Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

FROM QUITTING YOUR JOB TO SELLING YOUR FIRST BUSINESS.Katherina is a young start-up founder who runs a logistics business based out of Singapore. She was a venture partner of the Zeroth.ai accelerator where she gives fabulous advice and mentorship.Originally from Bolivia she has a diverse life history with a number of lessons and stories along the way, including quitting her job to start a business with her new life partner. Not part of the typical formula for success she fought hard to achieve her goals regardless.TIPSDREAM IT AND JUST DO ITYou really can just decide to quit your job and go off into the sunset with your partner and start a business when you don’t even know what it will be. This may sound a bit silly but when you aren’t happy with your situation you really can just aim for your dream of how you want things to be and not even know what it will be and yet still get there if you work for it. I find this very very inspiring.SELL WITH CONFIDENCEYou don’t need to be specifically qualified or a big business to aim high and secure big clients. If you believe you can solve a problem for people then just do it and talk to the big scary companies you should be talking to. I was also quite surprised to find they were a team of only 4 people, it really shows you can run a great business by keeping it simple with a small team and still trade with the big guysIMPORTANCE OF SELF-CAREWhether is meditating or taking a walk or watching movies and hitting the gym everyday it’s important to take some time for yourself to ensure you have balance in your life and are doing things on your terms. There’s a huge shift in the mentality of you choosing to be there and working on the things you should be rather than the work choosing itself for you and you feeling like you are just putting out fires endlessly without any control of where the next fire will be.BOOKSA big fan of the classics which you can totally download for free win. Pride and prejudice (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-and-Prejudice/dp/B016LMY7C2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HSPOLOFZPEWB&keywords=pride+and+prejudice&qid=1580441597&s=books&sprefix=pride+an%2Caudible%2C354&sr=1-1), to kill a mockingbird (https://www.amazon.co.uk/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird/dp/B00L61GPGK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X07T1OWVE947&keywords=to+kill+a+mockingbird&qid=1580441634&s=books&sprefix=to+kill%2Caudible%2C387&sr=1-1), 1984 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nineteen-Eighty-Four/dp/B016E6HZVK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=1984&qid=1580441677&s=books&sr=1-1). If you had to read them when you were younger and didn’t get them they really are worth picking up again. and if you never read them then sort your life out. you can just search free audiobook player in any app store and get an app that downloads any of the old classics, so no excuses.Get any of the books free on audible (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Free-Trial-Digital-Membership/dp/B00OPA2XFG?tag=samharris48%E2%80%9321)Contact UsYou can find out more about us and chat about anything you likeKatherinaInstagram (https://www.instagram.com/katherinaolivia/)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinalacey/)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Sam's blog - SamWebsterHarris.com (https://samwebsterharris.com/)Support the Show - Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/growthmindset)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Katherina Olivia-Lacey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick White is the head of the AI department at Zeroth.ai. He helps startups in the accelerator to make the most of their potential with AI and grow their business. He also speaks and writes on AI and has a great medium blog, as well as practicing yoga and surfing in his spare time.Nick has some amazing life experiences we can learn from and has lots of great ideas and stories we can all enjoy.TIPSMASTERY TAKES TIMEYou can master anything with dedication and starting small. As part of the philosophy of the biggest journey still starts with a single step, if you have a passion project there is no reason to put it off and spending a small amount of time each day can quickly add up. Like the hare and the tortoise, if you can be dedicated and not bite off more than you can chew you will surely win.SACRIFICES ARE A PART OF LIFEIt's great to be free and open to any opportunity. But if you want to master something and succeed you have to make sacrifices. Whether that is travelling less and having a home, or planning things in a calendar far in the future and sticking to it. I really love this attitude. Nick doesn't let the fact he is missing out on growing a successful banana ice cream biz with his mates get him down, instead he accepted that he made a logical choice to pursue AI and he couldn't do both successfully.DON’T LOSE TOUCH WITH WHO YOU ARE.It’s great to be shaped by your experiences and adapt to life in different situations, but don’t let yourself lose the values that make you great. Big cities can be cold places with little reason to be nice to those around you