How I Write

Howard Marks: How Writing Helped Him Raise Billions | How I Write Podcast

Feb 21, 2024

Billionaire investor Howard Marks, renowned for his clear and engaging writing style, breaks down the barriers of complex investment concepts. He discusses the importance of clarity and humor in writing, sharing his four tenets for impactful communication. Marks emphasizes that creating a unique point of view is essential for making ideas resonate. He also explores the interplay of luck and opportunity, and how analogies can simplify complex topics. His insights highlight the power of storytelling in finance, urging writers to challenge conventional wisdom.

53:52

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Episode guests

Howard Marks

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Quick takeaways

Focusing on high-quality work is crucial for making an impact with your ideas.

Simplifying complex concepts and presenting them in clear, accessible language can help engage and delight your audience.

Deep dives

The importance of quality output

The podcast emphasizes the importance of focusing on the quality of your output. While many things in life are beyond our control, the quality of our work is something that we can control. Putting out a product that is of the highest possible quality should be a simple goal for everyone. By doing so, we can take pride in our work and achieve a sense of satisfaction.

Focus on Substance Over Fleeting Events

01:38

Reconciling Opposing Worldviews in Writing

01:43

Discovering Passions and Opportunities in Education

01:21

Challenging Expectations and Simplicity in Writing

01:18

Intro

5min

The Intersection of Luck and Opportunity

2min

The Art of Financial Writing

16min

Crafting Meaningful Investment Memos

3min

Crafting a Personal Philosophy: The Journey from Theory to Practice

2min

Unlocking Complexity: The Power of Analogies in Writing

18min

Navigating the Writing Landscape

8min

Want to build influence with great ideas and simple writing? Look no further than Howard Marks.

Most smart people use big words and plastic jargon to reinforce the barrier between themselves and “the common folk.” Howard, on the other hand, breaks down this barrier, and that’s why his ideas are so influential (and why he’s Warren Buffett’s favorite author).

Ironically enough, simple writing is the hardest to master. Einstein once said that there are four types of intelligence: “bright, brilliant, genius, and simple.” In this episode, you’ll hear how Howard turns decades of investment expertise into clear, simple language.

You’ll learn:

Why high-quality work is more important than ever
How discovering your unique point of view is crucial if you want your ideas to make an impact
Howard’s four tenets for high-quality writing: clarity, humor, interesting topics, and challenging your reader.

Ultimately, you’ll learn how this billionaire investor shares his ideas in a way that engages and delights his audience, and how you can, too.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://www.oaktreecapital.com/about/leadership/bio/howard-marks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/howardmarksbook

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Marks/e/B004LE5B00

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PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470