The Art of Quality

In this episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sits down with his friend and former colleague Nadim Abi Abdallah to explore the practice of fieldwork as a core component of the investment research process. The conversation focuses on how Nadim approaches fieldwork and what quality looks like in the fieldwork process - drawing on years spent in direct conversations with operators, building a ground-level understanding of businesses, developing deeper understanding of companies through firsthand insight. They discuss what it means to conduct fieldwork in an effective, responsible, and professional way, and why this method remains underutilized despite its potential. The episode offers a practical look into the mindset, discipline, and curiosity required to do this work well, and aims to provide valuable tools for investors seeking to deepen their investment research process.

Chris Mayer returns for his second appearance on The Art of Quality and Attention. Chris is the co-founder and portfolio manager of Woodlock House Family Capital, a Maryland-based hedge fund, and the author of several influential books on investing, including 100 Baggers and his most recent work, The Unspeakable Level. In this conversation, we explore the ideas at the heart of The Unspeakable Level - a book that explores questions that are often difficult to articulate, yet fundamental to how we understand the world. Chris invites to adopt a deeper humility about what can truly be known. In particular, he challenges the common tendency - especially in business and investing - to mistake familiarity for understanding: believing that because we can name something, read about it, and analyze it through numbers or language, we therefore grasp it. The result is a conversation about perception and attention - one that offers practical ways to see more clearly and avoid the conceptual traps that often mislead even experienced decision-makers.

In this episode of The Art of Quality and Attention, William welcomes Nicolas Michaelsen. Nico is a Danish entrepreneur who, after years of building companies, turned his attention toward his own spiritual practice and the cultivation of wisdom within the business world. He writes the Substack Ecologies of Wisdom. Over the past year, Nico has been a thoughtful voice on the subject of bringing one’s inner and outer worlds into alignment, speaking with openness and vulnerability about his own ongoing quest. In this conversation, William and Nico explore that journey in depth — discussing the practice itself, its mechanics and pitfalls, and the question of how we come to know what we know. They reflect on different ways of thinking about knowledge and truth, asking questions such as: How do we know what is true? How do we recognize what we are meant to do? And how do we serve with integrity? These are some of the themes they enjoy riffing on throughout the episode.

In the first conversation with Tom Morgan a year ago, the focus was on the personal journey that led him to build The Leading Edge - a home for curious leaders navigating transition, meaning, and personal evolution. In this second episode, Willy and Tom move beyond origin stories and into lived practice. Their conversation explores what it means to cross thresholds - psychological, relational, and spiritual - when there is no clear map. They discuss how love often becomes the most reliable compass when certainty falls away; and why the quality of attention may be one of the most powerful yet overlooked forces shaping relationships and inner life. Willy and Tom also touch on subtler dimensions of experience: experience of syntropy - the pull toward coherence and connection. Throughout, they return to the importance of community.

In this episode of The Art of Quality and Attention, William sits down with Patrick Boland. Patrick is a psychotherapist, leadership consultant, executive coach, and the author of The Contemplative Leader. He founded his consulting firm, Conexus, in 2013, and since then has worked with senior teams and leaders in global organizations ranging from Google, Unilever, Accenture, and Salesforce, to name just a few. Patrick was introduced to the show by fellow Art of Quality host Paul Higgins. Over the last couple of years, William has had the pleasure of getting to know Patrick and has been struck by the quality of his presence and the depth of his capacity to listen. William’s own experience of Patrick’s book, The Contemplative Leader, has been that of an excellent guide to shaping relationships and systems in ways that use one’s power and influence for the benefit of those around us. As Patrick himself would put it: The quality of presence we embody in our interactions fundamentally affects everything we do. The conversation that follows is a practical investigation into the qualities inherent in effective leadership, drawn from the lived experience of a seasoned leadership coach.

