Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 93
September 7, 2015
“The Iceman,” Wim Hof
“Breath, motherfucker.”
– Wim Hof
Wim Hof (@Iceman_Hof) is a Dutch world record holder, adventurer and daredevil, commonly nicknamed “The Iceman” for his ability to withstand extreme cold. He is the creator of the Wim Hof Method and holds more than 20 world records. Wim is an outlier of outliers, as he routinely asks scientists to scrutinize and validate his feats. Here are just a few examples:
In 2007, he climbed past the “death zone” altitude on Mount Everest (~7,500 meters) wearing nothing but shorts.
In 2009, Hof completed a full marathon above the polar circle in Finland, in temperatures close to −20 °C (−4 °F). Dressed in nothing but shorts, Hof finished in 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Hof holds the current Guinness World Record for the longest ice bath, now set at 1 hour 53 minutes and 12 seconds.
But it’s not just cold.
In 2011, he ran a full marathon in the Namib Desert without water. The run was performed under the supervision of Dr. Thijs Eijsvogels. He can also run at altitude without suffering from altitude sickness.
In the same year, he was injected with toxins under doctor supervision and demonstrated that he could effectively control his autonomic immune response. Wim was able to raise his cortisol levels and lower his blood concentrations of cytokines (inflammatory mediators) using solely his meditation and prep techniques.
Not only this, but he was able to train others to achieve the same effect… with only 4 days of training!
We dig into all this and more. I loved this conversation and hope you do, too…
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 the science of extreme performance? — Listen to my conversation with Laird Hamilton, widely considered the greatest big wave surfer of all-time and who practise Wim’s techniques. — stream below or right-click here to download:
This episode is brought to you by Audible, which I have used for years. I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend right off the bat:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Perhaps my favorite audiobook of all time.
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts – This book had a huge impact on my life and formed the basis for a lot of what has become The 4-Hour Workweek
To get your free audiobook and a free 30-day trial, go to Audible.com/Tim. You can choose from the two audiobooks listed above or from 180,000+ audio programs. They offer audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and even classes. It’s that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and grab your free audiobook.
This podcast is also brought to you by MeUndies. Have you ever wanted to be as powerful as a mullet-wearing ninja from the 1980’s, or as sleek as a black panther in the Amazon? Of course you have, and that’s where MeUndies comes in. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks wearing underwear from these guys 24/7, and they are the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. Their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. 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.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What physical feats do you find most impressive? And what physical ability do you wish you could improve? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
The Vice documentary about Wim Hof.
Biology Now by Anne Houtman, Megan Scudellari, Cindy Malone, and Anu Singh-Cundy
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Wim explains the breathing and pushups method in this free video series
Connect with Wim Hof:
Show Notes
Wim’s first world record & his most challenging cold exposures [07:23]
What does Wim say to himself if he ends up in an unexpected situation and how does he deal with them [09:28]
How Wim controlled stress hormones and his immune response when he was injected with an endotoxin at the Radboud University [11:34]
The activities Wim took his subjects through on the first day of training to control their immune response to being injected with an endotoxin [17:46]
The reason Wim’s subjects don’t pass out when the oxygen in their blood reaches very low levels [22:14]
How the breathing exercises Wim puts his subjects through are used to control their immune response [26:13]
Can Wim control his immune response if he contracts a disease without realizing it? [27:33]
Why Wim is able to control his immune system and shield himself from diseases [29:22]
The ‘impossibles’ Wim thinks we will be able to prove are possible in the next 5 years [33:10]
What Wim recommends for someone who is depressed or a person just wants to lift their mood [38:19]
Wim’s eating routine and his typical meals [40:45]
Does Wim release more DMT during his breath work [43:58]
How Wim lowers his body temperature in a hot climate and trains himself to endure high temperatures [47:47]
How Wim learned 10 languages [53:03]
Wim discusses why people are fat, and how people can develop more brown fat [54:09]
How to start breathing for relaxation [56:49]
The person who comes to mind when Wim thinks of the word successful [59:27]
The steps Wim would tell someone to take if they don’t feel successful [1:00:02]
The book Wim has given to other people the most as a gift [1:02:20]
How Wim overcame dark times [1:04:17]
Wim’s routine in the first 60 minutes of each day [1:07:16]
Wim ‘s favorite exercises [1:11:44]
The musician Wim looks up to the most and his favorite albums [1:14:00]
The purchase Wim has made in the last year for under $100’s that has positively impacted his life
Wim finds his stones [1:15:28]
The advice Wim would give his 30-year-old self [1:17:19]
People Mentioned
Ray Cronise
Tim Noakes
Kevin J. Tracey
Dean Karnazes
Nelson Mandela
Michael Jackson
August 31, 2015
The Oracle of Silicon Valley, Reid Hoffman (Plus: Michael McCullough)
Reid Hoffman with Ana (top) and Michael (left) McCullough, co-founders of QuestBridge.org (Photo: Will Miller)
“I build, design, and improve human ecosystems through software either as a creator or an investor.”
