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The Tim Ferriss Show
#448: Brad Feld — The Art of Unplugging, Carving Your Own Path, and Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster
Jul 23, 2020
02:31:28
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Quick takeaways
- Establishing boundaries and self-care is crucial for relationships.
- Vulnerability and authenticity enhance leadership and personal growth.
- Emotional intelligence aids in navigating challenges and relationships.
- Creating retreat spaces fosters vulnerability and connection.
- Digital Sabbaths enhance mental well-being in a technology-saturated world.
Deep dives
Taking Time for Self-Care and Boundaries in Relationships
Establishing healthy boundaries and self-care practices is crucial for overall well-being and successful relationships. This was exemplified in a story where the speaker's partner expressed concerns about his overwork and lack of presence in their relationship, leading to a pivotal moment where they agreed to take a grid vacation. By disconnecting from work and focusing on meaningful connection, they addressed underlying issues, leading to positive changes in their dynamic and reinforcing the importance of aligning actions with words.
Dealing with Depression and Overcoming Shame
The speaker openly discusses his struggles with anxiety and depression, highlighting pivotal moments that helped break the cycle of shame surrounding mental health. Jerry Colonna plays a significant role in encouraging vulnerability and self-exploration, leading to a deeper understanding of personal challenges and fostering a supportive environment for growth. Through therapy, reflection, and honesty, the speaker embraces the journey of self-discovery and learning to navigate mental health challenges with transparency and courage.
Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity in Leadership
Authenticity and vulnerability are key aspects in effective leadership and personal growth. The story highlights how embracing vulnerability and authenticity can enhance leadership skills and foster deeper connections with others. By being open about struggles and limitations, individuals can create a more supportive and empathetic environment, leading to personal development and positive relationships.
The Power of Emotional Intelligence and Self-Reflection
Emotional intelligence and self-reflection play crucial roles in personal growth and interpersonal relationships. The speaker's experiences underscore the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating challenges and fostering resilience. Through self-reflection and introspection, individuals can gain insights into their own behaviors, motivations, and relationships, enabling them to cultivate deeper connections and make positive changes in their lives.
Creating Retreat Spaces and Fostering Vulnerability
Building retreat spaces like the Carriage House with separate designs for retreats and events helped foster vulnerability and connection by encouraging participants to shed their 'armor' quickly, creating an environment conducive to personal growth.
Choosing a Therapist through Trusted Recommendations
Selecting therapists based on recommendations from trusted individuals who know you well can lead to successful therapeutic matches, exemplified in cases where respected mentors like Eric von Hippel or trusted friends like Jerry recommended suitable therapists based on personal understanding and empathy.
The Importance of Ritual in Cultivating Relationships
Establishing rituals like monthly life dinners can deepen relationships by providing a structured space for retrospection and planning, allowing couples to navigate conflicts effectively with sincere apologies and the use of humor to diffuse tense situations.
Disconnecting for Mental Health and Reflective Moments
Committing to digital Sabbaths and creating screen-free periods like Saturdays can enhance mental well-being, providing opportunities for reflection, boredom, and deep connection in a technology-saturated world, fostering self-awareness and personal growth.
The shift in work dynamics due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a significant change in work habits, where office-based employees transitioned to remote work successfully. Initially deemed impossible due to lack of technological infrastructure, the pandemic forced people to adapt to remote work, highlighting its challenges and benefits. This shift raised questions about the importance of physical workplace locations and led to the realization that meaningful digital connections can replace physical ones.
Complexity theory and its application to start-up communities
Complexity theory, particularly in defining complex systems, plays a crucial role in understanding the growth and evolution of start-up communities. The concept of a complex adaptive system highlights the unpredictability in outcomes and emphasizes the interplay of various inputs within the system. By contrasting simple and complicated systems with complex systems like raising a child, the podcast delves into the nuances of applying complexity theory to life and problem-solving. The discussion underscores the significance of understanding initial conditions and the long-term view for nurturing successful start-up communities.
33.
I'm in a Fairbanks, Alaska, and I've Moved to Boulder, and You Can Come With Me if You Like.
2min
Brad Feld — The Art of Unplugging, Carving Your Own Path, and Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster | Brought to you by Laird Superfood, Theragun, and Thrive Market.
"Brad, they can’t kill you and they can’t eat you. Suit up." — Len Fassler
Brad Feld (@bfeld) is the author of two new books: The Startup Community Way and the second edition of Startup Communities. He has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987. Prior to co-founding Foundry Group, he co-founded Mobius Venture Capital and, prior to that, founded Intensity Ventures. Brad is also a co-founder of Techstars. Brad is a writer and speaker on the topics of venture capital investing and entrepreneurship. He’s written a number of books as part of the Startup Revolution series and writes the blogs Feld Thoughts and Venture Deals.
Brad holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in management science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Brad is also an art collector and long-distance runner. He has completed 25 marathons as part of his mission to finish a marathon in each of the 50 states.
Please enjoy!
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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, and many more.
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