but wherever possible give the world a smile and make friendships with the people you come into contact even if only fleetingly. + it’ll make you happier =]BOOKSAn avid reader. Some of his favourite books on AI and our future are:Get any of the books free on audible (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Free-Trial-Digital-Membership/dp/B00OPA2XFG?tag=samharris48%E2%80%9321)DEEP LEARNING - YOSHUA BENGIO (http://www.deeplearningbook.org/)HUMANS NEED NOT APPLY - JERRY KAPLAN (https://www.amazon.com/Humans-Need-Not-Apply-Intelligence/dp/0300213557)SAPIENS AND HOMO DEUS - YUVAL NOAH HARARI (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homo-Deus-Brief-History-Tomorrow/dp/B01HGZ3TKE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N0F6N75QZGHS&keywords=sapiens+homo+deus&qid=1580440137&s=books&sprefix=sapiens+homo%2Caudible%2C571&sr=1-1)Bloody great books on everything about humans. Read them and be enlightened on the world around you!PRINCIPLES - RAY DALIO (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Life-and-Work/dp/B074B28CXV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZRP7628XBUZN&keywords=ray+dalio+principles&qid=1580440101&s=books&sprefix=ray+d%2Caudible%2C352&sr=1-1)A legendary investor he has a great set of guiding principles to life that have helped him be so successful and happy with his life and they serve as a great toolset for everyone.Understanding AI Blogpost (https://medium.com/zeroth-ai/understanding-artificial-intelligence-b9b58f9b25c2)Nick has co-created a great and lengthy article on AI which covers basically everything you need to know about how it works and where to get started if you are keen on dabbling in the field or just knowing how the hell it works. So uncover the inner magic and read on.Contact UsYou can find out more about us and chat about anything you likeNick:Medium (https://medium.com/@nickikwhite_5051)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-white-4a9478123/)Zeroth (https://www.zeroth.ai/)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Sam's blog - SamWebsterHarris.com (https://samwebsterharris.com/)Support the Show - Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/growthmindset)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Nick White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Escape the rat race and follow your dreams — The joys and woes of the nomad lifestyle Felix Chandler is a young millennial with a very relaxed attitude to life. He has made some great optimisations from the 80:20 rule leading to achieving a lifestyle he is very content with. In his part-time when he isn't on a beach, he is also a chess teacher, yoga instructor and massage therapist. But a lot of this can often be done from the beach... He taught me a lot about how to approach doing anything and provides a great reminder to ask yourself why you do things and what you wish to achieve.TIPS 80:20 - REALLY ASSESS HOW TO OPTIMISE YOUR TIME AND MONEY.You can save so much hassle and time by really assessing where your time is being spent and what you get from it. Felix shares a great example from his remote business where he didn’t charge a client up front and avoided extra hours worth of email to clarify on price and getting them to send half money now before starting work and then half when complete etc... If you lose 10% of leads but save 80% of time you are going to be much richer! You can deal with more clients. It also saves them time giving them a better experience, they are less likely to cancel and they also appreciate your trust and are more likely to book again. Everyone wins.YOU NEED A FIRE UNDER YOUR ARSE TO DO BIG THINGS!To really be successful and grow a business you need serious energy and drive to solve problems and deal with admin headaches. If you start a business to just solve a short term problem you will lose the fire and likely not turn the business into a big thing. You need to have real passion and drive to continuously dedicate to a project.YOU CAN BE VERY CONTENT WITH MINIMALISMYou can be very happy by needing less. Reduce expectations of what you need to be happy and life can be very gratifying and rewarding. You don’t need to waste time working in a job you don’t like and spend it on the beach and reading and doing art if you spend less,LIFE IS NOWDon’t seek something in the future. You need to be content and happy in the now. If you can’t learn this then you won’t be content in the future because you will be seeking something else!--Epic books4 HOUR WORK WEEK - TIMOTHY FERRISA classic book. You won't end up working just 4 hours a week after reading it, but the way you think about work and life will never be the same. Learn to optimise your short time on this earth to spend as much of it doing what you enjoy and maximise the output of your labour to suit your needs.SAPIENS: A brief history of Humankind - YUVAL NOAH HARARIEverything about humans up to the present day and how civilisations shaped the world we live in today.HOMO DEUS: A brief history of Tomorrow - YUVAL NOAH HARARIA very relevant overview of the shifts we will go through in the future and the potential of AI in human society.Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Special Guest: Felix Chandler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eamonn is the Managing Director at Techstars London, and an early stage investor, advisor and board member in over 25 companies across the US, Europe and Asia. He also helps out at Zeroth.ai in Hong Kong, who invest in AI and ML companies. He is launching his own VC fund and runs a regular dealflow email for 300+ angel and VC investors.Previously, he was the MD at Techstars Connection in partnership with AB InBev program in New York, and has worked as a mentor on Techstars and multiple other accelerator programs across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia.He is a regular speaker at conferences around the world and a wealth of information on the VC, accelerators and tech scene. As such we talk a lot about accelerators, VC’s and tech on the podcast.TOP TIPS1. You do only have one life on this planet — Enjoy your workIf you aren’t super passionate about what you’re doing at work. minimise time at work or start your own business and do something you believe in. find your passion and work for your own goalsDon’t work with dickheadsThe team you work with should be nice people that don’t suck.When interviewing for a role ask mundane questions to see if they can be normal and nice to hang out with.When interviewing a team check to see if they get on with each other within the team and be alert to micro-gestures that might suggest one person is being controlling or isn’t appreciated by the others.2. SchedulingKeep control of your time by constricting tasks to specific slots so you know when you will be able to do different things and ensure you keep time saved for personal stuff. whether it’s working on specific business tasks or spending time with your family its good to have time that won’t be interrupted by calls. especially when your an investor in many companies and working with accelerators3. Being a good CEO with Growth mindsetHaving a can-do attitude where you can constantly learn and improve your skills is the best way to be. His favourite CEO’s are like sponges that are constantly learning from everyone they meet and every action they take whether it has good or bad consequences it is a chance to constantly improve themselves and their businesses.As a bonus, they are normal people who are fun to hang out with due to having varied interests. So go all in on growth mindset4. Don’t always listen to advice from Mentors / InvestorsThere is no overwhelming easy to implement the strategy on how to take advice. you will always get some good advice and some bad advice and work out which is the best and which isn’t comes with experience. The only thing we can say is to not let advice paralyse you into indecision and when you are unsure try to go with your gut.The story of the business that received mainly negative feedback and stalled on their idea to then lose out to others is hardly unique. Have faith in your vision. If people don’t understand it often you need to explain your vision better rather than give up. or ignore some of the haters. of course, the advice is often really useful and just ignoring people is also stupid. A good rule of thumb is to not listen too closely to people that don’t understand the industry and try rely more on input from your potential customers.CONTACTWe are both very happy to discuss any of the idea’s mentioned in the show or anything else =]Eamonn:LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecarey/)Twitter (https://twitter.com/eamonncarey)Techstars (https://www.techstars.com/)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Show Notes (https://medium.com/growth-mindset-podcast/13-tech-accelerators-and-how-to-launch-a-vc-fund-d733135eb437)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Eamonn Carey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Denne is one of the most curious people I have ever met. He has an uncanny ability to break things down and gamify self-improvement as well as pretty much anything else.I worked with him co-running Basecamp, a business accelerator for students at Bristol University where we learnt a lot about start-ups and young entrepreneurs.On the show, we cover a lot about start-ups... Also, lots of business ideas and strategies for self-improvement and fun times travelling. He has a great view of the world that I think you’ll enjoy.TOP TIPS1. Gamify Self-improvementI love the way he breaks things down and works out how to improve them, t’s good to always step back and be mindful and curious about what you’re doing and what you want to achieve.Wherever possible try and make the process more fun by gamifying elements of it or setting targets, rewards or budgets that you can monitor and acknowledge achievements.Note — Learn to Type Fast!2. Cycle Touring is AwesomeI need to do more cycle touring with my life, everyone should try it. It’s such a great way to see the world. It can be done really cheaply and is a fun healthy way of exploring with a good amount of challenge.3. Work with people who complement youJust because you and a potential partner are both interested in an idea and get along, doesn’t mean you are the best business partners. You need to find someone that seeks out and solves the problem that you can’t, otherwise you are just double working and can actually cause conflict.People that