– Reid Hoffman
Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) is often referred to as “The Oracle of Silicon Valley” by tech insiders, who look at his company-building and investing track record (Facebook, Airbnb, Flickr, etc.) with awe. Reid is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of LinkedIn, which has more than 300 million users. He was previously Executive Vice President at PayPal, which was purchased by eBay for $1.5 billion. There, he was nicknamed “firefighter-in-chief” by CEO Peter Thiel.
Noted venture capitalist David Sze says of Reid, “[he] is arguably the most successful angel investor in the past decade.” They are now both partners at Greylock Partners.
In this podcast, he is joined by Michael McCullough, MD, a close friend, co-founder of QuestBridge.org, and a successful investor with training as an ER physician. Michael is as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF and previously served as the on-call ER physician to the Dalai Lama. Michael is also a Rhodes Scholar, Kaufman Fellow, and Ashoka Fellow. An avid meditator, he is particularly interested in investing in technologies and companies pertaining to the mind.
We cover A LOT, including:
Meeting Mark Zuckerberg for the first time and deciding to invest in Facebook
“Fire-fighting” in startups and beyond
Using board games to develop strategy
Reid’s view of what Uber has done well and what they could improve
Some of Reid’s suggested philosophers for entrepreneurs
Non-technical founders and symbolic systems
Going “off algorithm” in the ER to manage life-and-death decisions
The 3 types of CEOs
What Reid has learned from his network, including the founders of Airbnb, Kiva.org, etc.
And, of course, we discuss QuestBridge, as Reid and I are both on the advisory board…
QuestBridge currently supplies more exceptional low-income talent to top universities than all other non-profits combined (more than 2,000 students a year on $500 million in financial aid). QuestBridge has created a single, standardized college application accepted by 36 top universities like Stanford, MIT, Amherst and Yale. This allows them to use innovative campaigns (e.g. laptop giveaway forms that double as college applications) to offer scholarships to kids who might otherwise not even think of college. If you want to break the cycle of poverty, QuestBridge is one of the most fascinating tools I’ve ever seen.
I’d like to invite all of my readers and listeners to pour benevolent gasoline on this fire by contributing to one of QuestBridge’s prizes in Science (STEM) or the Arts. Just click here to check them out. The “prizes” are giveaway items like laptops or internships, and when kids apply for a prize, they are simultaneously applying to college. Student applications are due September 28, so there’s still time to influence this year.
If you prefer, you can create your own prize for a group you feel strongly about, like top low-income women, top low-income students from any geographic area (e.g. your home state), or those kids interested in a particular career (e.g. engineering). In effect, you might say, “I’d like to encourage Hispanic kids in Chicago [or girls in Tuscon interested in computer science, etc.] to apply to college. I’m happy to offer three iPads,” or something like that.
It doesn’t take much, and it really works wonders. For instance, QuestBridge’s Native American prize (20 laptops total) increased the Native American applicant pool from 34 to more than 350 in
To create your own prize, or to simply discuss support or partnership, please reach out directly to Michael [AT] QuestBridge {DOT} org.
Again, to donate to existing prizes (e.g. STEM, the Arts, Rural), please click here. That’s a simple and fast way to make a real impact.
;
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 from an early stage investor? — Listen to my conversations with Chris Sacca. In this episode, we discuss unfair advantages, how Chris chooses founders and investments, stories of missed opportunities, and the styles that differentiate Wall Street from Silicon Valley investors (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by MeUndies. Have you ever wanted to be as powerful as a mullet-wearing ninja from the 1980’s, or as sleek as a black panther in the Amazon? Of course you have, and that’s where MeUndies comes in. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks wearing underwear from these guys 24/7, and they are the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. Their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. 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 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 OF THE DAY: If you had the SAT scores and e-mail addresses of every high school student in the US, how would you increase the number of kids who apply to college?
