Doug Leone, 69, the chair and partner at venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, revealed that he underwent a root canal procedure without anesthesia to test his own limits. The anecdote was shared on David Senra's Founders podcast.
Leone, who has accumulated a fortune of over $12 billion through his investment career, discussed his relationship with fear and how he confronts it. He stated that he has consistently sought to overcome common fears like heights and public speaking. However, an urgent dental issue presented a different challenge.
Leone recounted telling his dentist, "Drill without any Novocaine." The dentist's initial reaction was one of disbelief, responding, "You're out of your mind." Leone, who immigrated from Italy and grew up in a working-class family, insisted on proceeding without numbing agents. He described his motivation as wanting to prove to himself whether he was "a badass or not."
After the dentist began drilling, Leone acknowledged that he "jumped" but vowed to the dentist that he would not move again, a promise he kept. He managed the pain by comparing it to the suffering experienced by soldiers in war, distinguishing his situation as "pain with no consequences."
"It's just nerve-endings, from my spine to my brain. F*** it, I'm not moving," Leone told himself during the procedure. He admitted that he had to change his shirt afterward due to being covered in sweat but did not move from the dental chair. Leone concluded that confronting fear has been instrumental to his success, providing him with challenges to overcome and a subsequent sense of security.
Senra shared the exchange on social media, where reactions were varied. Some users expressed admiration or humor, while others commented on the perceived mindset of successful magnates. Senra launched the Founders podcast in 2016 to offer insights from prominent business figures.