Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers

by Timothy Ferriss

Be clear that your ladder is leaning against the right building.”

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” —Mark Twain

Reality is largely negotiable.

#1—What if I did the opposite for 48 hours?

What if I could only subtract to solve problems?

“Which one of these, if done, would render all the rest either easier or completely irrelevant?”

“Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning how to dance in the rain”

If everyone’s trying to get through that one little door, you’re in the wrong place.

You have to act first before inspiration will hit. You don’t wait for inspiration and then act, or you’re never going to act, because you’re never going to have the inspiration, not consistently.”

You never have to be upset about anything. Everything is for a purpose.

Accept reality, but focus on the solution. Take that issue, take that setback, take that problem, and turn it into something good. Go forward.

► When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person who comes to mind and why? ► What is something you believe that other people think is insane? ► What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift? ► What is your favorite documentary or movie? ► What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last 6 months? ► What are your morning rituals? What do the first 60 minutes of your day look like? ► What obsessions do you explore on the evenings or weekends? ► What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a TED talk on something outside of your main area of expertise? ► What is the best or most worthwhile investment you’ve made? Could be an investment of money, time, energy, or other resource. How did you decide to make the investment? ► Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? ► What is the worst advice you see or hear being dispensed in your world? ► If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say? ► What advice would you give to your 20-, 25-, or 30-year-old self? And please place where you were at the time, and what you were doing. ► How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Or, do you have a favorite failure of yours? ► What is something really weird or unsettling that happens to you on a regular basis? ► What have you changed your mind about in the last few years? Why? ► What do you believe is true, even though you can’t prov...