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327 | Eric Jorgenson | What We Can Learn From Naval Ravikant

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Jan 15, 2025

Guest

Eric Jorgenson

Eric Jorgenson, author and creator known for simplifying complex ideas, shares insights from his bestselling works, including "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant." He discusses how impactful literature can fuel personal growth and refine decision-making. The conversation dives into the defining aspects of wealth beyond money, the crucial role of leverage in success, and lessons learned from influential figures like Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan. Jorgenson also teases an exciting book project centered on Elon Musk's innovations.

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ANECDOTE

Darius's Permanent Book List

Darius Machado shared how he curates a list of books he rereads annually, inspired by Naval Ravikant's practice.
This list includes "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant," "The Power of One More," and "The Power of Unwavering Focus."

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Eric Jorgenson's Background

Eric Jorgenson grew up in a small business family in Detroit and started entrepreneurial ventures early.
He worked at Zarly, a hyperlocal marketplace, and later sold it in 2020.

insights

INSIGHT

Books as Vessels of Wisdom

Eric Jorgenson believes important ideas should be preserved in books due to their lasting nature.
He was motivated to compile Naval Ravikant's wisdom into a book for wider reach and longevity.

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A Light-hearted Reunion and Literary Appreciation

01:52 • 2min

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The Transformative Power of Literature

03:50 • 14min

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The Journey of Writing and Publishing a Book

17:32 • 5min

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Beyond the Bestseller: The Journey of a Unique Book

22:41 • 7min

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Harnessing Leverage and Mentorship in Business

29:37 • 2min

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Exploring Leverage and Wealth Management in Business

31:34 • 4min

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Redefining Wealth: Beyond Money

35:40 • 6min

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Embracing Individuality Over Comparison

42:02 • 18min

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Simplicity in Living and Interacting with Icons

59:52 • 2min

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The Journey to Greatness Through Writing and Commitment

01:02:00 • 2min

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Building Connections and Sharing Knowledge

01:03:51 • 2min

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#9365

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Power of Unwavering Focus

None

Don DePony

#7938

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The Core Value Equation

Darius Mirshahzadeh

#49584

The Anthology of Balaji

A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future

Balaji Srinivasan

#10240

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

• Mentioned in 66 episodes

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

Naval Ravikant

Eric Jorgenson

Tim Ferriss

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a compilation of Naval's thoughts on fundamental principles for happiness, wealth creation, decision-making, and personal growth. The book distills his insights from the last ten years into practical advice, guiding readers on how to walk their own unique path toward a happier, wealthier life. It emphasizes the importance of compound interest, leveraging resources, and productizing oneself. The book also delves into key aspects of life, including relationships, health, and purpose, offering a holistic approach to wealth and happiness.

• Mentioned in 731 episodes

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

#225

• Mentioned in 59 episodes

The Power of One More

null

Ed Mylett

#123

• Mentioned in 96 episodes

The Beginning of Infinity

Explanations That Transform the World

David Deutsch

In this groundbreaking book, David Deutsch argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe and that improving them is the basic regulating principle of all successful human endeavor. The book takes readers on a journey through various fields of science, history of civilization, art, moral values, and the theory of political institutions. Deutsch explains how we form new explanations and drop bad ones, and discusses the conditions under which progress, which he argues is potentially boundless, can and cannot happen. He emphasizes the importance of good explanations, which he defines as those that are 'hard to vary' and have 'reach', and argues that these explanations are central to the Enlightenment way of thinking and to all scientific and philosophical progress.

#103

• Mentioned in 103 episodes

Elon Musk

Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Ashlee Vance

This book is an authorized biography that delves into the life of Elon Musk, from his tumultuous childhood in South Africa to his rise as a visionary entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Ashlee Vance captures Musk's journey through his various ventures, including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. The book examines Musk's unique personality, his insatiable drive, and his ability to thrive through hardship. It also explores the broader context of American innovation and the challenges of global competition, positioning Musk as a contemporary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs.

After dedicating his career to understanding and sharing the power of transformative ideas, entrepreneur and author Eric Jorgenson has seen how the right book can inspire action and drive personal growth. Best known for “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant,” Eric shares how reading sharpens decision-making and unlocks new opportunities. In this episode, he discusses his latest work, “The Anthology of Balaji: A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future,” featuring insights from visionary entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan, and offers a sneak peek into an exciting project on Elon Musk’s groundbreaking innovations.

In this episode, Darius and Eric will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Introduction

(03:08) The Impact of Books on Personal Growth

(05:49) Eric's Journey to Writing "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant"

(08:54) The Process of Writing and Publishing

(12:00) The Influence of Naval Ravikant

(14:53) Exploring Wealth and Its Definitions

(17:53) The Role of Leverage in Success

(21:01) The Importance of Knowledge and Skills

(24:11) Elon Musk: A New Book Project

(27:01) The Future of Network States

(29:59) Final Thoughts and Greatness Question

Eric Jorgenson is an author, investor, and creator known for distilling complex ideas into accessible wisdom. His bestselling book, "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant," guides readers to wealth and happiness through Naval’s most impactful insights. Following its success, Eric published "The Anthology of Balaji," showcasing the visionary ideas of engineer and futurist Balaji Srinivasan. As the founder of Rolling Fun, Eric invests in early-stage tech startups, writes at ejorgenson.com, and hosts the Smart Friends podcast. His blog has engaged over a million readers since 2014. When not working, he’s on a mission to craft the perfect sandwich.

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Connect with Eric:

Website: https://www.ejorgenson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erjorgenson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erjorgenson/

Books: https://www.ejorgenson.com/books-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricJorgenson

Connect with Darius:

Website: ⁠https://therealdarius.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine⁠

Book: The Core Value Equation ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

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