In this episode, we look back on 2025. We reflect on stories from this year’s guests and on our own lived experiences in a shared pursuit around studying and practicing quality. Quality regularly shows up as something hard to define - becomes easier to see when you experience it, when you come into relationship with it. A common thread across our conversations is that this wisdom is earned through practice, not in the theory. In John’s words, success is iterative. He saw this firsthand in Geneva, learning from some of the world’s oldest watchmakers how iteration has allowed them to endure for centuries. This theme also runs through Paul’s conversation with Victor Wooten, and our episode on quality in nature, where we observe that nature itself is the result of countless ongoing experiments.  What continues to excite us about The Art of Quality project is how practical these ideas are - and how directly they apply to everyday life. Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Our guest today is Eric Markowitz. Eric is a partner and the director of research at investment firm Nightview Capital and a former investigative journalist with bylines in the New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company and other outlets. A near-death experience prompted Eric to wonder why some cultures, companies and products dramatically outlast others. Eric is traveling the globe on a quest to answer one question, what allows a rare few systems to outlast? He has just returned from trips through Switzerland, Portugal, France, and Australia.  This is the second episode in our Notes From the Field series with Eric, as he moves closer to publishing his book titled Outlast with Scribner, the flagship imprint of Simon and Schuster. Listeners will also enjoy our first episode in the series, which is linked here: https://theartofquality.co/investing-eric-markowitz-ep-5/ Today we discuss why practice is more important than ideas, why digging down into the work is more important than climbing the ladder to the top, and the most undervalued asset a firm has.

Ed Halliwell is a mindfulness teacher and author with more than 20 years of experience leading public mindfulness courses, workshops, and retreats. He has introduced and taught mindfulness in a wide range of workplaces, including Accenture, the Houses of Parliament, and UNICEF UK. Ed is the author of Into the Heart of Mindfulness and Mindfulness: How to Live Well by Paying Attention. William first met Ed at a School of Life event in London in 2014 and was struck by the quality of Ed’s presence and the gentleness of his teaching. About six years ago, as William was founding his business, he began working with Ed one-to-one in what Ed describes as mindfulness coaching - a practice that helps people unhook from automatic thoughts and behaviours, meet difficulties with greater awareness and kindness, and make choices aligned with their needs and values. William credits this work as an ongoing foundation for sustaining a flourishing life through the practice of paying attention. In this episode, Ed Halliwell lays out how the quality of our attention shapes the way we perceive the world - often far more than we realise. When our capacity for observation is distorted by desire, greed, fear, or subtle expectations about how things should be, we lose touch with what is actually happening in the present moment. Our perception becomes clouded by psychological projection. William and Ed explore how attention, when cultivated with clarity and kindness, allows us to see more accurately, respond more wisely, and live with greater alignment. Their conversation ranges from the mechanics of mindfulness coaching to the ways in which our inner habits shape our outer experience. It is a deep and practical discussion about paying attention as a lifelong discipline.

The Art of Quality hosts re-convene for a conversation about power laws: what they are, why they matter, where they show up, and how they help us understand quality itself. Early in life John was struck by the notion that there is a fabric-pattern to reality, and we can learn some of it. That realization sparked a pursuit: to find the patterns that give rise to the good, the true, and the beautiful. As he dug deeper, John began to recognize clear patterns of quality in the natural world – across organisms, species, and galaxies – and saw the same patterns reflected in the social world: in cities, companies, and people. These patterns, he realized, follow power laws. And wherever power laws appear, they serve as a kind of signal – a beacon – for impact. In a world obsessed with averages – average performance, average experience, average outcomes – John saw that this framing was wrong. Power laws, not averages, rule the world. That insight reshaped the way he invests capital and led to a multi-year exploration of power laws: what they are, where they appear, and how we can act on them, which will be published as a book in 2026.

Isik Tlabar is an intuition coach, breathwork facilitator, and author of 140 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 14. William first met Isik in London in 2019, when he attended a breathwork session she led for a group of about twenty people. There, he witnessed firsthand Isik’s remarkable ability to help others deepen their sense of inner well-being and connection to their authentic selves. A central part of Isik’s work focuses on helping individuals strengthen their intuition and inner knowing so they live in alignment with their authentic truth and highest potential. In this conversation, we explore her approach to cultivating intuition and the specific practices she has found most effective throughout her coaching career.

