Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

When enough is enough | Andy Johns (ex-FB, Twitter, Quora)

Sep 10, 2023

Andy Johns, a former tech executive and VC at giants like Facebook and Twitter, is now a mental health advocate dedicated to helping high achievers and veterans. He candidly shares his journey from burnout to self-discovery, discussing the importance of mental well-being over career success. Listeners will learn about his four-step process for personal transformation, the necessity of acknowledging suffering, and why a writing practice can foster healing. He also offers tips on finding a good therapist and emphasizes the value of self-compassion in the healing journey.

01:26:32

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Episode guests

Andy Johns

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Quick takeaways

Recognizing signs of suffering and making proactive changes in our lives is crucial for our well-being.

Deep personal transformation involves suffering, seeking truth, practicing self-compassion, and developing compassion towards others.

Life involves both necessary and unnecessary suffering, and minimizing unnecessary suffering requires personal commitment and daily practice.

Deep dives

Recognizing the Signs of Disruption

When fundamental functions like diet, exercise, socialization, and sleep are disrupted, it is a sign that something detrimental is happening to our well-being. This applies to both animals and humans. Physical health, strained relationships, and poor sleep are all clear indicators that a change is needed in our lives.

The Process of Personal Transformation and Growth

04:08

The Fear of Not Being Accepted

01:24

Surrendering to the Current and Embracing Life's Unfolding Path

03:42

The Fallibility of the Human Mind: Self-Criticism and Self-Damage

00:46

Intro

5min

Balancing Success and Mental Health

17min

Navigating Personal Transformation with Clues for Wellness

2min

Navigating Personal Transformations

24min

Recognizing the Signs of Burnout and the Need for Transformation

3min

Enhancing Team Collaboration with Innovative Tools

1min

Journey to Self-Awareness and Compassion

14min

Journey of Self-Discovery

20min

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Andy Johns is a former tech exec and VC who had a successful run at several startups—including Facebook, Twitter, Wealthfront, and Quora—but left it all behind a few years ago to take a new direction in life. Now a mental health advocate, he aids military veterans with PTSD, guides burnt-out high achievers to new paths, and shares his healing journey from childhood trauma and mental illness through his newsletter, Clues Dot Life. In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Andy left his seven-figure VC career behind

• The four-step process of deep personal transformation

• When suffering is necessary vs. unnecessary

• Tips for finding a good therapist

• How a writing practice can help you heal

• When you’re in need of radical transformation

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Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/when-enough-is-enough-andy-johns

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Where to find Andy Johns:

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cluesdotlife

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjohns/