#439: Tools of Titans — Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer

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Jun 10, 2020

Discover transformative insights from the lives and philosophies of high achievers like Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer. Explore the significance of prioritizing genuine enthusiasm over mere busyness, and embrace the joy of small, purposeful moments. Reflect on mortality through cosmic awe and personal joys, and learn how human connection can aid in overcoming physical challenges. Gain practical tips on functional training and mobility to enhance your well-being, while enjoying light-hearted curiosities to spark your weekend.

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ADVICE

Adaptable Plans

Choose plans with the most options, allowing for flexibility.
The best plan adapts to change, as Derek Sivers advises.

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ANECDOTE

The Pig Show Gig

At 18, Derek Sivers accepted a low-paying gig at a pig show.
This led to many opportunities and valuable stage experience, proving the value of saying "yes" early in your career.

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ADVICE

Accelerated Learning

Challenge the standard pace and seek accelerated learning.
Derek Sivers graduated Berklee in two years, not four, by skipping classes and testing out.

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Transformative Insights and Nutritional Essentials

01:45 • 4min

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Insights from High Achievers

06:06 • 26min

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Lessons on Success and Decision-Making

31:57 • 9min

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Redefining Commitment and Enthusiasm

40:48 • 13min

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Embracing Mortality Through Cosmic Awe and Personal Joys

53:52 • 3min

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Overcoming Physical Challenges through Connection and Adaptation

56:27 • 7min

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Embracing Joy and Growth Through Life's Artful Moments

01:03:36 • 6min

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Functional Training and Mobility Insights

01:09:17 • 5min

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Weekly Curiosities and Humorous Warnings

In 'Anything You Want,' Derek Sivers shares 40 powerful lessons learned from his experience of accidentally starting and growing CD Baby into a successful business. The book emphasizes the importance of creating a business that is a 'utopia' or perfect world, where the focus is on making dreams come true for both the entrepreneur and the customers. Sivers stresses that business is not just about money but about helping people and making them happy. He also highlights the advantages of starting with no money, the irrelevance of traditional business plans, and the importance of prioritizing customer needs over personal gain. The book includes memorable stories of his mistakes and successes, including his interactions with Steve Jobs and the impact of his decisions on his business.

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.

Seeking Wisdom

From Darwin to Munger

Peter Bevelin

En "Seeking Wisdom", Peter Bevelin desentraña la filosofía de inversión de Charlie Munger, explorando sus principios clave y su enfoque multidisciplinario. El libro analiza cómo Munger integra ideas de diversas áreas del conocimiento, como la psicología, la historia y la ciencia, para tomar decisiones de inversión. Bevelin presenta una colección de anécdotas y ejemplos que ilustran la aplicación práctica de estos principios. La obra destaca la importancia del pensamiento crítico, la humildad intelectual y la búsqueda constante de conocimiento. El libro es una guía valiosa para inversores que buscan un enfoque más profundo y holístico.

Awaken the Giant Within

Tony Robbins

In 'Awaken the Giant Within,' Tony Robbins offers a comprehensive program for self-mastery, helping readers to discover their true purpose, take control of their lives, and harness the forces that shape their destiny. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding and changing one's belief system, values, and daily habits. It introduces concepts such as Neuro Associative Conditioning (NAC) and the three decisions that control one's destiny: what to focus on, what things mean, and what actions to take. Robbins provides step-by-step exercises and a seven-day challenge to reshape various aspects of life, including emotional, physical, relationship, and financial destinies. The book stresses that everything we do is driven by the need to avoid pain or gain pleasure and teaches how to use these forces to achieve personal goals and transform one's life.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

In this book, Daniel Kahneman takes readers on a tour of the mind, explaining how the two systems of thought shape our judgments and decisions. System 1 is fast, automatic, and emotional, while System 2 is slower, effortful, and logical. Kahneman discusses the impact of cognitive biases, the difficulties of predicting future happiness, and the effects of overconfidence on corporate strategies. He offers practical insights into how to guard against mental glitches and how to benefit from slow thinking in both personal and business life. The book also explores the distinction between the 'experiencing self' and the 'remembering self' and their roles in our perception of happiness.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Tools of Titans

The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers

Tools of Titans is a comprehensive guide to achieving peak performance and personal transformation. The book is divided into three main sections: Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. It features insights and strategies from over 200 interviews with successful individuals such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ariana Huffington, and many others. Ferriss highlights common patterns among these high achievers, including daily meditation, disciplined routines, and the ability to turn weaknesses into strengths. The book is designed to be a resource for continuous learning and improvement, providing actionable advice and tools for readers to enhance their health, wealth, and wisdom.

Stumbling on Happiness

Daniel Gilbert

In 'Stumbling on Happiness,' Daniel Gilbert delves into the human capacity to imagine the future and why we are often poor at predicting what will make us happy. Gilbert argues that our imagination is flawed in several ways: it adds or removes details, extrapolates from the present, and fails to account for the psychological immune system that helps us cope with undesired outcomes. The book uses scientific research from psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral economics to explain why we consistently misjudge our future satisfaction and how this affects our decisions. Gilbert also suggests that understanding these biases can help us make better choices and gain more control over our pursuit of happiness.

Daily Rituals

How Artists Work

Mason Currey

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work is a book that delves into the daily routines and working habits of more than 161 highly successful and creative individuals. The book, written by Mason Currey, provides insights into how these creatives structured their days to manage their work and personal lives. It includes profiles of famous figures such as Anthony Trollope, Karl Marx, Woody Allen, Agatha Christie, and many others, highlighting their unique routines, habits, and quirks. The book aims to show how grand creative visions are translated into small daily increments and how these routines influence the work itself. It also explores broader themes such as the balance between comfort and creativity, and the importance of forming good habits to free the mind for more interesting fields of action.

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Robert Caro

This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show! It will showcase some of my favorite advice and profiles from the audiobook of Tools of Titans. Thousands of you have asked for years for the audiobook versions of Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors, and they are now available. Go to audible.com/ferriss for more details or to download.

Today’s episode will focus on Tools of Titans and features the introduction of the book, as well as the profiles of Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer.

Just a few notes on the audiobook's format: I recorded the introduction and selected three fantastic, top-ranked narrators to handle the rest, along with some surprise appearances from friends.

The short bios, which you will hear at the beginning of each profile, are read by Kaleo Griffith. Ray Porter reads the bulk of each profile including all of my own words. Ray actually narrated my first book, The 4-Hour Workweek, and did an incredible job. Quotations from female guests are read by the wonderful Thérèse Plummer.

The audiobook of Tools of Titans contains the distilled tools and routines I’ve gathered after interviewing hundreds of world-class performers.

Everything has been vetted and applied to my own life in some fashion. The techniques, strategies, and philosophies in Tools of Titans have made me more effective, saved me years of wasted effort and frustration, and helped me navigate many periods of darkness and uncertainty. The advice has truly made me a happier, healthier person and changed my life. I hope that they help change yours as well.

Please enjoy this episode, and if you’d like to listen to the other 100-plus profiles and chapters from Tools of Titans, just head to audible.com/ferriss.

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