Today's episode is about the story of the renowned Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting clinics based in Germany, Spain, and soon France, and their owner Leo Wilhelmi, who runs the business together with his cousin and brother in the fourth generation. Leo shares the founding story of his great-grandfather Otto Buchinger, who was the personal doctor of Prince Adalbert of Prussia during the early 20th century. He fell incurably ill but serendipitously stumbled upon a water-based fasting cure, which he developed into the famous Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting method. Leo then shares how, a century later, he faced a similar turning point. What began as a challenging situation unexpectedly placed him at the center of his generation’s biggest project: building a new clinic in the south of France.

Eric Markowitz is a Partner and the Director of Research at investment firm Nightview Capital and a former investigative journalist with bylines in The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, and other outlets. A near-death experience prompted Eric to wonder why some cultures, companies, and products dramatically outlast others. Eric is travelling the globe – from Central American rainforests to centuries-old businesses in Europe and Asia – on a quest to answer one question: what allows a rare few systems to outlast? His forthcoming book – titled Outlast – will be published by Scribner, the flagship imprint of Simon & Schuster and home to legends like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Eric has just returned from trips through Italy, the United States, and Japan, and in this episode we are learning from Eric’s “notes from the field.”

What if the most important aspects of quality can't be measured?  Victor Wooten - legendary bassist, educator, and philosopher - joins us to explore how tracking animals taught him to see the invisible patterns that create excellence in music, teaching, and life. Victor learned bass at age two. No rules. No corrections. Just freedom - the same way we learn to talk. Now a 5-time Grammy winner, he's discovered that the principles creating musical excellence apply everywhere: in organizations, in nature, in how we build things that last. This conversation goes places you won't expect. Why does Victor spend weeks tracking animals in the wilderness? How did a stranger's wave from a bus window change his entire life? What does it mean that modern music has been "compressed from a foot deep to a quarter inch" - and why should leaders care?

Laurence Endersen is the Founder of Capstrive – an investment firm that strives to be Patient, Unconstrained, Rational and Equitable. He is also the author of three books: Pebbles of Perception, What Owen Didn’t Know, and The Compounder’s Element. In this episode we discuss finding who you want to do life with…the call of capital markets…the role of writing in pursuing truth…migrating from cheap to quality stocks…cognitive strip mining…why a craftsperson always signs their work…Lar’s investment checklist…and much more.

In this experimental episode of The Art of Quality, co-hosts Paul Higgins, William Oliver, and John Candeto explore what business owners can learn from nature and natural systems to build enduring businesses and make smarter investments. Rooted in years of observation, the Quality x Nature deck—developed by Paul and forming the basis of this internal reflection—is linked here in the show notes: Quality in Nature Deck  

Drex Davis is the former CEO and current Chief Financial Officer of Scrapbook.com, the leading ecommerce provider to papercrafting enthusiasts. Drex is also the Investment Manager for his family's single family office that invests widely across asset classes. In this episode we discuss The Art of Work (which is a book that no one can buy)…many ways to zig when others zag…how being a business manager makes one a better investor…and how being an investor makes one a better business manager.

Chris Poch is the Founder of Promethium Advisors, which advises families of size and complexity, and manages wealth with a focus on family harmony and after-tax, compounded results. Promethium is the culmination of Chris’s 40 years of investment management experience and 25 years of planning. In this episode we discuss why you never have to apologize for owning Quality, why people overweight easily observed data, the sacred art of listening, and much more. Those wishing to go deeper should look forward to Chris’s forthcoming book titled Money and Meaning: What I’ve Learned from Advising the Very Wealthy.

In this episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sits down with vocal artist and facilitator Guillermo Rozenthuler — founder of The Singing Village and a leading voice in the field of vocal improvisation, embodiment, and human connection. In a conversation dedicated to the intelligence of sound and song, Guillermo and William explore how spontaneous music-making can deepen our sense of aliveness, relationally, and collective intelligence. They discuss the role of deep listening, playfulness, and presence in reclaiming our innate musicality — and how these capacities open up new possibilities for connection, transformation, and joy in both individual and communal life.

In the first episode of The Art of Quality in Attention, William sat down with investor and author Chris Mayer — co-founder of Woodlock House Family Capital and author of 100-Baggers and How Do You Know?, among other titles. In an episode dedicated to the inner game of investing, Chris and William spoke about how certain practices in Chris’ life have helped him develop a deep sense of equanimity in this work - something that has served him well in his pursuit of the truth about how great companies operate.