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about Wittgensteinian language games
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
Check out Avalon Hill, Reid Hoffman’s strategic board game
The Start-up of You and The Alliance by Reid Hoffman
Getting Things Done by David Allen
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Conscious Business by Fred Kofman
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Learn more about Greylock Partners
Learn more about QuestBridge
Features on QuestBridge:
Connect with Michael McCullough
Connect with Reid Hoffman:
Linkedin | Greylock Partners | Twitter
Show Notes
How do you answer the question, “What do you do?” [7:33]
The circumstances of Michael McCullough’s birth [9:08]
Lessons learned from Reid Hoffman’s unconventional high school [10:03]
How Reid Hoffman evaluates the importance of a founder’s technical skills [11:33]
The philosophy of Reid Hoffman [12:58]
What it means to Michael McCullough to go off algorithm [17:08]
What it’s like to watch a person’s eyes as they pass from alive to not-alive [20:58]
What separates a good ER physician from a great ER physician [21:53]
What makes a good “entrepreneurial firefighter” and how to work with bureaucracies [24:03]
Recommendations for developing strategic thinking [30:13]
What Uber has done well and what could have been executed more effectively/strategically [33:08]
On meeting Mark Zuckerberg and investing in Facebook [35:28]
Mark Pincus’s role in Facebook when Reid Hoffman decided to invest [38:23]
On deciding not to take the role of CEO [39:53]
What founders should think about when deciding to hire a CEO [42:43]
Michael McCullough’s first 60-90 minutes, meditation, and neurofeedback [47:38]
Reid Hoffman’s morning rituals and how he works through creative problems [49:53]
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning specific people in Reid Hoffman’s network [54:23]
Most gifted book [1:04:28]
Questbridge – What it is and what it does [1:26:53]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [1:19:53]
Asks or requests for the listeners [1:20:48]
People Mentioned
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Peter Thiel
Sun Tzu
Carl von Clausewitz
Mark Zuckerberg
Sean Parker
Mark Pincus
Jeff Weiner
Brian Chesky
John Lilly
Elon Musk
Julie Hanna
Cory Booker
Charles Best
August 28, 2015
Brené Brown on Vulnerability and Home Run TED Talks
“He or she who is willing to be the most uncomfortable is not only the bravest but rises the fastest.”
– Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown (@BreneBrown) is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Brené’s 2010 TEDx Houston talk, The Power of Vulnerability, has been viewed more than 20 million times and is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world.
She has spent the past 13 years studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. Brené is the author of two #1 New York Times bestsellers: Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection. Her brand-new book is titled Rising Strong. In it, she writes, “If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall. This is a book about what it takes to get back up.”
She is also the founder and CEO for The Daring Way™, an organization that brings her work on vulnerability, courage, shame and worthiness to organizations, schools, communities, and families.
;
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 with a world class emotional intelligence practitioner? — Listen to my conversations with Josh Waitzkin. In this episode, we discuss meditation styles, morning rituals and why you should study the artists rather than the art critics (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is ideal for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo Pro. WealthFront uses it to explain how it develops personalized investment portfolios. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. Twitter uses it to showcase Periscope. Why are they using it instead of other options out there? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting that typically costs thousands of dollars for a tiny fraction of the cost. Features include:
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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: What short-term discomfort are you avoiding now? What is preventing you from taking action? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Watch Brené Brown’s TED Talks:
The Power of Vulnerability | Listening to Shame
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Rising Strong by Brené Brown
I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) by Brené Brown
Women & Shame by Brené Brown
The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
Learn more about Liberation Theology and Grounded Theory
The Alchemist by Paulo
My favorite swimming goggles
Connect with Brené Brown:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Courage Works
Show Notes
How Brené Brown answers the question, “What do you do?” [7:38]
What make a highly popular TED talk [1:45]
How Brené Brown prepares for TED talks [13:16]
Defining the terms “vulnerability” and “shame” (Learn more about how to deal with haters) [15:31]
Deconstructing shame from an evolutionary standpoint [24:31]
How to evaluate the question, “Are you daring greatly today?”[39:06]
Which schools of philosophy resonate most with Brown’s research? [46:31]
Misinterpretations of vulnerability [49:46]
How does vulnerability coexist with masculine virtues and traits? [55:31]
What are some daily practices or exercises to develop vulnerability? [1:02:46]
Brené Brown’s morning rituals [1:06:16]
Most gifted books [1:17:06]
Why she wrote Rising Strong [1:08:46]
Describing the method for collecting data for Rising Strong [1:09:41]
The ideal sequence for reading Brené Brown’s work [1:13:06]
The first thing that comes to mind when Brené Brown thinks of the word successful [1:14:31]
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively affected your life in recent memory? [1:15:51]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [1:16:46]
Advice for Brené Brown’s thirty-year-old self [1:17:46]
Asks or requests for the listeners [1:19:19]
People Mentioned
Marcus Aurelius
Pema Chödrön
Joseph Campbell
Kahlil Gibran
Rumi
Mary Oliver
Neil Peart
Shonda Rhimes
August 26, 2015
How to Build a World-Class Network in Record Time
Photo by Ron Herrman
“Don’t dismiss people, don’t be a dick, and don’t rush. Play the long game.”
