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The Tim Ferriss Show
#713: Matt Mullenweg — The Art of Crafting a Sabbatical, Tips for Defending Against Hackers, Leveraging Open Source, Thriving in an AI World, and Tips for Life’s Darkest Hours
Dec 29, 2023
02:39:57
Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, discusses crafting a sabbatical, defending against hackers, leveraging open source, thriving in an AI world, and tips for life's darkest hours. Topics covered include the birth of WordPress, executive engagement with customers, open source companies, changing media landscape, AI and future developments, the benefits of taking a sabbatical, evolving thoughts on psychedelics, importance of mental health and self-care, and more.
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Quick takeaways
- The importance and impact of open source in the tech industry, empowering users and developers.
- The significance of private and open source messaging options in today's political and regulatory environment.
- Exploring the challenges and potential future directions of content creation, including multi-modal formats and maintaining the social aspect.
- The value of quality assurance in content creation, balancing quantity and quality, and the potential for growth through revisiting old works.
- The benefits of taking a sabbatical, overcoming fears of irrelevance, and the importance of unplugging and promoting physical and mental well-being.
- Matt Mullenweg's excitement about speaking at Work Camp Asia, reconnecting with travel experiences, and exploring Taiwan.
Deep dives
Embracing Open Source: The Philosophy Behind Automatic
The CEO of Automatic, Matt Mullenweg, discusses the company's focus on open source and its impact on the tech industry. He highlights the importance of open source in empowering users and developers, and how it differs from proprietary software. Mullenweg also mentions other open source companies that are aligned with Automatic's mission, such as GitLab and elements built on the matrix ecosystem.
The Expansion into Messaging: Privacy and Open Source
Mullenweg explains Automatic's foray into messaging and why it aligns with their focus on human rights and open source principles. He emphasizes the need for private and open source messaging options and discusses the political and regulatory environment that supports this vision. Mullenweg also mentions other notable figures who share the same ethos and their efforts to create open source messaging tools.
Finding the Next Chapter: Reflections on Content Creation
Mullenweg and Tim Ferriss explore the challenges of content creation and the changing landscape of different formats. They discuss the potential future directions for Tim's writing and content creation, such as incorporating multi-modal formats and creating an immersive reader experience. They also touch on the importance of maintaining the social aspect of content creation and finding joy in the process rather than solely relying on outcomes.
Lessons from Past Experiences: Quality, Constraints, and Iteration
The conversation delves into the lessons learned from past experiences and the importance of quality assurance in content creation. They discuss the balance between quantity and quality, and the idea of lowering standards to overcome writer's block. They explore the potential of implementing constraints and creating multi-modal formats to engage readers. Finally, they stress the value of revisiting old works and the potential for growth and development in doing so.
Sabbatical in 2024
Matt Mullenweg will be taking a sabbatical in 2024, which is a benefit offered by his company every five years. He plans to use this time to unplug, recharge, and explore hobbies like LED programming and physical activities. While he is excited about the sabbatical, he also feels a bit scared as he is not used to being away from work for such an extended period. Success for him would mean coming back energized and inspired, while overcoming the fear of being irrelevant or not needed. He plans to take precautions to ensure he fully unplugs, including limiting his internet usage and engaging in activities that promote physical and mental well-being.
Work Camp Asia
Matt Mullenweg will be speaking at Work Camp Asia in early March. He is excited about the event and plans to extend his trip to explore Taiwan after the conference. Matt has spent time in East Asia before and has fond memories of the night markets and the hospitable people. Work Camp Asia will provide an opportunity for him to engage with the WordPress community and share his insights. He also hopes to reconnect with travel experiences and gain fresh inspirations for his work.
Lessons Learned from the Podcast Episode
The podcast episode covered a range of topics, including the benefits of sabbaticals, the importance of unplugging, and the fear of irrelevance. Matt Mullenweg expressed his plans to take a sabbatical and his hopes of coming back rejuvenated and inspired. He also shared his excitement about speaking at Work Camp Asia and exploring Taiwan. Matt discussed the challenges of completely disconnecting from work and his desire to guard against temptations like excessive screen time and social media use. Overall, the episode highlighted the importance of taking time off to recharge and find new perspectives.
