Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 92
October 9, 2015
Should You Start a ‘Startup’ or Build a Cash-Flow Business?
“I should be used as a mercenary, not a lifer.”
– Tim Ferriss
In this episode, we have a change of pace…
Expa (@expa) is a startup studio. It was founded by Garrett Camp, who co-founded Uber. Every once in a blue moon, they put together a night of education. I was recently invited to participate in an event.
In this episode, I discuss the topic of startup design vs. lifestyle design. Some of you may be aware that I’ve been involved with various startups ranging from Uber to Facebook, Twitter and DuoLingo, and other businesses that have grown to more than 100 million users and customers.
Simultaneously, I have written about lifestyle design many times, and I’ve suggested that it should come before career planning. The question is, how do we reconcile these two different approaches to business?
Should you focus on building your muse and creating a cash-flow focused business to fuel your ideal lifestyle? Or should you swing for the fences and bet it all on a startup that is equity-driven? This podcast explores these topics — and many more — and aims to answer the questions that I think are under-examined.
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to hear another podcast related to customer acquisition? — Listen to my podcast on how to build a large audience from scratch. In this episode, I answer some of your most-asked questions (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years, and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams. Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you—for free–exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is the possibility of losing money. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please visit Wealthfront dot com to read their full disclosure.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Are you building a cash-flow business or a startup? What problems and questions do you currently face? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about Expa
Margin of Safety by Seth Klarman
Secrets of Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson
Getting Past No by William Ury
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
Built to Sell by John Warrillow
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein
Listen to interviews mentioned in this podcast:
Jocko Willink | Rick Rubin | Neil Strauss | Josh Waitzkin
Jon Favreau | Robert Rodriguez
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Small Giants by Bo Burlingham
Learn more about Derek Sivers
Questions From the Interview
How do you decide to invest in companies like Twitter and Uber? [8:06]
Are we in a bubble? [16:31]
Can you talk about your first business, BrainQUICKEN? [20:41]
Can you talk a little about bootstrapped businesses vs. venture-backed businesses? [26:16]
Are there examples of happy VC-backed founders? [29:16]
What approaches have you seen that are successful in venture businesses, and do you actually work 4 hours a week? [30:46]
Can you tell us about the distinction between a good CEO and a good founder? [36:16]
How do you factor happiness into work ethic? [38:06]
What are great examples of CEOs and founders who are killing it? [39:31]
How has your understanding of neuroscience affected your writing? [43:36]
Why prioritize wants vs. needs when starting a business? [47:46]
Who are your favorite podcast guests and why? [49:26]
Should a solo founder find a co-founder? [52:21]
What have you changed your mind about in the last year or two? [55:16]
Deconstructing “What next?“ in a lifestyle business, and the challenge of identifying “the one big problem.” [57:51]
If you had to choose between being an investor, writer, or podcaster, which would it be? [1:03:16]
People Mentioned
Mike Maples Jr.
Herb Kelleher
Steve Jobs
Warren Buffett
Marc Andreessen
Rick Rubin
Daniel Kahneman
October 5, 2015
The Tattooed Heretic of Wine and Whiskey, Richard Betts
“Wine is a grocery, not a luxury.” – Richard Betts
Richard Betts (@yobetts) served as the wine director at The Little Nell in Aspen from 2000 to 2008. Much more interesting to me, Richard passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Masters Exam on his first attempt, becoming the ninth person in history ever to do so.
I first met Richard through investing wunderkind Chris Sacca, and we immediately hit it off. Richard can help you train your senses for anything, including wine, whiskey, his current love of mezcal, and far beyond.
He’s also done a lot of wild experiments, gotten a lot of tattoos, almost been shot in Mexico, and developed an incredible ability to simplify the complex. We get along.
In this conversation, we talk about nearly everything, ranging from the value of quitting to tricks of the trade, travel tips (he’s traveling 300+ days per year), and “starter” wines.
We also drink a boat-load of whiskey, me tasting and Richard teaching. The pictures below show a sample. Side note and cool rule of thumb: did you know it’s spelled “whiskey” when from countries that have “e” in their names (e.g. America) but “whisky” when from countries that don’t have an “e” in their names (e.g. Scotland, Japan)? Richard taught me that.