– Tim Ferriss
Welcome to a special edition of The Tim Ferriss Show. Back in 2007 I experienced a “Tipping Point” for The 4-Hour Workweek at South by Southwest (SxSW) that played a key role in the book becoming a worldwide bestseller. Ever since then I’ve been back almost every year.
This is a presentation I recently gave at SxSW about a better, more effective way to network. My suggestions might surprise you or seem counterintuitive, but I’ve found that the best way to network is by spending very little time networking.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How SxSW played a role in the success of The 4-Hour Workweek
Why it’s so important to attend events to build your network
The most common mistakes people make at events
How to interact with A-listers
How to enjoy the ride and come away on top
And much, much more…
If you are able to take away a few lessons from this talk and focus on long-term relationships instead of transactions, I hope you find that you’ll never have to network again.
;
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 relating to memory? — Listen to my conversations with my friend Ed Cooke, a Grandmaster of Memory. In this episode, we discuss mental performance, imagination, and productive mischief (stream below or right-click pt 1 here pt 2 here to download):
Still looking for more? — Listen to my conversations with Pavel Tsatsouline on the science of strength and the art of physical performance (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is brought to you advertisement free. Want this to happen more often?
Every Friday I send out a very short email called 5-Bullet Friday. These are the coolest things I’ve been playing with that week. It could include favorite articles, gizmos and gadgets, and a lot of other awesome stuff you could use immediately.
Sign up for a week, and give it a try.
It would mean a lot to me and I think you’ll enjoy it. You can see a lot of people are excited about this on twitter.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: In the keynote, I mentioned the importance of going to a single event each year and selecting the most expensive of your options. What event would you choose and why? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Your Memory by Kenneth L. Higbee
Learn more about DonorsChoose.org
Show Notes
Hangovers at important events [7:20]
The three core tenants of successful networking [11:45]
Don’t make an impression, leave a memento [17:00]
Why ignorance can be bliss [18:33]
How to pitch “A-listers” [24:44]
How to pick people out of a crowd [28:00]
What to ask instead of, “What do you do?” [30:00]
How to escape conversations [31:10]
How to play the long game [34:35]
Can you have too many mini-retirements? [36:40]
If you were launching a new company with only $1,000, what would you start? [37:30]
Do you meditate or do yoga? [38:45]
How do you find good events and parties? [39:35]
Now that you’re a big deal, what are your goals at SxSW [40:35]
What thought leaders do you follow? [41:10]
How do you stay focused? [41:45]
What part of your 4-Hour Workweek do you personally find hardest to follow? [42:50]
How do you want people to remember you? [43:45]
What tricks do you use for retaining info? [44:25]
Where is the best place in the world, besides Austin? [46:00]
What are you most excited about for this year’s SxSW? [47:00]
Have you tried polyphasic sleep? Does it work? [47:40]
What’s the most memorable “thank you” note that you’ve received? [48:35]
Are you recording a podcast while you’re at SxSW [49:40]
What animal best describes you? [50:00]
I have a 9-5 job. Can The 4-Hour Workweek actually transform my life? [50:30]
What are the 3-4 best bodyweight exercises for business travelers? [51:25]
What’s the best way to respond to, “Do you have a business card?” when you don’t have one [52:50]
What do most entrepreneurs do wrong? [53:25]
What is the most memorable memento you have received? [54:10]
Advice for introverts [55:25]
What are some of the biggest lessons learned from starting your podcast? [56:00]
What are some tips on executing on all the great ideas gathered? [57:25]
What questions do you use for reflection and why? [58:30]
The NorCal Margarita
Here is a recipe for an excellent cocktail. With this you can reach an appropriate level of intoxication while avoiding the hangover the day after.