Looking Ahead
Matt Mullenweg expressed his enthusiasm for the future, highlighting his optimism about humanity's capacity for goodness and progress. He discussed his desire to encourage openness and competition in the tech world, such as opening up app stores and improving data portability. Matt also shared his interest in emerging technologies like AI and pass keys, as well as potential career advice for young individuals. He emphasized the significance of learning to code and nurturing ambition, while appreciating the value of curiosity and performance in various fields. Lastly, Matt mentioned his excitement about upcoming personal projects and his intention to focus on health and wellbeing during his sabbatical.
Nuclear Energy: A Bridge to a Carbon-Free Future
The importance of nuclear energy as a solution to combat climate change is emphasized. The speaker, who was previously against nuclear energy, now believes that it is necessary to build more nuclear plants to achieve a carbon-free future. The focus is on smaller scale reactors with fewer technical issues and the need for better construction practices. The role of countries like China in nuclear energy advancement is also highlighted.
The Potential Risks and Benefits of Legalization
The speaker discusses their changing perspective on the legalization of certain substances, such as marijuana. They acknowledge the importance of research in understanding the potential benefits and risks of these substances, including the impact on mental health. While they were previously in favor of open legalization, they express a more cautious view, recognizing the need to consider potential risks and exercise moderation in drug use.
Exploring the Benefits and Cautionary Aspects of Psychedelics
The speaker reflects on their evolving thoughts on psychedelics, specifically their cautious approach to recommending these substances. They discuss the importance of adequate preparation and integration after psychedelic experiences, comparing it to the preparation and rehabilitation required for surgeries. They also emphasize the need for careful consideration of the risks and potential contraindications, especially for individuals with specific disorders. The speaker suggests that the conversation around psychedelics has been overly biased towards positive stories and highlights the importance of a balanced perspective on their benefits and risks.
The Power of Breathwork and Mindfulness
The speaker shares their newfound appreciation for breathwork and its impact on mental states. They discuss the ability to regulate energy levels, increase focus, and induce relaxation through different breathing techniques. The speaker highlights the convenience and versatility of breathwork as a tool that can be practiced anywhere and at any time, with potential benefits for mental well-being and accessing different states of consciousness.
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Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40 percent of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Texts, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc., TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair.
Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco.
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[00:00] Start
[05:12] The Argentine Dr. Mullenweg.
[08:15] Open source.
[10:19] Secret hiring.
[12:59] Matt is always on tour.
[15:14] Texts.
[17:39] How Matt chooses his next project(s).
[21:51] Building a digital Berkshire Hathaway.
[29:01] Why Matt’s excited about messaging.
[32:03] How Matt discovers companies he buys.
[32:53] RIP, Charlie Munger.
[33:28] Worthy rereads.
[37:10] My reflections on blogging, writing, and podcasting.
[48:55] Tyler Cowen’s inimitable style.
[49:42] Matt’s high school economics competition.
[57:05] Cables.
[57:59] AI spellcasting and community.
[1:01:09] Developments that will amaze the future.
[1:04:51] AI-proofing jobs.
[1:07:23] Why Matt’s optimistic about future generations.
[1:12:17] Data Liberation Front.
[1:14:12] More open app stores.
[1:18:53] Invisible tools (and weapons) of competition.
[1:23:40] Online security advice for the layman.
[1:26:21] WordCamp Asia.
[1:32:12] Taking a sa-Matt-ical.
[1:45:25] Rethinking nuclear energy.
[1:47:20] Rethinking psychedelics risks.
[1:57:59] Rethinking breathwork.
[2:02:05] Coping with depression.
[2:15:16] Rethinking TikTok.
[2:16:40] Blogging: absurd and beautiful.
[2:18:40] Rethinking Vienna sausages.
[2:19:57] Pocket ranch.
[2:21:36] Answering ancient emails.
[2:22:45] The curse of the ultra-critical eye.
[2:25:51] Rethinking meditation.
[2:28:38] Bacterial dentistry.
[2:32:06] Pocket party.
[2:32:55] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.
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