In this episode, Cal reviews what he believes to be the four essential tools for feeling on top of everything you need to do. If you’re missing one of these, you might struggle. If you use all four, you’re probably safe never thinking about “productivity” again. Cal is then joined by friend of the show, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, to answer listener questions about their personal struggles to take control of their lives.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: The Productivity Toolkit [2:30]  - What is the most underrated productivity superpower? [35:05] - Should I journal? [43:59] - How do I build a system to help me remember things? [48:23] - Can I use a split-day strategy to time block a reactive job? [52:01] - Help! I’m stuck at age 30. How do I get unstuck? [54:42]  CAL REACTS: How can we make learning as addictive as social media? [1:16:06]  Links:  youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo  Thanks to our Sponsors:  rhone.com/cal grammarly.com/podcast policygenius.com/deepquestions mybodytutor.com  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

David Epstein, a journalist and New York Times best-selling author, dives into the myth of the 10,000-hour rule for mastery. He argues for a more flexible approach to skill acquisition, emphasizing the importance of diverse experiences. The discussion touches on phone addiction's link to life challenges and the significance of embracing failure. Epstein also explores strategies to boost productivity and the creative principles behind Nintendo’s success. Plus, he uncovers how varied paths can enhance personal growth and fulfillment.

Guests discuss the importance of stepping out of comfort zones for personal growth and creativity. They explore openness to new experiences, art appreciation, and the balance between exploration and exploitation in decision-making. Personal anecdotes and insights on embracing the unknown are shared, encouraging listeners to take a personality quiz and provide feedback.

In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: David Epstein.David is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE and RANGE. I probably get asked questions about RANGE more than any other book by listeners of this podcast, so I knew we had to get David on the show to share his wisdom.We talk about his career, his (short-lived) public feud with Malcolm Gladwell, and his research habits, but most importantly, we go deep on his breakthrough ideas about skills, practice, and meaning in careers -- answering many of your questions as well as a few of my own.You can find out more about David at https://davidepstein.com.To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Thanks to our sponsor Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping).Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

Science writer and investigative reporter David Epstein discusses the importance of having a wide range of interests for successful outcomes in sports and life. He explores the role of coaches in athlete development, uncovers steroid use in sports, challenges the 10,000-hour rule, and highlights the advantages of being a generalist. Contrasting examples of success, including Tiger Woods and Roger Federer, demonstrate that generalists often excel in various fields.

My guest this week is David Epstein. David is a writer and researcher extraordinaire and the author of two great books. His second, Range, is out today and I highly recommend it. We discuss the pros and cons of both the generalist and specialist mindsets in detail and go down many interesting trails along the way. Please enjoy our conversation. For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast. Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub. Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_oshag   Show Notes 1:12 - (First Question) – What he uncovered in “The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance” that led him to his latest book             2:38 – Debate with Malcolm Gladwell (YouTube) 4:12 – What did the public pay most attention to and what did they gloss over 7:56 – How his views on nature vs nurture shifted during the process of writing The Sports Gene 10:05 – Blending practice with your nature 13:04 – His process of reading 10 journal articles a day as part of his research 19:06 – Exploring his new book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World”, and his idea of Martian tennis 23:03 – Idea of the cult of the head start and how we set up our own feedback loops 28:58 – What does his research say about the nations education system 30:42 – The Flynn Effect chapter 33:54 – Hacks for learning 37:52 – The concept of struggle and harnessing the power of it 46:31 – Personality changes and how to drive those changes in a positive way 52:00 – Using the outside perspective in businesses for more productive outcomes and how it applied to Nintendo             52:59 – Josh Wolfe Podcast Episode 1:04:45 – Other examples of using withered technologies, 3M 1:09:00 – The arc of his work and how it has evolved 1:13:54 – Taking a different view on problems             1:17:52 – Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives 1:18:04– Anyway to change these bad trends with new strategies   Learn More For more episodes go to InvestorFieldGuide.com/podcast.  Sign up for the book club, where you’ll get a full investor curriculum and then 3-4 suggestions every month at InvestorFieldGuide.com/bookclub Follow Patrick on twitter at @patrick_oshag

Are some people predisposed to being a generalist versus a specialist? In his book, "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World," author David Epstein discovers that early specialization is an exception, not the rule. Epstein, a former science and investigative reporter, argues that to succeed in any field, one must develop an array of interests. In interviews with renowned athletes, inventors and scientists, he explores the power of diverse experiences in a world that requires hyperspecialization. In this episode of the podcast "The Next Chapter" by American Express Business Class, Epstein and host Cardiff Garcia discuss the virtues of being a generalist on a trajectory to success.

David Epstein, author of Range, discusses the benefits of being a generalist, the importance of diverse experiences, and how embracing unconventional thinking can lead to innovation. The podcast explores the impact of interleaved practice in learning, the value of continuous learning, and the advantages of non-linear career paths. It also highlights the benefits of diversity in teams for problem-solving and creativity.

Lance Armstrong, a cycling icon with a controversial past, joins David Canton, a history professor, David Epstein, a science journalist, and Domonique Foxworth, a former NFL player, to dissect the hidden factors of athletic success. They explore how genetics, mental toughness, and sheer luck shape elite athletes. The discussion dives into the financial barriers in youth sports and the emotional sacrifices athletes often make. They also reflect on unique journeys in competitive sports, emphasizing resilience and the often-overlooked paths to greatness.

Today we welcome David Epstein, the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the bestseller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated in more than 20 languages. His TED Talks on performance science have been viewed more than 11 million times. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. In this episode, I talked to David Epstein about greatness. If there's one thing we know for sure about greatness, it's that there is no linear path to it. David and I discuss the complex relationship of talent and hard work in specific domains. Although there is no formula, we can both agree that persistent effort and fierce determination are necessary ingredients—but so is talent. We have a nuanced discussion of the dance between nature and nurture on the path to talent. It’s a very delicate dance. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, creativity, fulfillment and moral greatness. Website: davidepstein.comTwitter: @DavidEpstein Topics02:13 Talent: Is it nature or nurture? 05:16 Does the 10,000 hour rule apply to creativity? 10:14 Genetics and the rage to master 16:46 Immediate feedback for growth 22:04 Progress is not linear 26:50 Self-actualization is where you “fit” 39:06 The equal odds rule 41:11 Restriction of range 47:55 Creativity and mental illness 56:27 Incentivizing good vs great scientists 1:00:13 Moral greatness 1:06:10 The constraints of creativity 1:12:25 The criteria of genius See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.