2 shots of high-grade tequila
Club soda
As much lime as possible
People Mentioned
Nassim Taleb
Alexis Ohanian
August 23, 2015
The “Wizard” of Hollywood, Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez, nicknamed “The Wizard.”
Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) is a film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor, and musician. He is also the founder and chairman of El Rey Network, the new genre-busting English-language cable network.
While a student at the University of Texas at Austin in 1991, Rodriguez wrote the script for his first feature film while he was a paid subject in a clinical experiment at a drug research facility. That paycheck covered the cost of shooting his film.
The film, “El Mariachi,” went on to win the coveted Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and became the lowest budget movie ever released by a major studio. Rodriguez wrote about these experiences in Rebel Without a Crew, a perennial guide for the independent filmmaker.
Rodriguez went on to write, produce, and direct a series of successful films including, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Frank Miller’s Sin City, and Machete, among many others.
I hope you find listening to this episode as enjoyable as it was to record.
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 with another award-winning movie maker? — Listen to my conversation with Brian Koppelman, co-writer/producer of Rounders, The Illusionist & Ocean’s Thirteen. In this episode, we explore how he got started, how he handles rejection, his big breaks, his creative process, and much more.
This podcast is 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
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’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken and what was the result? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
View more about the Directors Chair episodes here
Robert’s first movie, El Mariachi, and production company Los Hooligans Productions
The making of El mariachi – Rebel without a Crew
More information about Bedhead – the short film Robert made before El Mariachi
More information about Troublemaker Studios
Check out the movie Sin City
Check out the movie Desperado
Simon Sinek – Start with Why
Cooking School: Texas BBQ | Sin City Breakfast Tacos
Robert’s TV Network El Rey
Connect with Robert
Twitter: @ElReyNetwork | @Rodriguez | @DuskElRey | @LuchaElRey
Show Notes
How does Robert go about journaling? [05:04]
How does Robert keep moral high when working with a crew? [13:29]
Being creative on set [14:31]
“What clicked” that allowed Robert to be truly creative [15:57]
Embracing the creative process “in the moment” [19:28]
The amazing story of how El Mariachi was financed? [21:41]
What was the story behind El Mariachi getting released by Columbia? [24:45]
How to maintain the creative mindset once resources are no longer a creative driver [35:22]
How cartooning helped creative endeavors? [39:53]
The strange reason Robert changed the name of his production company to Troublemaker Studios [44:11]
What book does Robert most frequently gift to other people? [55:35]
The Directors Guild, Frank Miller, Sin City & the ‘Special Guest Director’ [57:41]
Why setting precedents are important [1:09:59]
How Robert spends his downtime [1:14:38]
Why was Robert so keen to make the movie Sin City? [1:19:54]
What does the first 60 minutes of Roberts’ day look like? [1:26:29]
Robert’s TV network, El Rey [1:32:52]
What is Robert geeking out on right now? [1:51:56]
Tips for early stage filmmakers [1:54:37]
What advice does Robert have for his 30-year-old self? [1:58:39]
Robert’s one request of you, the listener. [2:01:07]
People Mentioned
Francis Ford Coppola
Quentin Tarantino
Jim Cameron
Michael Mann
Robert Newman
Antonio Banderas
Jack Ma
John Carpenter
Winston Churchill
Simon Sinek
Frank Miller
George Lucas
Bruce Willis
Benicio del Toro
Robert De Niro
George Miller
General Stan McChrystal
Johnny Depp
August 18, 2015
The Person I Call Most for Startup Advice
“Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” – Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant (@naval) is the CEO and a co-founder of AngelList. He previously co-founded Epinions, which went public as part of Shopping.com, and Vast.com. He is an active angel investor and has invested in more than 100 companies, including more than a few “unicorn” mega-successes.
His deals include Twitter, Uber, Yammer, Postmates, Wish, Thumbtack, and OpenDNS, which Cisco just bought for $635 million in cash.
BUT, even if you have zero interest in startups or investing, this episode is well worth your time. This is really about the habits and beliefs of a highly successful (and happy) person.
Naval has refined his way of living in very unique ways, and you can borrow what he’s learned, read the books that have changed him, and experiment with the habits he has developed through trial and error.
Enjoy this conversation with a curious character!
