Intro

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.
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Dan Koe has built a reputation around deep thinking and high output, but in this conversation, he strips productivity down to its fundamentals. No hacks, no hype, just a grounded breakdown of how to create focus, structure your time around creativity, and make work feel meaningful again.

We unpack how identity shapes output, the cost of always chasing growth, and why doing less (but better) is often the smartest move. If you’re overwhelmed, distracted, or feel like you’re always “on,” this one offers a sharp reset.

00:00 Introduction
01:30 Arriving in Arizona and first impressions of Scottsdale
03:25 College life, switching majors, and chasing business ideas
06:11 Trying seven business models before finding traction
08:57 Learning to build an audience while selling services
11:14 Posting content without a product figured out yet
13:49 The challenge of being a young coach
15:42 How to build authority when you're inexperienced
21:15 Daily routine, writing-focused business, and content flow
25:43 Avoiding big teams and staying hands-on with content
27:19 Authenticity vs optimisation in the creator economy
32:09 Why people connect with your deeper philosophy
36:15 Dialling in diet and the illusion of progress
39:07 Writing consistently without relying on motivation
43:04 The real value and stigma around online courses
54:18 Clarity comes from doing, not waiting to find purpose
58:07 Buying flashy cars and getting over material status
01:00:28 Business is the ultimate vehicle for self-development
01:06:11 Rebuilding his software startup from scratch in Japan
01:10:56 Turning down ideas like starting a dream gym

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