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The Tim Ferriss Show
#375: Josh Waitzkin — How to Cram 2 Months of Learning into 1 Day
Jun 26, 2019
40:22
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Quick takeaways
- Optimize focus and creativity by structuring day around peak energy, MIQ training, and deep introspection.
- Accelerate learning through immersive activities and deliberate practice for rapid skill development.
- Create mental clarity and space for deep work by disconnecting from distractions and embracing stillness.
- Align pursuits with core identity to unlock talents and cultivate fulfilling zone of genius.
- Enhance performance and decision-making by balancing relaxation with peak intensity and focused presence.
Deep dives
Benefits of Five Bullet Friday Newsletter
Five Bullet Friday, Tim Ferris' email newsletter, offers subscribers a curated list of unique and intriguing discoveries every week. With a focus on providing short and impactful content, the newsletter shares interesting finds ranging from apps to self-experiments, making it a popular and easily digestible resource for millions worldwide. This approach caters to audience requests for concise yet compelling content, distinct from the longer formats of podcasts and books, thereby enhancing engagement.
Influence of Five Bullet Friday on Guest Invitations
Tim Ferris reveals that a significant portion of his podcast guests, including renowned personalities, have subscribed to Five Bullet Friday. By leveraging the newsletter as a platform to build connections and offer exclusive access to opportunities like meetups and startup previews, Ferris highlights its value as a gateway to engaging with top performers and accessing unique experiences. The newsletter's exclusivity reinforces its role in fostering relationships and creating valuable networking opportunities for subscribers.
Importance of Nutritional Supplementation with Athletic Greens
Tim Ferris endorses Athletic Greens as a comprehensive nutritional supplement that offers essential vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and adaptogens for overall health and energy. Stressing its role as a holistic dietary insurance, Ferris recommends Athletic Greens based on his decade-long use and independent endorsement. The supplement, known for its nutrient density and convenience, complements Ferris' focus on nutrient-rich meals while providing a convenient option for maintaining optimal health, especially during travel or when whole foods are unavailable.
Insights into Maximizing Learning through Unconventional Training Methods
Josh Waitzkin, an expert in learning strategies, delves into his unconventional approach to intense training, such as paddle surfing and foil training. By immersing himself in these activities and leveraging unique tools like efoils, Waitzkin accelerates his learning curve and intensifies his training experiences. Through deliberate practice and deliberate triggers, he enhances his skill acquisition and physiological responses, reflecting the power of intentional and structured training methods for rapid skill development and enhanced brain-muscle connection.
The Art of Architecting Productive Days with Intentional Focus
Josh Waitzkin underscores the importance of proactively structuring a day to optimize focus and creativity. By aligning peak energy periods with creative work, distinguishing between high-quality thinking time and meetings, and emphasizing the concept of 'Most Important Question' (MIQ) training, individuals can elevate their productivity and decision-making. Waitzkin advocates for cultivating a deep sense of introspection, breaking boundaries between personal and professional life, and balancing undulations of relaxation and intense focus to amplify performance across disciplines.
Unlocking Personal Potential through Self-Expression and Introspection
Josh Waitzkin emphasizes the journey of self-discovery and self-expression as crucial elements in maximizing personal potential. By diving deep into introspection and recognizing individual patterns of success and setbacks, individuals can align their pursuits with their core identities. Waitzkin advocates for identifying unique learning styles, preferences, and capabilities to cultivate a zone of genius, where personal passions and talents intersect harmoniously, fostering a sense of fulfillment and purpose in endeavors.
Creating Space for Deep Work and Insightful Reflection
Josh Waitzkin's transition to a secluded environment reflects the significance of fostering mental clarity and space for focused deep work. By disconnecting from distractions and embracing intentional slack in daily routines, individuals can nurture creativity and clarity of thought. Waitzkin's emphasis on detaching from constant stimuli, embracing silence, and developing an ability to see beyond the noise underscores the power of allowing insights to surface amidst moments of tranquility and reflection.
The Value of Stillness and Mindfulness in Heightening Performance
Josh Waitzkin highlights the impact of embracing stillness and mindfulness in enhancing performance and decision-making. Drawing parallels to elite athletes and fighters who exhibit intense concentration within moments of calmness, Waitzkin underscores the importance of establishing focused presence and undulating between relaxation and peak intensity. By immersing in activities that align with personal genius and fostering a balance between internal introspection and external engagement, individuals can tap into their full potential and achieve heightened states of performance.
Navigating Personal Growth Through Zone of Genius Exploration
Josh Waitzkin encourages individuals to embark on a journey of self-exploration to define their zone of genius and unlock their inherent talents. By delving into personal learning styles, preferences, and patterns of success, individuals can align their pursuits with their core identities and passions. Waitzkin's approach emphasizes patient introspection, breaking boundaries between personal and professional endeavors, and nurturing a deep sense of self-awareness to drive personal growth and harness individual potential.
The Power of Minimalism and Intentional Detox from Noise
Josh Waitzkin advocates for intentional decluttering and detachment from external distractions to create mental clarity and amplify personal insights. Encouraging individuals to step away from constant inputs and embrace moments of silence and reflection, Waitzkin underscores the transformative impact of allowing thoughts to settle and perspectives to surface. By practicing stillness and mindfulness, individuals can navigate through the noise of daily life, sharpen their focus, and cultivate deep insights for enhanced decision-making and creative expression.
"From my perspective, the goal is unobstructed self-expression." — Josh Waitzkin
Josh Waitzkin, author of The Art of Learning, is an eight-time US National Chess Champion, a two-time World Champion in Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands, and the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under nine-time World Champion Marcelo Garcia.
For the past 12 years, Josh has been channeling his passion for the outer limits of the learning process toward training elite mental performers in business and finance, and to revolutionizing the education system through his nonprofit foundation, The Art of Learning Project. Josh is currently in the process of taking on his fourth and fifth disciplines, paddle surfing and foiling, and is an all-in father and husband.
The audio and video were recorded at The Sohn Investment Conference in the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The Sohn Conference Foundation is dedicated to supporting innovative initiatives to cure and treat pediatric cancer. The Sohn Conference Foundation raises its funds through a unique strategy: Wall Street's most successful investors offer their expertise on stage and inspire large audiences to give to the foundation's cause. You can learn more about it at sohnconference.org.
Click here for the show notes for this episode.
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For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.
For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.
Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.
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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.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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