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 on meditation and “spirituality”? — Listen to my conversation with Sam Harris, PhD. In the below episode, we discuss “spirituality,” neuroscience, his meditation practice, and more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is 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…
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 do you still want to know about investing, whether in startups or elsewhere? Or: What was your favorite takeaway from Naval? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
Lying by Sam Harris
Surely You Must Be Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Striking Thoughts by Bruce Lee
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Read the Melting Asphalt blog
Read the Dilbert blog, specifically, The Day You Became a Better Writer
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Go on a meditation retreat with noetic.org
Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
Poor Charlie’s Almanac by Charlie Munger
Illusions by Richard Bach
The Origins of Virtue by Matt Ridley
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
The Secret Life of Salvadore Dali by Salvadore Dali
“What Do You Care What Other People Think?” by Richard Feynman
Connect with Naval Ravikant:
AngelList | Startup Boy Blog | Twitter
Learn more about Tim on AngelList
Show Notes
On the intensity of Naval Ravikant [6:55]
On uncompromising honesty [16:54]
How AngelList and Venture Hacks came to be [20:09]
What Naval looks for when deciding to invest in a founder [25:24]
Common “wives tales” in venture capital [32:39]
What books, outside the startup world, have most improved Naval’s ability to invest? [36:54]
Greatest investing hits and misses [51:49]
When you think of the successful people, who is the first that comes to mind? [58:19]
Meditative practices [1:00:58]
How to replace bad habits with good habits [1:07:06]
On setting stakes and awards [1:24:49]
How to treat your life like a movie [1:34:44]
Overused words and phrases [1:39:39]
Early life education and the importance of “loving to read” [1:43:19]
Advice for his younger self [1:51:09]
Describing the first 60 minutes of each day [1:52:40]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [2:04:19]
People Mentioned
Marcus Aurelius
Sam Harris
Bruce Lee
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Scott Adams
Steve Jobs
Marc Andreessen
Satoshi Nakamoto
Elon Musk
Charlie Munger
The Evolutionary Angel, Naval Ravikant
“Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” – Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant (@naval) is the CEO and a co-founder of AngelList. He previously co-founded Epinions, which went public as part of Shopping.com, and Vast.com. He is an active angel investor and has invested in more than 100 companies, including more than a few “unicorn” mega-successes.
His deals include Twitter, Uber, Yammer, Postmates, Wish, Thumbtack, and OpenDNS, which Cisco just bought for $635 million in cash.
You can find many more examples here, but suffice to say — he’s really, REALLY good at start-up investing.
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 on meditation and spirituality? — Listen to my conversations with Sam Harris. In this episode, we discuss spirituality, neuroscience, his meditation practice, and more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is 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…
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 do you still want to know about investing in a startup? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
Lying by Sam Harris
Surely You Must Be Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Striking Thoughts by Bruce Lee
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Read the Melting Asphalt blog
Read the Dilbert blog, specifically, The Day You Became a Better Writer
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Go on a meditation retreat with noetic.org
Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
Poor Charlie’s Almanac by Charlie Munger
Illusions by Richard Bach
The Origins of Virtue by Matt Ridley
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
The Secret Life of Salvadore Dali by Salvadore Dali
“What Do You Care What Other People Think?” by Richard Feynman
Connect with Naval Ravikant:
AngelList | Startup Boy Blog | Twitter
Learn more about Tim on AngelList
Show Notes
On the intensity of Naval Ravikant [6:55]
On uncompromising honesty [16:54]
How AngelList and Venture Hacks came to be [20:09]
What Naval looks for when deciding to invest in a founder [25:24]
Common “wives tales” in venture capital [32:39]
What books, outside the startup world, have most improved Naval’s ability to invest? [36:54]
Greatest investing hits and misses [51:49]
When you think of the successful people, who is the first that comes to mind? [58:19]
Meditative practices [1:00:58]
How to replace bad habits with good habits [1:07:06]
On setting stakes and awards [1:24:49]
How to treat your life like a movie [1:34:44]
Overused words and phrases [1:39:39]
Early life education and the importance of “loving to read” [1:43:19]
Advice for his younger self [1:51:09]
Describing the first 60 minutes of each day [1:52:40]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [2:04:19]
People Mentioned
Marcus Aurelius
Sam Harris
Bruce Lee
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Scott Adams
Steve Jobs
Marc Andreessen
Satoshi Nakamoto
Elon Musk
Charlie Munger
August 7, 2015
5 Things I’ve Been Loving, Using, and Reading
Absolutely the best for flying. But which one? The booze, hat, squat, or weird footwear?
Greetings, friends.
