The Most Common Mistake People Make Over and Over Again

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A pervasive mistake among individuals is the belief that happiness can be attained through external circumstances or objects. This delusion leads people to think that acquiring things, such as a new car or a new experience, will bring lasting joy. The reality is that the anticipation of these external acquisitions often overshadows their actual impact, which is usually minimal. Many fall into the trap of desiring, under the misconception that fulfillment lies outside themselves. Acknowledging this tendency can lead to unlearning conditioned responses that prioritize external validation over internal peace. Recognizing the futility of seeking happiness from outside sources is crucial for personal growth and authentic happiness. Self-actualization is essential, but the pursuit of external validation as a source of joy is fundamentally misguided and keeps individuals tethered to an endless cycle of desire and disappointment.

Naval Ravikant is the CEO and co-founder of AngelList. He’s invested in more than 100 companies, including Uber, Twitter, Yammer, and many others.

It’s difficult to nail down exactly what we discuss in our conversation because I had so many questions to ask him. Naval is an incredibly deep thinker who challenges the status quo on so many things. This is an interview you’ll want to listen to, think a bit, and then listen to again.

Here are just a few of the many things we cover in this episode:

What a “typical day” looks like (not the answer I expected, and not one you’ve likely heard before)
How Naval developed his legendary reading habits and how he finds time to read no matter how busy life gets
How the internet has impacted book reading (both good and bad) and how to make sure you’re getting the best information from the most reliable sources
What popular habit advice Naval thinks is BS and why
Naval’s habit stacking technique that helped him overcome a desire for alcohol and other potentially destructive habits
How Naval’s core values give direction to his life and how those values developed over time
Naval’s thoughts on the current education system and what we can do to facilitate better learning for our children
Naval’s favorite mental models for making critical high-stakes decisions
His brilliant two-factor calendar authentication concept to keep him focused on only the most important projects
Naval’s definition for the meaning of life (buckle up for this one)
His amazing response to the investor who wanted to be just like Steve Jobs

And so, so much more.

Just a heads up, this is the longest podcast I’ve ever done. While it felt like only thirty minutes, our conversation lasted over two hours!

And although it is the longest, it’s also our most downloaded episode on the Knowledge Project, so make sure you have a pen and paper handy. There’s a lot of wisdom up for grabs here.

Enjoy this amazing conversation.

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