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Why Failure is Your Key to Success

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 14:12:40 +0000

“The taboo against uttering the F-word grows stronger the closer you get to the top … But here’s where they’re wrong (aside from their egos, and simply being delusional): talking about failure is recognizing reality, and as long as you come to grips with that reality, you have a chance to succeed.”

That’s from Fran Tarkenton’s new book, The Power of Failure. Specifically, it’s from his chapter titled “The Peril of Positive Thinking.” I mention the chapter title because it’s brilliant, and a great example of how Fran keeps surprising the reader with new takes.

It’s a good read and a fun read too, because the flow goes from story to story. In “No One Has an Original Idea” we meet Thomas Alva Edison, and encounter this paragraph:

“No one has an original idea. Not Edison, not Steve Jobs, not Mark Zuckerberg. Every idea builds on ideas that went before it. We can expand our knowledge of ideas by observing, by reading, by talking to people, but we’re never going to have an entirely original idea. It’s what we do with ideas that are out there that counts and that deserves to be called innovation.”

Amen to that. This is real wisdom married to real stories. It’s about leading, managing, doing the hard things, getting things done, building and running a business.

In case you’re wondering, yes, this is the same Fran Tarkenton who is in the National Football League Hall of Fame as a quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants back in the 1960s. His success on the playing field adds some fun stories, but the content here is about business, career, and life – not football.

I met him a couple of years ago in a business context related to social media and Office Depot. I’d watched him on television when I was still a teenager, rooting for him as the quarterback who invented scrambling, still one of the best ever. Yes, I’m a football fan, so I was excited to meet him on a business basis.

That many years later, he’s a vigorous, committed, business leader. He runs a meeting very well. And this is a good book for anybody who deals with startups, running a business, leading people, and managing.

The post Why Failure is Your Key to Success appeared first on Planning, Startups, Stories.

Choose your impact

Seth Godin — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 08:43:00 +0000

Is it that simple? Can you choose to make an impact?

Of course it is. You can choose to merely do your job, to meet spec and to follow someone else's path.

Or, you can dig in and transform your contribution. You can level up, taking advantage of the world-changing array of tools and connections our new economy is making available.

Access to tools is a small part of it. Mostly, it’s about taking control over where you go and what you do with your gifts.

The dislocations of our time are significant, the sinecures are disappearing, there is real stress and pain as the world changes. We can't control that, but we can control how we respond to it.

Those changes open the door for those that choose to stand up and learn to contribute. A chance to be put on the hook instead of let off of it.

The altMBA is a workshop designed to push you to see more clearly, speak more effectively and create change that lasts. It’s an intensive online group experience that works. You don’t have to travel, but you do have to be prepared to work hard.

When I set out to create this process, I decided to push it uphill. Not to make it easier or faster, but to make it more difficult, to have it take longer. Not to make it more digital and scalable, but to make it more handmade and require a smaller scale. Mostly, not to let people off the hook, but to create a process that would help a few people transform themselves.

This $3,000 workshop is for people who want to move up to leadership in their current organization, accelerate their indie projects and take control over their agenda. It’s designed to be the most significant lever for change we could create. This is our third session, and I can say with confidence that it's working.

You have far more potential than people realize. You have something to say, a mission to go on, a contribution that matters. I’d like to help you unlock that potential.

If you know someone who needs this sort of opportunity, I hope you'll share it with them.

There are {15} days left to apply. I’ll post {reminders} now and then over the next two weeks. I hope you’ll get a chance to check it out, but even if you don’t apply, go ahead and use this moment, right now, to make a choice.

Level up.

SUSDAT

Seth Godin — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 08:25:00 +0000

Abbey Ryan has painted a new painting every day for 8 years.

Isaac Asimov published 400 books, by typing every day.

This is post #6000 on this blog.

Writer's block is a myth, a recent invention, a cultural malady.

More important than the output, though, is the act itself. The act of doing it every day. When you commit to a practice, you will certainly have days when you don't feel like it, when you believe it's not your best work, when the muse deserts you. But, when you keep your commitment, the muse returns. When you keep your commitment, the work happens.

It doesn't matter if anyone reads it, buys it, sponsors it or shares it. It matters that you show up.

Show up, sit down and type. (Or paint).

Comedy’s Dynamic Duo, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:27:30 +0000

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
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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!

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

True Story: Steve Balmer Drops Out

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:49:45 +0000

“What? Steve Balmer dropped out? He’s not coming back?”

