowledge has been a great asset to me throughout my career. Well-developed oral and written communication skills set me apart from many of my colleagues. The second key distinction was my technological proficiency, which is rare among those in leadership positions.

I believe that expansionist thinking is crucial for such individuals. One should strive to be like a Renaissance person. What does that mean? First and foremost, it means being well-rounded and knowledgeable in many fields.

Such a person is capable of discussing a wide range of topics and integrating disparate facts into a coherent and consistent view of reality. If you aspire to be a leader, you must cultivate broad thinking.

 

 

ART CHANGES PEOPLE FROM WITHIN

 

A humanities education is invaluable because it teaches you the right values. If you focus solely on a narrow specialization, you significantly limit yourself. My company employs many engineers, and I constantly encourage them to broaden their perspectives.

One can explore art, read literature, and study philosophy. I witness how these experiences transform people, sparking positive changes within them. Many assume that decision-making in business is strictly regulated. That’s not true! There is far more artistic creativity in it than one might imagine.

A great example of this is Apple, a company deeply attuned to creativity. The same applies to my company. Our office walls are adorned with paintings, and we regularly organize group visits to theater and music performances.

 

 

EDUCATION CAN BE INFORMAL

 

A person capable of self-education does not necessarily need formal schooling. Among the greatest businesspeople I’ve met, many were exceptional self-learners. One of them, for instance, completed only eight years of school and never attended a university.

Yet he was incredibly effective at educating himself, becoming one of the best writers and thinkers I’ve ever encountered. His dedication to self-learning was so profound that he was invited to teach at Yale University.

He became Yale’s first-ever fellow who had not even graduated from high school. When I say formal education is not essential, I mean that continuous and serious learning is indispensable. The paradox is that the more educated you become, the more you realize how little you actually know. Thus, even small steps forward bring the joy of new discoveries.

 

 

TRUSTING THE MYSTERY OF LIFE

 

If you were fortunate enough to attend a school with great teachers, that foundation could help you become an effective self-learner. My advice to everyone: never stop learning! Unfortunately, many people don’t fully grasp this because they don’t enjoy studying.

However, I believe that a love for acquiring new knowledge and skills is essential to becoming a leader. You cannot achieve leadership if learning does not bring you joy. Personally, nothing gives me greater satisfaction than exploring new concepts, ideas, and maximizing my potential.

I am convinced that every person is meant to pursue this journey.

True self-fulfillment is possible only when you trust the mystery of life and develop not only intellectually and physically but also spiritually. Otherwise, people greatly limit their potential. The enjoyment of a full life is directly tied to the spiritual depth you bring into everything you do. If you aspire to be a Renaissance person, you should never lose sight of this.

 

HAPPINESS IS NOT THE ULTIMATE GOAL BUT A MARKER OF THE RIGHT PATH

 

The pursuit of happiness for its own sake has never been the meaning of my existence. In my view, happiness is a marker of how well you are living your life. If you are unhappy, something is wrong. I see my purpose in never stopping my growth and fully realizing my potential. Of course, I understand that this goal is ultimately unattainable. However, that does not make the journey any less thrilling.

I constantly ask myself: «What have I done today to develop myself? What have I learned about myself? What have I learned about others?» — this is the path to self-improvement. People’s lives are like musical instruments. You can either learn to play well or settle for making unrefined sounds — the choice is yours!

 

COMPETITION AS A MOTIVATION FOR GROWTH

 

I see business as a great platform for personal development. Working in a company requires solving various challenges. You must learn to understand other people and become a good communicator. Business demands constant self-improvement — otherwise, you simply won’t survive in a highly competitive environment.

Since the world around you is changing rapidly, you receive immediate and objective feedback on your performance. The difficulties you overcome are crucial to your growth.

 

ON MONEY, SUCCESS, AND EGOCENTRIC «JERKS»

 

Money is an important part of business. If you don’t pay enough attention to it, you won’t succeed. However, if a person engages in business solely for money, they will quickly realize that no one finds them interesting. No one will want to work for them or buy from them.

Business is a great teacher! Once you start, you quickly understand how much knowledge and wisdom you need across different fields.

That said, I don’t rule out the possibility that an egocentric «jerk» can also succeed. Such a person focuses on making the right strategic decisions rather than on being kind or considerate to others.

As far as I know, Steve Jobs was exactly that kind of «jerk». Yet, at the same time, he had a passion — he was obsessed with progressive technologies that made people’s lives easier. I can add that, for me personally, achieving success at the expense of harming others is unacceptable.

 

THE ART OF LIVING: CHOICES MUST BE CONSCIOUS

 

One of the reasons Steve Jobs succeeded was that every decision he made was intentional. Every person has the opportunity to choose their own unique path. Some people might try to model their lives after mine.

However, that can only work up to a certain point. Eventually, you will inevitably have to make your own choices. There is no absolute right or wrong choice.

But whatever you decide, you will have to take responsibility for it. Each day of your life is filled with unconscious decisions. But when you make choices consciously, you become the true author of your own life’s masterpiece. This is what I call the art of living.

 

THE MIND IS A WILD BEAST THAT NEEDS DISCIPLINE

 

Every choice, even the seemingly insignificant ones, matters. Our task is to learn to make decisions consciously. That’s why it is crucial to understand how your mind works. This is the first step on the path of spirituality.

Consider the difference between a domesticated dog and a wild one — they behave in fundamentally different ways. An undisciplined mind is like a wild dog. Your goal is to tame the beast that is your mind.

One of my mentors was the renowned businessman and former owner of Newsweek, Sidney Harman. He never feared making bold decisions, surprising both competitors and customers with innovation.

At the age of 92, while owning around 100 companies, he acquired the globally recognized Newsweek magazine. When I was young, Sidney once told me that 95% of people simply go with the flow, rarely making conscious decisions.

At the time, I thought he was exaggerating. But as I grew older, I realized he was right — most people do not know how to master themselves. The first step to self-control is recognizing that we constantly make countless choices, each with its own consequences.

 

ON ATTITUDES TOWARD UKRAINE AND ANTI-RUSSIAN SANCTIONS

 

The U.S. congressional elections have just taken place. Some populists took advantage of public frustration over rising energy prices, arguing: «Should we really care more about Ukraine than about feeding our own families or heating our own homes?» — this is one of the unintended consequences of economic sanctions.

I fear that if these politicians come to power, they may obstruct military aid to Ukraine. Not only in America but also in other countries, there are populists who do not sympathize with Ukraine. They exploit price increases caused by anti-Russian sanctions to gain political capital.

However, this does not help people shivering from the cold in Germany unite behind their leaders in the face of danger. Simply because Germany is not truly at risk — it is not at war.

When analyzing how sanctions work, I have come to the conclusion that they do not turn people against their leaders. On the contrary, they cause them to rally around them.

Economic sanctions against Russia can only be effective if they are imposed by all nations. The West cannot do this alone.

The Russian economy will not collapse as long as there are markets for its energy resources in India, China, and other countries. Russia will only feel significant economic pain when the entire world becomes the source of that pressure.