The Tim Ferriss Show

#448: Brad Feld — The Art of Unplugging, Carving Your Own Path, and Riding the Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster

Jul 23, 2020

Brad Feld, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of "The Startup Community Way," dives into the art of unplugging and finding balance in the chaotic world of startups. He shares powerful insights on emotional vulnerability and how embracing mental health struggles can lead to stronger connections among entrepreneurs. Brad emphasizes the value of community, transformative life dinners, and the necessity of disconnecting to reconnect. His personal anecdotes highlight the resilience required on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, offering a wealth of wisdom for aspiring and seasoned founders alike.

02:31:28

Episode guests

Brad Feld

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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.

Monthly Life Dinner Ritual

04:08

The role os therapist and therapist coach

03:22

The Quarterly Off The Grid Vacation

01:47

Living in a Town of 5000 People: A Totally Different Experience

01:20

Intro

2min

Wellness Tools and Entrepreneurial Insights

5min

Unplugging for Connection

20min

Resilience and Vulnerability in Entrepreneurship

26min

Unlocking Emotional Vulnerability Through Deep Conversations

4min

Self-Reflection and Growth

17min

Understanding OCD: The Link Between Obsessions and Compulsions

4min

The Power of Life Dinners

15min

Disconnecting to Reconnect: The Digital Sabbath

20min

10.

Finding Home in Boulder

13min

11.

Navigating Complexity in Startups

19min

12.

Navigating Entrepreneurial Sentiments and Practical Savings

5min

13.

Harnessing Recovery: The Power of Percussive Therapy

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.

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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.