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How to break out of autopilot and create the life you want | Graham Weaver (Stanford GSB professor, founder of Alpine Investors)

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Jan 16, 2025

Guest

Graham Weaver

Graham Weaver, a Stanford GSB professor and founder of Alpine Investors, shares his journey of helping students uncover their true paths. He discusses the importance of breaking free from autopilot living and embracing intentional decision-making. Listeners learn about the 'genie methodology' for identifying passions and the transformative 'Nine Lives' exercise for exploring different life possibilities. Graham also highlights the power of overcoming limiting beliefs and the role of resilience in personal growth, offering a fresh perspective on achieving fulfillment in one's career.

01:12:13

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Genie Methodology

Imagine a genie grants you one wish for career success.
Pursue that "genie goal," even if it's unconventional, as it's your truest desire.

00:00 / 00:00

Autopilot Mode

Most people live on autopilot, following routines without intention.
Break free by aligning your actions with your values and long-term goals.

00:00 / 00:00

Discovering Your Passion

Ask yourself powerful questions like, "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?"
Consider what excites you, even if it's unconventional or embarrassing.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Breaking Free from Autopilot: A Guide to Finding Life's Purpose

01:35 • 5min

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Pursuing Your Genie Goals

06:29 • 6min

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Breaking Free from Autopilot

12:38 • 3min

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Pursuing Passion Over Fear

15:58 • 18min

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Fostering Resilience in Parenting and Personal Success

33:45 • 3min

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The Power of Accountability and Self-Discovery

36:41 • 21min

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Lessons from Failure and Personal Growth

57:22 • 15min

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Switch

How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Chip Heath

Dan Heath

In 'Switch', Chip and Dan Heath explore why making lasting changes is difficult due to the conflict between the rational mind and the emotional mind. They present a framework for successful change by uniting these two minds, drawing on decades of research in psychology, sociology, and other fields. The book provides compelling examples of how everyday people have achieved dramatic results by following this pattern, whether in personal, organizational, or societal contexts.

Graham Weaver teaches a top-rated course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he often unexpectedly ends up helping students figure out what to do with their lives. He is also the founder and CEO of Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm. In our conversation, we discuss:

• Why everything worthwhile requires suffering

• Why most people operate on autopilot, and how to break free

• The “genie methodology” for discovering your true path

• The Nine Lives exercise for exploring different life possibilities

• How to overcome limiting beliefs that hold you back

• Why “not now” is often just another way of saying “never”

• More

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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-break-out-of-autopilot-graham-weaver

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Where to find Graham Weaver:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-weaver-2b79

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grahamcweaver

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grahamcweaver

• Website: https://www.grahamweaver.com

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grahamcweaver

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Where to find Lenny:

• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com

• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan

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

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In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Graham’s background

(05:30) Helping students find their true path

(07:40) The genie methodology

(12:36) Breaking free from autopilot mode

(17:54) Identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs

(20:33) Teaching entrepreneurship and personal fulfillment

(22:53) The reality of long-term success

(35:14) The role of accountability and executive coaching

(40:22) Daily goal setting for success

(43:11) The Nine Lives framework

(48:01) The dangers of the “not now” mentality

(55:27) Navigating life’s transitions

(57:19) Failure corner

(01:00:24) When to quit and when to persevere

(01:02:18) Final thoughts and lightning round

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Referenced:

• Setting Goals: Demystified: https://www.grahamweaver.com/blog/goals

• Tony Robbins’s website: https://www.tonyrobbins.com

• Alpine Investors: https://alpineinvestors.com

• Stanford GSB Last Lecture 2024—How to Live Your Life at Full Power: https://www.grahamweaver.com/blog/stanford-graduate-business-school-last-lecture-2024

• I turned 50 today. Here is the most important thing I learned in my first half century: https://www.grahamweaver.com/blog/turning-50

• Where the Crawdads Sing on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Daisy-Edgar-Jones/dp/B0B5KBKDNL

• Chilipad Cube Bed Cooling System: https://www.amazon.com/Chilipad-Cube-Bed-Cooling-System/dp/B07GT9MYRW

• Sleepme OOLER Sleep System: https://www.amazon.com/OOLER-Sleep-System-Temperature-Integration/dp/B07RX8LT9G

• Eightsleep: https://www.eightsleep.com

• Howard Thurman’s quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6273-don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you

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Recommended books:

• Switch: How to Change Things when Change Is Hard: https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752

• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379

• Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning and End of Suffering: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Believe-Everything-Think-Expanded/dp/B0D47VYQMY

• How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.

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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.

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