Last but not least, Richard is the author of a brand-new book, “The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All,” which is sitting on my kitchen table with whiskey stains all over it. It distils (see what I did there?) a couple of lifetimes worth of study down to 24 pages…then makes them smell good. Definitely check it out. At the very least, it gives you a bunch of rules of thumb (like the whiskey vs. whisky trick), so you can impress your friends and not look like a dumb-ass at the bar. Sweet! Less dumb-ass and more smart-ass is always good. Get ‘er done.
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to hear another conversation that leaves no topic uncovered? — Listen to my conversation with Chris Sacca. In this episode, we discuss being different and making billions (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by MeUndies. If I’m not going commando, then I’m wearing MeUndies. I’ve been testing out pairs for about 3 or 4 months now, and, as a result, I’ve thrown out my other underwear. They look good, feel good, have options for men and women, and their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. Not only does MeUndies offer underwear, but they also have incredible lounge pants. I wear them when I record the podcast, and when I’m out and about grabbing coffee.
If by some chance you’re not happy with the first pair you try on, they’ll refund your purchase completely. Check out MeUndies.com/Tim to see my current faves (some are awesomely ridiculous) and, while you’re at it, don’t miss lots of hot ladies wearing MeUndies.
This podcast is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What is your favorite whiskey or wine? What is it about the brand(s) that make it a favorite? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about Court of Masters Sommelier Testing
Check out The Little Nell, one of the best places in the world to drink wine
Visit world-class San Francisco restaurants, flour + water and Central Kitchen
Pick up some Kimbal Kimax Beakers (go with 250 ml)
Learn more about hurling, the fastest field sport in the world
In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki
Check out Sombra mezcal
Preferred tequila:
Siete Leguas | Tequila Ocho | Tequila Astral
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
A Fan’s Notes by Frederick Exley
The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer
Learn more about Donors Choose
Favorite Movies:
Learn more about Dennis Scholl
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Whiskey by Richard Betts, Crystal English Sacca and Wendy MacNaughton
Connect with Richard Betts:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Wine Specific
Wine Mentioned in this Episode:
Turley Wine Cellars
Ridge Vineyards
Rusden Wines
Mosse
Sucette
Whiskey/Whisky Mentioned in this Episode:
Jack Daniels
EH Taylor Rye
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Nikka Whisky (17-year-old)
Edradour Distillery (10-year-old)
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Bulleit Bourbon
Show Notes
Why Richard Betts got into wine? [7:22]
Characteristics of those who would excel as line cooks [20:15]
On the decision between culinary school and getting a job [21:40]
The story of falling in love with wine and becoming a sommelier [22:55]
Lessons learned as a sommelier [36:55]
The importance of the observation process [43:50]
Visual cues for seeing alcohol levels in wine [44:45]
How to correctly taste wine [36:50]
Understanding wine flavor characteristics [52:20]
Favorite zinfandels [45:50]
Common misconceptions about wine [58:15]
The sweet spot in terms of cost and value of wine [59:35]
What is the difference between bourbon and whiskey? [1:11:29]
Taste testing whisk(e)y [1:18:54]
The story of the convoy: explaining mezcal [1:52:14]
Rapid fire questions: Who is successful, when do you lose track of time, most gifted books, and fear of failure [2:00:24]
If Richard Betts was teaching a 9th-grade class, what would the subject be? [2:05:14]
Morning rituals for staying healthy while traveling [2:10:24]
A purchase of $100 or less that had the biggest impact [2:16:24]
Favorite movies and documentaries [2:18:09]
Advice for your 25- and 30-year-old self [2:23:54]
If you could put up a billboard anywhere and write anything on it, where would it be and what would it say? [2:30:39]
Describing The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Whiskey [2:31:29]
An ask of the audience [2:35:39]
People Mentioned
Dennis DeConcini
Drew Curtis
Amanda Palmer
October 2, 2015
The 5 Things I Did To Become a Better Investor
I get asked a lot about investing.
This is mostly due to start-up investing and the hoopla around it, but I’ve expanded my experiments to late-stage deals, real estate, and more. So far, my startup bets are 10x+ more successful (on paper) than my publishing career. Based on cashed-out positions, they’re still several times more successful. I’ve had a lucky stretch.