Here are some popular links, thoughts, and articles that have appeared in my “5-Bullet Friday” e-mail newsletter, which is free and goes out every Friday. I cheated in this post and gave you six.
Enjoy!
Article I’m enjoying (and pondering) — How Bold Entrepreneurs Are Breaking $1 Million In One-Person Businesses by Elaine Pofeldt for Forbes.com
Clothing I’m loving — Check out Myles’ “everyday shorts.” I originally got these as a gift from Huckberry, and they are now my go-to shorts for nearly everything. I swim in them (quick drying), I wear them while working at coffee shops, and you can even wear them to a nice dinner if you have decent shoes. Multi-purpose rocks.
My most popular Facebook post recently — Japan’s Michael Jordan of Day Trading. His “one rule” is quite smart, methinks…
A quote that’s on my mind — “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” – Steve Jobs
Responses I’ll be practicing (yet again) next week — How to graciously say no to anyone by Austin Kleon. This is worth revisiting constantly.
New footwear, long overdue — I’ve needed Adidas slip-ons for years. No idea why it took me so long to get them. They’re perfect as indoor Japanese-style slippers, or for wearing outside when you don’t want flip-flops killing your toe webbing. I’m typing this on an airplane, where I’m wearing them with socks. #GermanStyle
Would you like to get a very short (five-bullet) e-mail from me every Friday with the five coolest things I’ve found that week?
It might include books, gadgets, albums, articles, new hacks/tricks, and — of course — all sorts of weird stuff I dig up around the world.
These “5-Bullet Friday” emails are only available if you subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. They will not be on the blog or anywhere else. This post is just a teaser to entice you to sign up.
Try it out for a week! Unsubscribing is easy, and there’s great stuff coming next Friday. Just submit your email address in the opt-in below (or here) and you’re set.
Sign Up For 5-Bullet Friday
[contact-form]
P.S. If you haven’t seen this short commencement speech, you’re in for a treat. Perfect weekend viewing.
P.P.S. Deal of the week — Why do fast-growing startups like Wealthfront, Airbnb, Etsy, and others use Vimeo PRO instead of YouTube for product demos, customer testimonials, training videos, etc.? No ads, customizable players, you can re-upload new edits without changing URLs, and much more. Check out the goodies here and use code “TIM” for 25% off.
Kevin Kelly on Artificial Intelligence and Designer Babies
“I do think we’ll have designer babies in the future. I’m not so sure people will want blue-eyed babies when they can make green or purple.”
– Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly (@kevin2kelly) returns to the podcast due to popular demand. Kevin continues to be perhaps the Most Interesting Man in the World.
He is Senior Maverick at Wired Magazine, which he co-founded in 1993. He also co-founded the All Species Foundation, a non-profit aimed at cataloging and identifying every living species on earth. In his spare time, he writes best selling books, co-founded the Rosetta Project, which is building an archive of all documented human languages, and serves on the board of the Long Now Foundation. As part of the last, he’s investigating how to revive and restore endangered or extinct species, including the Wooly Mammoth.
As usual, Kevin’s responses and answers are fascinating.
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 my conversation with Kevin Kelly, in which we discuss population implosions, the Long Now Foundation, organizational methods for learning, and much more? — Listen to it here (stream below or right-click to download part 1 | part 2 | part 3):
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 Mizzen + Main. Mizzen + Main makes the only “dress” shirts I now travel with — fancy enough for important dinners but made from athletic, sweat-wicking material. No more ironing, no more steaming, no more hassle. Click here for the exact shirts I wear most often. Order one of their dress shirts this week and get a Henley shirt (around $60 retail) for free. Just add the two you like here to the cart, then use code “TIM” at checkout.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What habit, skill, or hobby do you think could have a life-changing impact? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Watch the video where Bill Gates talks about his fears
Learn more about Oculus Rift
Show Notes
If you had to invest your entire life savings into one area of technology today, which would it be? What future technology will have the most unexpected impact on our lives? [7:50]
What is something (a certain habit/skill/hobby) that you believe can have a life changing impact for most people? [12:50]
What current technology in use by general western society would you like to see become obsolete in the next ten years and why? [13:30]
What’s the threat – technological, economic, or otherwise – that no one is expecting? [15:50]
What’s the thing you most admire about Tim and wish you could make a part of your own life? [18:40]
With the proliferation of on-demand apps, products, and technology, how can one add value to people’s lives? [20:00]
What are you afraid of? [22:55]
How does your view of the future affect how you live your life in the short term? How do you plan for the future when you know so little about the landscape you will be operating in? [27:00]
What is your definition of journalism? What do you think the responsibilities of a journalist should be? [30:30]
Have you tried out the Oculus Rift yet? If so, did the experience change your view of the future? [34:55]
Do you have some examples of people who drifted along for years without any clear goal, and stumbled upon their “life task” by chance? [36:25]
In what ways does technology have the power to make people happy? In what ways does it not? [38:25]
How far will technology take us by 2020? [39:35]
Do you see possibilities or needs for a new mythology to arise in the coming decades? Something that integrates our new understanding of science, technology, and pace of advancement with the actualities of the human experience today? [39:45]
Do you have any tips for finding your purpose or mission in life? [41:15]
Do you think the technological singularity will happen? If so, when? [42:00]
What do you think will be the impact of designer babies in the future? Will everyone eventually become super intelligent, blue-eyed people? [42:25]
August 4, 2015
What Evernote’s Phil Libin Learned from Jeff Bezos, Reid Hoffman, and Others
Phil Libin (@plibin) is the co-founder and executive chairman of Evernote.
