Coming May 26th - The Long Game Podcast with Eric Becker

Why It Matters

Understanding how to build lasting enterprises helps CEOs prioritize culture, discipline, and adaptability, directly impacting long‑term value creation.

Key Takeaways

• Long-term focus beats short-term wins for lasting enterprises
• Only 0.5% of firms survive a century, emphasizing durability
• Discipline and flexibility are essential leadership traits for longevity
• Truthful, candid conversations reveal how early traction becomes relevance
• CEOs must embed culture and practices that endure across generations

Summary

Eric Becker launches the Long Game Podcast, a weekly series exploring how early‑stage traction can be turned into enduring relevance for founders, CEOs, and multigenerational institutions. Drawing on his experience as author, entrepreneur, and chairman of Crescent, Becker frames the show around the stark reality that only about 0.5 % of companies survive a century, underscoring the need for a long‑term strategic lens.

The podcast emphasizes that short‑term wins rarely build the pillars needed for decades‑long success. Becker stresses discipline paired with flexibility, the primacy of truth, and the willingness to experiment and fail. He argues that markets are ruthless: once a weakness is exposed, competitors will exploit it. By cultivating a culture that values candid feedback and relentless iteration, leaders can safeguard against such vulnerabilities.

Notable moments include Becker’s blunt remarks—“Sleep’s a waste of time” and “the most important thing is truth”—which set the tone for candid conversations with iconic founders. Guests share concrete practices that have helped their companies endure, from governance structures to family‑office stewardship models.

For business leaders, the series offers a practical roadmap for building enterprises that outlast market cycles. Embracing the long game means embedding resilient culture, disciplined decision‑making, and adaptable leadership—key ingredients for generational relevance and sustained value creation.

Original Description

There are more than 30 million businesses in the United States alone.

Within ten years, nearly 70% will disappear, and in a century, fewer than half of one percent will remain. In a culture obsessed with speed, scale, and short-term wins, is it still possible to build something that lasts? The answer is yes.

The Long Game is a podcast from bestselling author and entrepreneur Eric Becker, Founder and Chairman of Cresset, a multi-family office managing over $235B in assets. Inspired by his book, the series explores what transforms early success into enduring relevance.

Each episode features candid conversations with founders, CEOs, and multigenerational leaders behind iconic organizations. From global brands to family enterprises, guests share the decisions, discipline, and long-term thinking required to evolve from startup to scale, and from market leader to lasting legacy.

While many companies are built for exit, Becker makes a different case: build as if you’ll own the business for the next century. Building a business worth buying strengthens decision-making, deepens culture, and ultimately increases enterprise value.

For leaders and the more than 580 million entrepreneurs worldwide, The Long Game offers a blueprint for building something designed to endure.

Cresset refers to Cresset Capital Management, LLC and its respective direct and indirect subsidiaries and controlled affiliates. For full list of Cresset subsidiaries and controlled affiliates, please see cressetcapital.com/disclosures/