By no means am I an elite investor, but I’ve borrowed from elite investors since 2007. I’m incredibly fortunate that amazing people have been very generous with their time. Thank you, all!
I’ve made hundreds of survivable mistakes, networked my little bald head off, and–net-net–I’m happy with the results.
In this short podcast episode, I’ll explain the five (or so) steps I took to become a better investor, starting at ground zero.
Caveat emptor: I am NOT a financial advisor, and none of this advice should be taken without speaking to a qualified professional first. Also, my results could be due to pure luck and zero skill. M’kay? M’kay.
The episode’s only 40 minutes long, despite it saying 2 hours. If the below player doesn’t work, just click here.
Hope you enjoy, and please let me know in the comments if you’d like more of this. Or what you’d like more of. Please correct me if I made mistakes in this episode!
Related reading that I mention in the audio:
Rethinking Investing
How I Created a Real-World MBA
Things I Learned and Loved in 2008 (Lots of Financial Lessons)
This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by world-famous investors technologists from places like Apple. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years, and they now have more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you—for free–exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to grab their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is the possibility of losing money. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please visit Wealthfront.com to read their full disclosure.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
September 29, 2015
Comedy’s Dynamic Duo, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
No, we are not in jail. And am I really that short?!
“If we can write a high school movie, then we can make a high school movie.”
— Seth Rogen
This episode features a dynamic duo. Seth Rogen (@SethRogen) is an actor, writer, producer, and director. Evan Goldberg (@EvanDGoldberg) is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. Together, they get into a lot of mischief and create amazing comedy.
They’ve collaborated on films such as Superbad (which they first conceived as teenagers), Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, The Green Hornet, and Funny People. They have also written for Da Ali G Show and The Simpsons.
In 2013, Evan and Seth released their directorial debut, This Is the End. In 2014, Seth starred in and produced (alongside Evan) Neighbors, which was a worldwide comedy hit and has taken in more than $268 million.
In December 2014, Rogen and Goldberg’s film, The Interview, became the most-talked-about news story around the world. Under extremely difficult circumstances, the film persevered to become Sony Pictures’ #1 digital title of all time.
Neighbors 2 is shooting now and will be released next May. Seth and Evan are also in production on Sausage Party, a raunchy animated movie for adults about one sausage’s quest to discover the truth about his existence. Seth and Evan are producing the film with Megan Ellison and Conrad Vernon.
In our conversation, we discuss all manner of tactics and silliness, including:
Kyokushin karate
Writer’s block and related debates
Their writing process
Who are the most underrated comedians and comedy writers?
How Superbad got made… after they first drafted it around age 13
The odd book Judd Apatow recommended to them (also Woody Allen’s favorite)
How The Kids in the Hall influenced them
The movie they both wish they’d written
Common pot mistakes
Recommended newb pot for working versus relaxing
Will there be a McLovin spinoff?
And much more…
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to hear another podcast related to comedy? — Listen to my conversation with Bryan Callen, who is a world-class comic and prolific actor. Stream this episode below or right-click here to download.
This podcast is brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is the ideal video hosting platform for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo Pro. WealthFront uses it to explain how WealthFront works. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. There are many other names who you would recognize among their customers (AirBnB, Etsy, etc.) Why do they use it? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting for a fraction of the usual cost. Features include:
Gorgeous high-quality playback with no ads
Up to 20 GB of video storage every week
Unlimited plays and views
A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more
You get all this for just $199 per year (that’s only $17 per/mo.). There are no complicated bandwidth calculations or hidden fees. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code “Tim” to get 25% off. This is a special discount just for you guys.
This podcast is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: If you could interview any comedian, who would it be and why? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
The comic strip Calvin and Hobbes
The movie The Mist
The Freaks and Geeks television series
The Ski Patrol movie
Undeclared
Talladega Nights
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Adaptation
The Princess Bride
The Larry Sanders Show
Rejected: A Film by Don Hertzfeldt
The Kids In The Hall
Fawlty Towers
Monty Python
Absolutely Fabulous
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Preacher – Book One by Garth Ennis
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Art Of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri
The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The Fast and the Furious
“How Do People Get New Ideas?”
