The Algebra of Happiness

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

Episode #272: Scott Galloway - The Algebra of Happiness

The Learning Leader Show

"Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat dad.  We should worship character and kindness." -- Scott Galloway

Show Notes:

• Commonalities of sustaining excellence:
  • They are demonstrably great at multiple specialty areas
  • They have grit -- a willingness to roll up their sleeves.  And work a lot.
  • They hold people accountable -- "If they don't perform, show them the door. Strategic firing."
  • They have empathy - They understand other people and what they want to achieve
• Scott explains why he's a builder and a teacher
  • He's an NYU professor.  He also has started and ran three successful businesses at the same time.  This allows him to give practical, real life, advice to his students
• The best method for learning is teaching -- "It forces you to really know what you believe."
  • "You have to prepare, have themes, support them with research.  You have to bring it."
• His viral videos -- "I try to behave as if nobody is watching... I need to be real and myself."
  • Why he said, "Mark Zuckerberg is Putin's bitch."
• "Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat Dad.  We should worship character and kindness."
• The power of saying "exactly what you think."
• "You're smart to be afraid when you're younger."
• Scott Galloway's Career Advice:
  • 1) Get certified. Get your degree. College grades make 2X that of those who don’t graduate.
  • 2) Be remarkable (“So good they can’t ignore you”). What two attributes can you bring together that make you unique (the artist who knows how to use excel).
  • 3) Invest in variance - find the 6-8 things that are most important to your firm. Become in expert in a couple of them (Be a great public speaker, great writer)
  • 4) Get to a city (Allen Gannett agrees)
  • 5) Boring is sexy
  • 6) Delay gratification - Power of compound interest. Invest in something that will pay off
  • 7) Demonstrate strength and grit. Exercise everyday. Be stronger
  • 8) Don’t follow your passion - be passionate about being great at something.
  • 9) Ignore the myth of balance. He has balance now because he worked like crazy for 20 years.
  • 10) Build credibility.
• Advice I received from my Dad when I first became a manager -- "You can't just be an inspiration guy. You need to understand the numbers, the business side, too."
• The best managers "move their chair next to the person their leading and have a real conversation with them."
• The myth of balance: "If you want to be a top 1% earner, then you won't have balance.  I don't know anyone who's able to do that who doesn't work their ass off."
  • Did the money bring happiness?  "Yes, but also a divorce.  Money is a means to an end."
• The Harvard happiness study:
  • "Happiness is love full stop." -- "Love who you are, who you're with... Love WHAT you do and who you do it with."
• Sweating vs watching:  "You should spend more time sweating than watching other people sweat.  High performers are physically fit.  Work out."
  • "The only youth serum is exercise."
  • "When it gets real, I want to be able to run fast or kill them all.  Working out gives me the confidence to do that."
• Things vs Experiences:
  • "We overestimate the happiness things will bring us.  We underestimate the happiness experiences bring us."
• The Four:
  • The hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.
  • Google = God.  Knows more about you than anything else
  • Facebook = Love
  • Amazon = Consumption
  • Apple = Signals your worth. Sex.
• Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea
• Use the "Get To Know You Document"

Social Media:

• See why over 91,000 people follow Scott on Twitter: @profgalloway
• Read: The Four
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
• To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12