Kicking off our Investment Series, we have the privilege of hosting Bogumil Baranowski, founder of Blue Infinitas Capital, author of Money, Life, and Family, and host of the Talking Billions podcast. In this conversation, Bogumil explores the role of trust in the infinite game of investing, drawing from his experience managing wealth across generations.  He illustrates that being a trusted advisor can sometimes feel like being a captain steering a ship through a storm—radiating calmness and trust in the strategy, even when knees might be shaking. Bogumil emphasizes the importance of a steady, long-term approach, especially during financial crises, because optimizing for survival outweighs the allure of risky short-term gains, particularly in the context of generational wealth. Reflecting on his upbringing behind the Iron Curtain, Bogumil shares how it shaped his approach to wealth preservation. The discussion also delves into emotional intelligence, navigating difficult conversations, and the pursuit of quality in both investments and life, with lessons drawn from nature.

In this episode, we are once again joined by Luca Dellanna, a management advisor and the author of 12 books on human behavior and management. In our second conversation with Luca, we dive deep into the concepts from his book 'Winning Long-Term Games', exploring the application of long-term thinking, his concept of Maximum Reproducible Returns, and the balance between short-term performance and long-term risk.

In this episode, we are joined by Teresa Noonan, founder of Lot No 68 and former Costco executive, to explore the power of company culture in driving long-term success. Teresa spent 32 years at Costco, where she played a key role in leadership development and worked closely with the legendary Jim Sinegal.    Through personal stories—from starting as the only woman on an all-male night shift crew to rising through the ranks—Teresa shares firsthand insights into how Costco built a culture centered on respect, responsibility, and continuous improvement. We also discuss how businesses can create multi-party stakeholder win-wins by fostering people-first leadership and optimizing value chains.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Hellweg—founder of Ratio Coffee, Clive Coffee, and Able Brewing—to explore the art of crafting timeless, well-designed products that enhance daily rituals. From starting a snowboarding and wakeboarding e-commerce business in his dad’s basement to designing some of the most elegant and durable coffee brewers, Mark’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurship and experience-driven design. He shares insights on what drives him to build quality products, how simplicity enhances experience, and what it takes to create a business that lasts.

In this episode, we speak with Peter Malizia, who played a key role in building Costco’s Canadian success over his 26-year career. Peter reflects on the core values that define Costco’s culture—loyalty, trust, respect, durability, and simplicity—and how they have shaped its global success. Drawing on his experiences within the culture shaped by legendary CEO Jim Sinegal, Peter shares insights into the importance of Costco’s "six rights" and the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering value to its members. Discover why Charlie Munger regards Costco as his favorite investment and explore the lessons behind this retail giant’s lasting impact.

In this episode, we are joined by renowned author and management advisor Luca Dell Anna, to discuss quality in business with a specific focus on managerial quality. While most organizations focus on product quality, Luca brings attention to the critical role of management quality in ensuring effective leadership and operational excellence.    Through personal anecdotes and examples from various industries, Luca illustrates how quality can be embedded in organizational practices and culture.

Tom Morgan is one of the most curious people we have ever met. Often described as a "Curiosity Sherpa," Tom has dedicated his life to seeking out the most interesting ideas and thinkers. He is the founder of The Leading Edge, a platform he created as a space for like-minded individuals to explore deeper questions about life, wisdom, and personal evolution.  We had the privilege of sitting down with Tom to talk about his journey, the importance of space or slack in the pursuit of quality to unfold, aligning with “attractors,” embodied intuition, synchronicity and serendipity, and how curiosity can guide us in navigating life’s complexities. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. 

In this episode, we are joined by Allison Paradise, founder of The Epicenter, a space that empowers young people to explore their creativity and wonder without judgment. With a background in neuroscience from Brown and Harvard, Allison shares powerful insights on shifting from fear-based motivations to love-based approaches. Allison reflects on how fostering curiosity and nurturing innate capacities can transform leadership and personal growth.  Thank you, Allison, for inspiring us to lead with authenticity and heart.