Jack Herer
Connect with Seth Rogen:
Twitter (@Sethrogen) | Facebook | Instagram (@sethrogen)
Connect with Evan Goldberg on Twitter (@evandgoldberg)
Show Notes
The story of how Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg got into karate and beat the shit out of each other [06:42]
How their view of competitive violence changed after karate [10:58]
How Seth and Evan first met and when they first started collaborating [12:08]
How Seth and Evan decided to write Superbad [16:05]
The differences between standup comedy and movie writing [19:30]
How Seth and Evan’s writing process works [25:03]
How This Is The End came together, and how they created the film [27:01]
How the Superbad script came to life [33:24]
Being hired to write for Da Ali G Show and other acting roles [40:06]
The lessons Seth and Evan learned from Judd Apatow [44:06]
Thoughts on the concept of writer’s block [48:29]
Today’s most underrated comedy writers [52:04]
The first person who comes to mind when Seth and Evan think of the word successful [57:52]
The habit Evan picked up when working with Snoop Dogg [1:03:01]
The advice Evan and Seth would give their 25-year-old selves [1:05:07]
The reason nearly all involved in Freaks and Geeks ended up being so successful [1:11:06]
Weed and productivity [1:14:20]
The types of pot for different situations [1:17:30]
People Mentioned
Judd Apatow
Paul Feig
Jake Kasdan
Nicolas Cage
Hannibal Buress
Sacha Baron Cohen
Don Hertzfeldt
Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Woody Allen
Elon Musk
Bryan Callen
Steve Jobs
Isaac Asimov
September 25, 2015
The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable…And What He Taught Me
John “Jocko” Willink
“Discipline equals freedom.”
– Jocko Willink
Jocko Willink (@jockowillink) is one of the scariest human beings imaginable.
He is a lean 230 pounds. He is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert who used to tap out 20 Navy SEALs per workout. He is a legend in the Special Operations world. His eyes look through you more than at you.
He rarely does interviews, if ever. But, a few weeks ago, Jocko ended up staying at my house and we had a caffeinated mind meld. Here’s some background…
Jocko enlisted in the Navy after high school and spent 20 years in the SEAL Teams, first as an enlisted SEAL operator and then as a SEAL officer. During his second tour in Iraq, he led SEAL Task Unit Bruiser in the Battle of Ramadi — some of the toughest and most sustained combat by the SEAL Teams since Vietnam.
Under his leadership, Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the entire war in Iraq and helped bring stability to Ramadi. Jocko was awarded the Bronze Star and a Silver Star.
Upon returning to the United States, Jocko served as the Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams, designing and implementing some of the most challenging and realistic combat training in the world.
So why is Jocko opening up? Well, in part, we have mutual friends. Second, he is the co-author of an incredible new book — Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win — which I’ve been loving. Trust me. Buy it.
This is his first mainstream interview and one you won’t want to miss.
“Leadership is infinitely more about brains than it is about brawn. The brawn stuff is from the movies and it doesn’t work in reality.” – Jocko Willink
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to hear another podcast related to leadership in the military from a decorated officer? — Listen to my conversations with General Stan McChrystal. In this episode, we discuss eating one meal per day, special ops, and mental toughness (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years, and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you—for free–exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is the possibility of losing money. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please visit Wealthfront dot com to read their full disclosure.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: How has discipline supported your entrepreneurial goals? What aspects could still use improvement? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink
Learn more about Victory MMA, Jocko Willink’s gym in San Diego
Seeking solutions in business or leadership? Check out Echelon Front
Connect with Jocko and his organizations on Twitter:
@Xtremeownership | @jockowillink | @echelonfront
Connect with Jocko and his organizations on Facebook:
Extreme Ownership | Jocko Willink | Echelon Front
About Face by Colonel David H. Hackworth
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Learn more about Band of Brothers
Learn more about Letters from Iwo Jima
Hardcore History by Dan Carlin (Wrath of the Khans I)
Watch the Restrepo
A Chance in Hell: The Battle for Ramadi
The Pacific or “Band of Brothers in the Pacific”
With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge
Watch Meru, the documentary about elite climbers
Listen to Black Flag, My War, Side B
Listen to White Buffalo
Show Notes
How Jocko would design training for someone who wants to add lean muscle mass [13:49]
The story of how Jocko Willink got involved in jiu-jitsu [15:44]
How Jocko Willink’s SEAL military experience influenced his business [19:24]
The story of how Jocko Willink became a SEAL [22:14]
Where mental toughness comes from [30:04]
Describing the Battle of Ramadi [31:04]
On the leadership and strategy required to take over a city [47:14]
The great tacticians that Jocko Willink respects, [52:44]
What makes a good leader and the things to look for when identifying good leaders [53:59]
How to teach the skill of detachment [1:01:34]
Jocko Willink’s workout that would cause entire platoons to “tap out” [1:09:14]
What are you world-class at that people might not know? [1:12:49]
Morning rituals [1:14:49]
When you think of the word successful, who are the first people that come to mind? [1:18:54]
Non-military leaders that Jocko Willink admires and considers role models [1:29:45]
Skills and/or experiences that every man should have [1:33:34]
Fear inoculation for civilians [1:40:14]
The books Jocko likes to give as gifts [1:42:20]
Common misconceptions about Navy SEALs [1:49:34]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [1:55:59]
Explaining the purpose of his business, Extreme Ownership [2:00:14]
Discussing lessons from Extreme Ownership and the value it brings to private companies [2:06:19]
What SEALs discuss between themselves that they don’t discuss with civilians [2:12:44]
Which historical figure does Jocko Willink identify with? [2:18:29]
Something people would be surprised to learn about Jocko Willink [2:19:22]
Cheesy questions: What do you order at a bar, favorite music, advice for your 25- and 35-year-old self [2:22:49]
People Mentioned
Dean Lister
Cus D’Amato
H.R. McMaster
Sean MacFarland
Rickson Gracie
Marcelo Garcia
Marc Alan Lee
Michael A. Monsoor
Ryan Job
September 22, 2015
Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert
“Be Useful.” – Scott Adams
Scott Adams (@scottadamssays) is a famous cartoonist and the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, which has been published in more than 2000 newspapers in 57 countries and in 19 languages.
In my conversation with Scott, we cover topics ranging from the rise of Dilbert, to how he uses affirmations to impact stock market decisions, success with women, and building his career.
We also talk about Scott’s interest in hypnosis and its relationship with his writing process. Plus, we dive into his current fascination — Donald Trump.
You’ll also find out more about:
Goals vs. systems, and how he has used them to get what he wants in life
His first ever Dilbert paycheck
The six dimensions of humor
How he got into the best shape of his life at age 58 and much, much more.
It is a really fun conversation. Scott is one hell of a character and a hilarious guy.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear a podcast related to creativity? — Listen to my conversation with Ed Catmull, who is President and Co-Founder of Pixar and author of Creativity, Inc. Stream this episode below or right-click here to download:
This podcast is brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is the ideal video hosting platform for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo Pro. WealthFront uses it to explain how WealthFront works. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. There are many other names who you would recognize among their customers (AirBnB, Etsy, etc.) Why do they use it? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting for a fraction of the usual cost. Features include:
Gorgeous high-quality playback with no ads
Up to 20 GB of video storage every week
Unlimited plays and views
A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more
You get all this for just $199 per year (that’s only $17 per/mo.). There are no complicated bandwidth calculations or hidden fees. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code “Tim” to get 25% off. This is a special discount just for you guys.
This episode is also sponsored by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What is your biggest struggle with the creative process? Which experts would you like me to interview about their methods? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
More information about the reticular activation system
The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman
The definition of selective memory
Judo foot sweeps
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)
Scott’s blog on The iPhone 4 “High Ground Maneuver“
The tools Scott uses to draw his cartoons:
Wacom Cintiq monitor | Photoshop
Scott’s blog post on the 6 elements of humor
Other cartoons
Background on the condition of spasmodic dysphonia.
Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
How To Stop Worrying And Start Living by Robert B. Cialdini
Scott’s book God’s Debris
Connect with Scott:
@ScottAdamsSays | http://dilbert.com | Calendar Tree
Show Notes
How Scott started using affirmations [08:45]
The beginning stages of Scott’s journey as a cartoonist [20:45]
The process Scott uses to create his affirmations and the reasons they work [22:39]
How God’s Debris came about [32:01]
How Scott incorporates hypnosis into his life [35:25]
Scott’s first hypnosis experience and why he started [39:15]
Scott’s definition of hypnosis [45:50]
How writing has helped his practice of hypnosis [48:41]
Hypnosis, NLP, and Donald Trump [51:00]
How the way Trump phrases his statements help him in the media [59:43]
Scott’s view on goals vs. systems, and why each approach can work [1:02:39]
Scott’s practical approach to dieting [1:12:29]
The first time Scott was paid for Dilbert, his ‘day job,’ and where his first ideas came from [1:18:27]
How he came up with the name Dogbert [1:21:51]
The aspects of Dilbert that have changed over time and what the characters mean to Scott [1:23:07]
Scott’s techniques to help Dilbert succeed and gain a competitive advantage over other cartoon strips [1:24:31]
The tools and routines Scott uses to get in the creative mood [1:30:42]
Scott’s morning routine [1:34:09]
Scott’s six elements of humor [1:37:26]
Other cartoons Scott respects and reads [1:41:26]
How Scott got his voice back after identifying he had spasmodic dysphonia [1:42:36]
The book Scott would recommend everyone should read [1:51:30]
When Scott thinks of the word “successful,” who is the first person that comes to mind? [1:58:58]
The advice Scott would give his 30-year-old self [2:01:54]
People Mentioned
Richard Wiseman
Milton Erickson
John Grinder
Tony Robbins
Steve Jobs
James Altucher
Donald Trump
Bill Gates
September 21, 2015
The Random Show: Okinawa, Pee on the Head, “Medicinal Spirits,” and Jedi Force Tiki Toss
This episode of The Random Show is full of accidental sexual references. There are dozens of topics covered in this wine-infused session of scatterbrained nonsense.
Like what? To start off: Okinawa, new diets, dog training, booze finds, accidental golden showers, tech, recommended books, people to follow on Twitter, and much more. O-tanoshimi dane!
For all previous episodes of The Random Show, including the infamous China Scam episode, click here.
Can’t see the video above? Click here.
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If anyone would like to add show notes with links in the comments, I’m happy to thank you with a link to your site. I’ll choose the best 1-2 people who are among the first to post.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What would you like to see in future episodes of The Random Show? Please let us know in the comments!
September 18, 2015
5 Morning Rituals That Help Me Win The Day
“If you see distraction externally, you end up creating an internally distracted state.” – Tim Ferriss
This episode of The Tim Ferriss Show is a bit of an experiment. Most the time, I interview world-class people, and I ask them many, many questions to try and figure out what makes them good at what they do.
Many of you have wondered what would happen if I flipped the script and had to answer my own questions. In this episode, I decided to do just that and answer one of your most common questions: what does your morning routine look like?
What you’ll find here are the five things I’d like to accomplish within the first 60 to 90 minutes of an “ideal day.” If I can hit at least three of these items, then I’ve won the morning. And, as the saying goes, “If you win the morning, you win the day.”
Let me know if you like this type of episode by responding to me on Twitter (@tferriss) or Facebook. Please let me know if you want more, never want to hear this type of podcast again, or suggest another question you’d like me to answer.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to learn more about morning routines from a world-class entrepreneur? Listen to my conversation with Tony Robbins. In the episode below, we discuss Tony’s use of cryotherapy, his daily priming ritual, and how to get out of a slump. (Stream the episode below or right-click here to download.)
This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years, and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you—for free–exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is the possibility of losing money. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please visit Wealthfront dot com to read their full disclosure.
This episode is also sponsored by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What other questions would you like me to answer on the podcast? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for the episode links…
Selected Links from the Episode
Dan Dapani’s website
Transcendental meditation
Vipassana meditation
Headspace meditation app
Calm app
Tara Brach and her thoughts on meditation
Sam Harris and his video on the psychology behind meditation
More about hanging techniques from Ido Portal
My pull-up rig and Teeter Hang Ups Gravity Boots
Lynx Teeter Hang Ups P3 Back Stretcher
One of Breville’s tea makers and the Adagio utiliTEA
Rishi-Tea Simple Brew Loose Leaf Teapot
My tea ingredients:
Pu-erh tea | Turmeric ginger | Green tea
Check out my blog post and video on making my Titanium Tea
The Five-Minute Journal
A look at my morning pages
If you like this type of advice and want more of my insider tips and tricks, as well as the latest of what I’m enjoying, please subscribe to 5-Bullet Friday.