“Nope. He did his summer job at a software startup in Washington, and he’s staying there and quitting here.”

So went the gossip in September of 1980 as the Stanford MBA class of 1981 finished up the summer vacation and started the second of the two-year program. I was there then, a member of that class. Steve’s absence was a surprise. At the end of our first school year he’d won the coveted $5,000 scholarship award as the best student in the class. He was a bit of an oddball in his own way, often dressed in formal pants, white shirt, and wing tip shoes, instead of the standard student garb of shorts, t-shirt, jeans, etc. He’d been very active in class, quick to participate, always active, clearly smart and ambitious. We thought it was crazy to drop out when only halfway through. Statistics said we were going to be a very well-paid bunch of MBA grads when we finished up nine months later. And Steve dropped out.

So here’s the rest of that story, from his side. Oh, and to be clear, the software startup was Microsoft, the Bill in this story was Bill Gates, and Steve Balmer’s net worth today is probably more than that of the other 300 of us combined.

And this is here because it’s a good story. In this story, back in those times, the safe move was going back to school. And the right move was staying in Seattle with the software startup. Go figure.

The post True Story: Steve Balmer Drops Out appeared first on Planning, Startups, Stories.

For less than it's worth

Seth Godin — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:16:00 +0000

The only things we spend time and money on are things that we believe are worth more than they cost.

The key words of this obvious sentence are often miscalculated:

Believe, worth and cost.

Believe as in the story we tell ourselves. Believe as in the eye of the beholder. Believe as in emotion.

Worth as in what we'll trade. Worth as in our perception of its worth right now, not later. Worth as in how we remember this decision tomorrow or next year.

and Cost, as in our expectation of how much it will hurt to get it, not merely the price tag.

If people aren't buying your product, it's not because the price is too high. It's because we don't believe you enough, don't love it enough, don't care enough.

Thanks, let's write that down

Seth Godin — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:09:00 +0000

One way to deal with clients, with criticism, and with feedback is to not insist on resolving it in the moment.

Taking feedback doesn't have to be the same thing as resolving feedback.

It's tempting to challenge each bit of criticism, to explain your thinking, to justify the choices. This back and forth feels efficient, but it fails to deliver on a few fronts.

First, it makes it more difficult for the client to share her truth, to feel heard.

Second, it escalates the tension, because it's almost impossible to successfully resolve each item in real time.

If you write it down, you can accept the feedback without judgment.

And then, after it's all written down, after the feedback is received, people can change roles. You can sit on the same side of the table, colleagues in search of the best path forward. You can rank by expense, by urgency, by importance. You can agree on timelines and mostly, say, "what do we do now?"

The 2% who misunderstand you

Seth Godin — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 09:08:00 +0000

Sometimes, it's essential that you be completely understood. That every passenger knows where the emergency exit is, or that every employee knows how it is we do things around here.

But most of the time, if 2% of your audience doesn't get the joke, doesn't learn what you seek to teach them, doesn't understand the essence of your argument, it's not the problem you think it is.

Sure, the 2% who are underinformed can write reviews, tweet indignantly and speak up. You know what? It doesn't matter that much.

If you insist on telling everyone on the airplane precisely how to buckle their seatbelt (!), then yes, of course you're going to not only waste the time of virtually everyone, but you're going to train them not to listen to the rest of what you have to say.

If you insist on getting every single person in the room to understand every nuance of your presentation, you've just signed up to bore and alienate the very people you needed most.

When you find yourself overwriting, embracing redundancy and overwhelming people with fine print, you're probably protecting yourself against the 2%, at the expense of everyone else. (And yes, it might be 10% or even 90%.... that's okay).

When we hold back and dumb down, we are hurting the people who need to hear from us, often in a vain attempt to satisfy a few people who might never choose to actually listen.

It's quite okay to say, "it's not for you."

More of a realist

Seth Godin — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:07:00 +0000

When did being called a 'realist' start to mean that one is a pessimist?

Sometimes, people with small goals call themselves realists, and dismiss those around them as merely dreamers. I think this is backwards.

"I guess I'm more of a realist than you," actually means, "I guess I've discovered that a positive attitude, a generous posture and a bit of persistence makes things better than most people expect."

Hope isn't a strategy, but it is an awfully good tactic.

The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable…And What He Taught Me

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 18:55:19 +0000

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

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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

Attitude is a skill

Seth Godin — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 08:17:00 +0000

You can learn math. French. Bowling.