Evernote has roughly 150 million users, and I personally use it at least 10 times a day. It is my external brain for capturing all the information, documents, online articles, lists, etc. in my life.
In this episode, Phil and I cover a ton. Here are just a few examples:
Philosophical and performance systems: Stoicism, electrical brain stimulation, and more
Phil’s favorite lessons learned from Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), and Hiroshi Mikitani (Rakuten)
Creating tech “for yourself” and Evernote’s genesis story, leading to approximately 150 million users
The best toast in Singapore, the best hamburger in Tokyo, and why “Goat Simulator” is amazing
Long-term (10,000-year) thinking and real versus imagined threats
More importantly, he digs into his “a-ha” moments, and what you need to do to bring your next big idea to life.
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 with more detail on brain stimulation for performance enhancement? — Listen to my conversation with amazing neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley. In this episode, we discuss what happens when you combine cognitive-focused video games with neurofeedback, magnetic and electrical stimulation, and even performance-enhancing drugs (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is 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...
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: When you think of successful products, what is the first that comes to mind? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about Sugru
Read Peace in Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn
Learn more about QuestBridge, the non-profit Reid Hoffman and I are involved in
The Alliance by Reid Hoffman
Check out the games Phil Libin enjoys:
Elite Dangerous | Goat Simulator | Radical Rappelling
Check out The World of Tomorrow (scroll down)
Favorite documentaries:
The Gatekeepers | Cosmos (Tyson) | Cosmos (Sagan) | An Honest Liar
The Clock Of The Long Now by Stewart Brand
Learn more about The Long Now Foundation and visit The Interval in Fort Mason
Learn more about Thync, the device for brain stimulation
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
A Guide to the Good Life by William Irvine
Connect with Phil Libin:
Show Notes
Why shave the trademark beard? [0:45]
How I was introduced to Evernote: what it is and how to use it [2:30]
The “aha” moment at Evernote and theological horizontal integration [8:15]
Common uses of Evernote and how Phil personally uses it [10:45]
The CEOs and leaders that Phil admires [18:15]
Important lessons Jeff Bezos gave Phil that changed his life [25:30]
Lessons for scaling businesses from Hiroshi Mikitani [29:05]
What makes Reid Hoffman compelling [39:30]
Thoughts on religion and philosophy [43:30]
Most used apps besides Evernote [49:55]
Thoughts on living in space [53:45]
Thoughts on the end of the world scenarios [55:10]
Favorite documentaries and movies [1:0045]
Phil’s strategies for taking great notes [1:09:35]
When you think of the word “successful,” who is the first person that comes to mind? [1:16:00]
Which historical figure do you most identify with? [1:18:10]
Phil’s meditation practice [1:21:45]
In the last 6-12 months, what purchase of $100 or less had the most impact on your life? [1:29:50]
Phil’s morning and evening ritual [1:34:05]
Phil’s most recommended books [37:40]
Why philosophy is important for decision making and leadership as a CEO [1:39:25]
If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [1:44:00]
Advice for your thirty-year-old self [1:45:45]
Parting advice or suggestions [1:46:55]
People Mentioned
Stepan Pachikov
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Jeff Bezos
Hiroshi Mikitani
Marc Benioff
Reid Hoffman
Pavel Tsatsouline
Elon Musk
Stephen Hawking
James Randi
Danny Hillis
Stewart Brand