September 14, 2015
Are Psychedelic Drugs the Next Medical Breakthrough?
The iboga plant (Photo: Marco Schmidt)
DISCLAIMER: DO NOT USE ANY DRUGS OR SUBSTANCES WITHOUT CONSULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
“Be curious.” – Dr. Dan Engle
Martin Polanco (@Martin_Polanco7), M.D., is the founder and program director of Crossroads Treatment Center, based in Rosarito, Mexico. Crossroads specializes in helping patients conquer powerful addictions (heroin, cocaine, etc.) by using the African hallucinogen ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, also referred to as “the God molecule.” Martin’s areas of expertise also include addiction medicine and therapeutic neurotechnologies.
Dan Engle (@drdanengle), M.D., is a psychiatrist and neurologist, who combines functional medicine with integrative psychiatry to enhance regenerative health and peak performance. His prior and relevant experience includes traumatic brain injury (TBI) and working in the Peruvian jungle with plant medicines such as ayahuasca.
In this episode, we step outside the lines of traditional medicine and discuss impulse control, introspection, and self-awareness through the use of powerful psychedelic and hallucinogenic agents like iboga, ibogaine, and 5-MeO-DMT.
We also discuss flotation tanks, which can simulate or even replicate many of the benefits that can result from the use of psychedelic and psychotropic agents. So you don’t have to be willing to experiment with these drugs to receive something valuable from this episode.
If you are interested in optimizing your psychological performance, emotional control, and exploring alternative medicine, then this episode is for you. Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Want to hear more from a world-class scientist? Check out my conversations with James Fadiman, Ph.D. In the below episode, we discuss LSD and micro-dosing for creative problem solving, anxiety reduction, and more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by TrunkClub. I hate shopping with a passion. And honestly I’m not good at it, which means I end up looking like I’m colorblind or homeless. Enter TrunkClub, which provides you with your own personal stylist and makes it easier than ever to shop for clothes that look great on your body.
Just go to trunkclub.com/tim and answer a few questions, and then you’ll be sent a trunk full of awesome clothes. They base this on your sizes, preferences, etc. The trunk is then delivered free of charge both ways, so you only pay for clothes that you keep. If you keep none, it costs you nothing. To get started, check it out at trunkclub.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is the ideal video hosting platform for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo Pro. WealthFront uses it to explain how WealthFront works. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. There are many other names who you would recognize among their customers (AirBnB, Etsy, etc.) Why do they use it? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting for a fraction of the usual cost. Features include:
Gorgeous high-quality playback with no ads
Up to 20 GB of video storage every week
Unlimited plays and views
A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more
You get all this for just $199 per year (that’s only $17 per/mo.). There are no complicated bandwidth calculations or hidden fees. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code “Tim” to get 25% off. This is a special discount just for you guys.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What other methods of alternative medicine and therapy are you interested in learning more about? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
More background and history about the psychedelic iboga.
More background and history about the psychedelic ibogaine.
More background and history about the psychedelic ayahuasca.
Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines:
More about traditional ayahuasca.
Quality resources for people who want to learn more about psychedelic drugs and their uses:
The background of 5-MeO-DMT.