You can learn Javascript, too.

But you can also learn to be more empathetic, passionate, focused, consistent, persistent and twenty-seven other attitudes.

If you can learn to be better at something, it's a skill.

And if it's a skill, it's yours if you want it.

Which is great news, isn't it?

[PS Starting today, we’re running a seven-day email sequence to teach you about the upcoming altMBA workshop. Find out more here.]

Industrializing, professionalizing, scaling...

Seth Godin — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:52:00 +0000

You could make it into a cookie cutter, a scalable, depersonalized, committee-approved ticket to endless growth.

Or you could make it more real, more human and more personal.

What is "it"?

It is the interaction you have with your best customer. It is the way you talk to your employees. It is your safety policy, your go to market strategy, your approach to the board meeting.

If you can't figure out how to talk to one person, it doesn't really pay to scale up your efforts to talk to a thousand.

The banality of the magazine rack

Seth Godin — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:44:00 +0000

Stop for a minute to consider those magazines that stack up like firewood at the doctor's office, or that beckon you from the high-priced newsstand before you get on the airplane. The celebrity/gossip/self-improvement category.

All the airbrushed pretty people, the replaceable celebrities and near celebrities. The mass-market fad diets, the conventional stories, the sameness tailored for a mass audience.

It's pretty seductive. If you can just fit in the way all these magazines are pushing you to fit in, then you'll be okay, alright, and beyond criticism. Boys and girls should act like this, dress like this, talk like this. Even the outliers are outliers in tried and true, conventional ways.

The headlines are interchangeable. So are the photos and the celebrities, the stories and the escapades and the promises.

Magazines believe they have to produce this cultural lighthouse in order to sell ads--there are advertisers that want average readers in order to sell them their average products. But this doesn't have to be you. These aren't cultural norms, they're merely a odd sub-universe, a costume party for people unwilling to find their own voice.

#WeAreAllWeird (3 contest updates)

Seth Godin — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:33:00 +0000

1. You can win four books, signed by the authors, with a tweet. Rules are here. Tell us why you are not part of the lockstep masses.

2. I recently blogged about long odds (one in a quadrillion) and how hard it is to predict the future. It turns out that of the 897 people who entered my presidential bracket game, there’s only ONE contender left. Even though only two candidates have dropped out, there's already more than a 99% failure rate in predicting this future. And I think the prize is safe, because the only remaining contender has picked Christie and Bush as the next two to go.

3. Within 24 hours of recent events virtually determining the first question I surveyed, we also have an answer to the second one. Today’s the day my blog hit 500k followers on Twitter. As you can see, the crowd was off a bit on this as well. I’ve emailed the seven top entries to send them a prize.

Thanks for giving it a whirl.

Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:30:06 +0000

“Be useful.” – Scott Adams

Scott Adams (@scottadamssays) is the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, which has been published in more than 2,000 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 to his writing process. Plus, we dive into his current fascination with Donald Trump.

You’ll also find out more about:

Goals vs. systems, and how he has used the latter 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:

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

F Minus | Pearls Before Swine

Background on the condition of spasmodic dysphonia.
Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
How To Stop Worrying And Start Living by Dale Carnegie
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 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

The Random Show: Okinawa, Pee on the Head, “Medicinal Spirits,” and Jedi Force Tiki Toss

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 05:41:04 +0000

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!

5 Morning Rituals That Help Me Win The Day

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:40:37 +0000

“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 two-part conversation with Tony Robbins. In the episodes below, we discuss Tony’s use of cryotherapy, his daily priming ritual, and how to get out of a slump. (Stream the episodes below or right-click here for part 1 and here for part 2 to download.)

Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.

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…

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.

Are Psychedelic Drugs the Next Medical Breakthrough?

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 04:38:09 +0000

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:

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A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more

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:

klonopin | xanax | valium

More about traditional ayahuasca.
Quality resources for people who want to learn more about psychedelic drugs and their uses:

MAPS | IICEERS

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

Drunk Dialing Fans–Celebrating The 100th Podcast Episode!

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:25:24 +0000

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.

Mandatory disclaimer: Wealthfront Inc. is an SEC registered Investment Advisor.

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

“The Iceman,” Wim Hof

Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:51:48 +0000

“Breathe, 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, who is widely considered the greatest big wave surfer of all-time and who also practices 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.

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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:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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]