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Episode 53

A CONVERSATION WITH 
STEVE STARKS

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube

STEVE STARKS | LEADERSHIP, LEGACY, AND BRINGING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO UTAH

A few years ago Steve Starks got some advice from Larry H. Miller that dramatically changed his whole life.

 

He was talking to Larry H. Miller, telling him about how he was planning to go to business school.

 

Steve and Larry both were members of a Utah government board, and had gotten to know each other through their meetings. Larry was already an incredibly successful entrepreneur in the automotive industry and owner of the Utah Jazz, and Steve was a young, ambitious professional trying to make his way in the world.

 

After hearing Steve talk about business school, Larry then surprised him by telling him that he should forget about business school and come work for him instead.

 

Surprised, but honored, Steve agreed. 

 

He started working directly for Larry, with no formal title or position (none of the other employees even knew who he was). He was what Larry considered a “special project,” where he would teach him the company and let him find his position within it naturally.

 

After a few weeks of work, Steve realized that they had never discussed compensation. In Steve’s words, “I wasn’t sure if this was an unpaid internship or an actual job.”


So he met with Larry to talk about it. Larry went on to ask him what he made previously, and after some negotiating, they settled on $80k. Larry told Steve to go down to HR, and tell them that he was officially hired at that salary.

 

As Steve was leaving the office, Larry suddenly stopped him and gave him some words that would change his life:

“Steve,” Larry said,

“I want you to know that throughout your career, you’re going to have the opportunity to make a whole lot more than just $80k. But I want you to know that as long as you have enough money to fix the fridge, take the family on vacation once or twice a year, and have some stowed away in savings, you won’t find any more happiness in money.”

Larry’s words had a profound impact on Steve, and throughout his years of working for Larry, being President of the Jazz and now President and CEO of Larry’s company, he has resolved to never let money be the source of his happiness—to instead use it as a tool to give back and serve others.

 

I’m extremely grateful to Steve for taking the time to share this incredible story with us at MW3. Many studies have shown that happiness doesn’t increase beyond an income of $72k a year, and Steve is an excellent example of recognizing that and making sure to make his life’s mission focused on giving, rather than getting.

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All Rights Reserved, Casey Baugh 2025, Wealth, Mindset, and Mastery.

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