How to live an asymmetric life

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Oct 17, 2025

Discover how to enhance your happiness with five unconventional steps. Learn why having a best friend might not be the key to joy and how indecision can lead to misery. Hear about the importance of reversible decisions and setting SMART goals to track your progress. Sam explains the pitfalls of constantly pivoting projects and why index investing trumps stock picking for most. Tune in for a fresh perspective on living a fulfilling life!

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Prioritize Deep Friendships

Have one to three best friends who truly admire and support you.
Close relationships predict long-term health and happiness more than money or fame.

00:00 / 00:00

Commit Quickly And Test

Decide and act instead of endlessly researching options.
Make decisions reversible and protect the worst-case outcome to reduce fear.

00:00 / 00:00

Risk-Limited Move To San Francisco

Sam moved to San Francisco with $2,000 and a safety plan to return home if needed.
Knowing the worst-case was covered let him commit and act.

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Value of Close Friendships

00:33 • 2min

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Decision Paralysis Hurts Happiness

02:45 • 2min

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Make Decisions Reversible

04:32 • 3min

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Set Specific, Time-Bound Goals

07:07 • 4min

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Regular Tracking Cadence

10:45 • 2min

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Using ChatGPT as a Personal Coach

12:49 • 1min

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The Cost of Switching Projects Frequently

13:54 • 3min

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Peer Groups and Better Decisions

16:45 • 2min

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Why Most Should Buy the Index

18:24 • 4min

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Summary: Five Steps to a Better Life

• Mentioned in 52 episodes

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.

#765

• Mentioned in 33 episodes

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Dale Carnegie

In 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living', Dale Carnegie provides a set of practical formulas and techniques to help readers overcome their worry habits. The book, first published in 1948, has been updated and remains highly relevant today. It offers advice on how to eliminate business and financial worries, avoid fatigue, improve sleep, and cultivate a mental attitude that brings peace and happiness. Carnegie's approach includes rules such as living in 'day-tight compartments', accepting the worst-case scenario, and keeping busy to crowd out worry. The book is filled with inspiring examples and stories of people who have successfully applied these principles to achieve a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

#239

• Mentioned in 73 episodes

Titan

The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

Ron Chernow

This biography by Ron Chernow provides an in-depth look at John D. Rockefeller, Sr., the founder of Standard Oil and one of the most influential figures in American history. Drawing on unprecedented access to Rockefeller’s private papers, Chernow reconstructs Rockefeller’s troubled origins, his single-minded pursuit of wealth, and his profound religiosity. The book also delves into Rockefeller’s philanthropic efforts, including his generous donations to the Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Chicago, and Rockefeller University. Chernow’s narrative synthesizes Rockefeller’s public and private lives, revealing a complex and multifaceted individual who was both a ruthless businessman and a devoted philanthropist. The book captures a pivotal moment in American history, documenting the post-Civil War shift from small businesses to giant corporations and featuring cameos by notable figures such as Ida Tarbell, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan.

Get Sam's ChatGPT Executive Coach Playbook - his exact system for everything from revenue optimization to life decisions: https://clickhubspot.com/skm

Episode 757 Sam Parr ( ⁠https://x.com/theSamParr⁠ ) shares his formula for how to live a good life.

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Show Notes:

(0:00) Step 1: Don’t Have a Best Friend

(2:45) Step 2: Don’t Decide

(7:01) Step 3: Don’t Set Goals

(13:54) Step 4: Keep Pivoting

(16:23) Step 5: Don’t Buy the Index

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My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by HubSpot Media // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

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