More about the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel
The Cosmic Serpent by Jeremy Narby
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami
Ibogaine Explained by Peter Frank
Who by Geoff Smart
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
If This Is a Man and The Truce by Primo Levi
The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James Fadiman
Transcendental Meditation
True Rest Floatation Labs
Connect with Dr. Martin Polanco:
Twitter | Crossroads Ibogaine Center
Connect with Dr. Dan Engle:
Twitter | Temple of the Way of Light Ayahuasca Center in Peru | Onnit Labs
Show Notes
Dr. Dan Engle & Dr. Martin Polanco share their background experiences that led them to be working in the field of psychedelics [08:56]
Martin’s first experiences with psychedelics and Ibogaine [11:01]
The primary differences between Ayahuasca and Ibogaine [14:20]
Dan explains what happens when you experiment with Ayahuasca, and the most common characteristics during the experience [19:45]
What most people feel during the start of an Iboga experience, and the common characteristics reported after use [23:15]
The reasons some people don’t have visions while taking Ibogaine [26:34]
The commonly prescribed benzodiazepines that don’t allow people to have visions taking Ibogaine [27:44]
What happens to your central nervous system during an ibogaine experience [29:58]
How should people view the use of psychedelics? [36:24]
The scarier aspects of the iboga experiences, and how to prepare for them? [43:06]
Martin explains how iboga works on a chemical level and what types of addictions it can help [46:15]
The resources people can use to educate themselves about psychedelic drugs and current research [48:34]
The background of 5-MeO-DMT and how it is incorporated into his program [54:48]
Different uses for ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT [1:00:26]
The relative importance of plant medicine and non-traditional treatments [1:08:36]
How often should psychedelic treatments be used for the maximum effect [1:11:11]
How people can use psychedelics to help with traumatic brain injuries [1:16:30]
The first person who comes to mind when Dan and Martin think of the word successful [1:26:39]
The books Dan and Martin have given the most as gifts [1:28:45]
The quote or statement Dan would have on a billboard [1:31:01]
The advice Dan and Martin would give their 30-year-old selves [1:31:49]
Who should and shouldn’t try ibogaine [1:34:15]
Flotation theory and other entry points for psychedelic experiences [1:35:28]
The single ask or recommendation Dan and Martin have for The 4-Hour Workweek audience [1:44:50]
People Mentioned
Barry Jacobs
Adam Gazzaley
Roger Bell
Elon Musk
David Blaine
September 11, 2015
Drunk Dialing Fans–Celebrating The 100th Podcast Episode!
100 episodes! Whaaat?!
This celebratory episode involves me drunk dialing a bunch of you on Skype. We’ll get to that. But first, a little background and thank you…
My podcast–The Tim Ferriss Show–was started on a whim. It was intended as a break between big book projects. “I’ll do six episodes to get better at interviewing” was the grand goal.
In the first episode and after two bottles of wine, Kevin Rose nicknamed the show TimTimTalkTalk (damn you, KevKev). Later, after reviewing my ridiculously slurred and iffy questions (“If you were a breakfast cereal, which would you be?”), I let out a long sigh. I’ve always hated the sound of my own voice, but this was the worst. The podcast experiment wouldn’t last a month.
Or so I thought.
Now, here we are, passing the 100-episode mark. It’s crazy, and I can say one thing for certain — I’ve only made it this far because of YOU.
Your amazing feedback, support, questions, and comments are what kept this podcast alive. Amidst self-doubt (similar to this) and many mistakes, I’ve wanted to throw in the towel more than once. But, through thick and thin, you’ve been there, telling my monkey mind to chill the fuck out, to take a deep breath, to go to sleep, or to fight another day.
Many, many thanks.
And to celebrate, I decided on a throwback to episode #1. I posted a note on Twitter and Facebook asking fans to put their contact information in a short Google form (note: I’ve deactivated the link):
I’m going to be drunk dialing fans within 30 min, answering your questions! Just fill out this form and I might call: http://t.co/E4Xub881qB
— Tim Ferriss (@tferriss) September 8, 2015
The results of this vodka-infused orgy of telephonic idiocy is below!
We cover a lot of subjects, including:
Tantric sex
How I view and organize my various income streams
Marketing yourself in job interviews
My views (and challenges) with family and kids
How I dig out of negative downward spirals
And much more…
I also left semi-coherent voicemails for a number of you.
Once again, thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It means the world to me and keeps me going.
You guys rock.
Here’s raising a glass to many more adventures!
;
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
This podcast is brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years, and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you—for free–exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.
Investing in securities involves risks, and there is the possibility of losing money. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please visit Wealthfront dot com to read their full disclosure.
Selected Links from the Episode
Barr Hill Vodka
How to Be a Star at Work by Robert Kelley
Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout
Explore the Washington Speakers Bureau to learn about speaking rates
Stakes-setting tools – Coach.me | stickK | DietBet.com
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
Guerrilla Financing by Bruce Blechman and Jay Conrad Levinson
People Mentioned
Mantak Chia
AJ Jacobs
Ryan Holiday
