The Tim Ferriss Show
#647: Mark Manson — The Path to 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,' The Ups (and Downs) of Success, The Craft of Writing, Personal Reinvention, How to Build a Lean Team, Protecting Boundaries, Decompressing with Fiction, and More
Episode guests
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Quick takeaways
- Mark Manson's article 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck' went viral and propelled him to worldwide recognition and success.
- Mark Manson prioritizes his physical health after neglecting it for years and has hired a coach to guide him in making positive lifestyle changes.
- Mark Manson discusses the importance of setting boundaries, saying no to tempting opportunities, and focusing on long-term growth rather than immediate results.
- Mark Manson expresses his passion for challenging conventional personal development norms and making self-help concepts more accessible through video content and gamification.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Mark Manson's Blog
Mark Manson started his blog with a pseudonym called Entropy, where he initially wrote about his dating experiences. He transitioned into writing about honesty, vulnerability, and relationships, and eventually expanded to cover broader personal development topics. One of his viral articles, 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck,' gained massive popularity and marked a turning point in his blog's success.
Challenges with Physical Health
Mark has always struggled with prioritizing his physical health, citing his focus on personal and emotional growth during his 20s. He acknowledges that lack of good habits during that time has caught up with him in his late 30s. He has made a conscious decision in the last year to prioritize his health, seeking inspiration from other sources, including Tim Ferriss's podcast episodes on health and fitness.
The Explosive Success of 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck'
Mark's article 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck' resonated with readers and went viral. The catchy title and the dissonance it created with the content drew attention and curiosity. This article led to the publication of Mark's bestselling book with the same title, which became a global phenomenon. It marked a significant breakthrough in Mark's career and propelled him to widespread recognition and success.
Current Struggles and Focus on Health
Mark currently prioritizes his health, acknowledging a need for physical well-being after neglecting it for many years. He has hired a coach to guide him through the process and has experienced positive changes through lifestyle adjustments, including exercise, better sleep habits, and healthier eating. He appreciates the positive impact these changes have had and is committed to his health-oriented journey.
Mark Manson's Career Journey and Future Plans
Mark Manson, renowned author and blogger, discusses his career journey, from writing SEO-driven articles to becoming a prominent figure in the personal development space. He shares insights into his experience co-authoring Will Smith's memoir and highlights the importance of setting boundaries and saying no to tempting opportunities. Manson also reveals his plans for venturing into video content creation and exploring new creative opportunities.
Influential Writers and Recent Reading Preferences
Manson discusses his influential writers, including David Foster Wallace, Hunter S. Thompson, and Joan Didion. He also mentions his love for nonfiction authors such as Jonathan Haidt and Dan Gilbert. In terms of recent reading, he shares his interest in fiction, particularly Stephen King's works, and his rejuvenating experience exploring lighter fictional stories.
Challenging Personal Development Norms and Exploring New Formats
Manson expresses his passion for challenging conventional personal development norms and making self-help concepts more accessible to a wider audience. He discusses his vision of using video content to explore implementation strategies and experiments with gamification and incentives. Manson highlights the importance of staying open and creative, and reflects on the changing landscape of online media and its impact on personal growth.
Advice on Setting Boundaries and Enjoying the Journey
Manson shares his insights on setting boundaries and saying no to tempting but unsatisfying opportunities. He encourages a long-term perspective on growth and emphasizes the importance of being flexible and enjoying the journey rather than focusing solely on immediate results. Manson's experiences demonstrate the importance of finding joy and fulfillment in one's work and continuously adapting to new possibilities.
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Mark Manson (@IAmMarkManson) is a three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck as well as other titles. His books have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide and have reached number one in more than a dozen countries.
Since 2008, he has written articles at MarkManson.net, one of the largest personal-development blogs in the world, with more than a million monthly readers. In 2023, a feature film about him and his work will be released in theaters by Universal Pictures. See SubtleArtMovie.com for more details, and click here for the trailer.
Please enjoy!
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[07:02] Difficult changes and modified default behaviors.
[10:22] Be careful what you wish for.
[12:14] How Mark’s feature film deal came to be.
[15:55] The teamwork that makes Mark’s dream work.
[20:26] Sourcing talent.
[24:45] How Mark knew he’d found the right agent.
[28:36] From Entropy to F*ckery.
[47:21] Learning the subtle art of strategic F-bombing.
[56:31] Prioritizing health maintenance.
[1:04:04] Co-authoring a book with Will Smith.
[1:11:34] In a post-slap world, what should we know about the real Will Smith?
[1:16:36] How Will Smith depends on and interacts with his team.
[1:18:41] Setting the course for the next few years.
[1:22:51] How Mark says no to financially tempting projects he doesn’t want to do.
[1:31:02] The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck‘s cover story.
[1:33:39] Why Mark is pivoting to video production rather than podcasting.
[1:37:46] What can we expect from Mark’s future video trajectory?
[1:42:56] Staying relevant and creatively fulfilled in a crowded market.
[1:44:56] The software Mark uses to compose a book.
[1:46:10] Recommended reading,
[1:56:51] Parting thoughts.
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