#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

1345 snips

Dec 29, 2023

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, shares his journey in open-source software. He discusses the transformative power of sabbaticals for personal growth and the importance of cybersecurity in today's tech landscape. Mullenweg highlights the challenges of mental health, offering practical coping strategies. He also explores how AI is reshaping industries and emphasizes the necessity of privacy and community in blogging. With a blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights, he inspires listeners to balance work and self-care.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Secret Shopper

Matt Mullenweg considered secretly applying for a job at his own company, Automattic, to experience the hiring process.
He also wanted to evaluate his code's current state and see how it's used within the company.

ADVICE

Customer Support Immersion

All new hires at Automattic start with two weeks of customer support.
Everyone, including executives like Matt Mullenweg, rotates back into support for one week annually.

ADVICE

Focus on Environment and Incentives

Consider the environment and incentives when making decisions or acquisitions.
Prioritize open-source, user-centric approaches to build a more free and open web.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The 4-Hour Chef

The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Chef', Tim Ferriss uses cooking as a vehicle to teach 'meta-learning', a step-by-step process for mastering any skill quickly. The book is divided into five sections: Meta-Learning, The Domestic, The Wild, The Scientist, and The Professional. It includes tips and stories from world-class chefs, athletes, and other experts, and focuses on overcoming common obstacles in learning and cooking. The book aims to make readers self-sufficient in the kitchen and in life, applying principles of failure points and margin of safety to ensure success.

Awareness

a de Mello spirituality conference in his own words

Anthony de Mello

In 'Awareness', Anthony de Mello combines Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight to challenge readers to wake up from the go-go-go world of illusion. The book, composed of short chapters and lectures, encourages readers to become aware of their thoughts, actions, and motivations. De Mello argues that true happiness and freedom come from dropping illusions and living in the present, free from the constructs of culture, conditioning, and fear. He emphasizes the need to observe oneself, understand negative feelings, and practice detachment to achieve a more authentic and fulfilling life[1][3][5].

Fallen Leaves

Will Durant

Fallen Leaves is the final and most personal work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Will Durant, discovered thirty-two years after his death. It offers elegant prose and deep insights into perennial human problems and joys, covering topics from youth and old age to religion, morals, sex, war, politics, and art. The book is a culmination of Durant's sixty-plus years of research into philosophies, religions, arts, sciences, and civilizations.

Zorba the Greek

Nikos Kazantzakis

The novel, originally titled 'Víos kai Politeía tou Aléxē Zorbá' (Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas), tells the story of a young Greek intellectual who, feeling stifled by his bookish life, hires the charismatic and experienced Alexis Zorba to manage a lignite mine in Crete. The narrative revolves around the conversations and interactions between Zorba and the young 'boss', highlighting their vastly different approaches to life. Zorba, with his passionate and practical worldview, challenges the boss's more passive and aesthetically inclined nature. The book delves into themes such as the meaning of life, religion, women, and the human condition, set against the backdrop of rural Cretan life and the characters' personal struggles and adventures.

Siddhartha

Herman Hesse

Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha" is a philosophical novel that follows the spiritual journey of a young man named Siddhartha Gautama. The story explores themes of self-discovery, enlightenment, and the search for meaning beyond material possessions. Siddhartha's experiences with various aspects of life, including sensuality, asceticism, and worldly pursuits, lead him to a deeper understanding of himself and the universe. The novel's evocative prose and profound insights into the human condition have resonated with readers for generations. Hesse's exploration of spiritual awakening and the interconnectedness of all things makes "Siddhartha" a timeless classic.

The 4-Hour Body

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Body,' Tim Ferriss shares the results of over a decade of self-experimentation and research, involving hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of personal testing. The book covers more than 50 topics, including how to lose weight quickly, gain muscle without steroids, sleep less and perform better, and improve sexual health. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of finding the smallest changes that produce the biggest results, making it accessible for readers to achieve significant improvements in their physical health and performance.

Empty Planet

The Shock of Global Population Decline

Darrell Bricker

John Ibbitson

In 'Empty Planet', Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson present a compelling case that the world is on the cusp of a significant population decline. This shift, driven by urbanization, women's empowerment, and declining religiosity, will have profound impacts on economies and societies worldwide. The authors argue that this decline is not a result of catastrophe but a deliberate choice by people to have fewer children.