do the same job as you should just be the employee’s that you hire whilst you find new problems that you can solve. People that solve things you can’t comprehend are your partners.BOOKSPeak By Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099598477/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0099598477&linkId=1c98598c611f126099f511453d9fc429)This book really embodies the growth mindset and explains how you can improve and master and any skill. You don’t necessarily need innate talent to be brilliant. Have you ever wanted to learn a language or pick up an instrument, only to become too daunted by the task at hand? Expert performance guru Anders Ericsson has made a career studying chess champions, violin virtuosos, star athletes, and memory mavens. Peak condenses three decades of original research to introduce an incredibly powerful approach to learning that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring a skill.Tim Ferris 4 Hour Work Week (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0091929113/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0091929113&linkId=aedd06f7c832dcf330de702072716460)Great book on how to live your life and be more successful. One of the best books you can ever read to think more strategically about your life and how you want it to work and giving you the tools to get there.His other books are also worth reading but take the 4-hour body and 4-hour chef with a grain of salt and he makes some overwhelming statements that aren’t exactly accurate.Sapiens: A brief History of Humankind (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099590085/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0099590085&linkId=f07a43f7c6c2863b03561dcc100a6fd5)In Sapiens, Dr Yuval Noah Harari spans the whole of human history, from the very first humans to walk the earth to the radical — and sometimes devastating — breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions.Drawing on insights from biology, anthropology, paleontology and economics, he explores how the currents of history have shaped our human societies, the animals and plants around us, and even our personalities. Have we become happier as history has unfolded? Can we ever free our behaviour from the heritage of our ancestors? And what, if anything, can we do to influence the course of the centuries to come?Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847947158/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1847947158&linkId=b4e952584258a522fea81eb9c696e33b)Everyone would benefit from seeing further into the future, whether buying stocks, crafting policy, launching a new product, or simply planning the week’s meals. Unfortunately, people tend to be terrible forecasters.Superforecasting offers the first demonstrably effective way to improve our ability to predict the future — whether in business, finance, politics, international affairs, or daily life — and is destined to become a modern classic.SuperIntelligence: Paths, Dangers and Strategies — Nick Bostrum (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198739834/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0198739834&linkId=c78e5a956a0a5718eb0e47818d7bcd14)What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life.If machine brains surpassed human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become extremely powerful — possibly beyond our control. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on humans than on the species itself, so would the fate of humankind depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence. But we have one advantage: we get to make the first move.Growth Mindset Summary (https://namastenourished.com/growth-mindset/)Learn more about the Growth Mindset and how to encourage one with this really informative blog.CONTACTBoth very happy to discuss any of the idea’s mentioned in the show or anything else =]Alex:Twitter (https://twitter.com/alexjdenne)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alexjdenne/)me@alexdenne.comSam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Show notes (https://medium.com/growth-mindset-podcast/12-mastering-anything-519718369ec)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Alex Denne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is the CEO of CrowdEmotion. A tech start-up in London that tracks human emotional data with the goal of humanising technology to understand who we are and how we feel. It’s an amazing and ambitious project operating in one of the most interesting spaces in technology today.We discuss the business and the shape of things to come, along with his key lessons from being a CEO of a bootstrapped tech company. A must listen for those interested in AI, psychology, business and the future.TOP TIPS1. Employee’s FirstMatt always holds his employee’s before anyone else and cares so deeply about them. This overwhelming principle was the glue that kept the company together when things went tits up and kept us all fighting for the greater cause. Knowing that your team are there for you makes such a difference.We were always welcome in his house and to chat about our issues whenever we needed. He even did the little things like surprising me by turning up at one of my gigs to showing up at the airport when a new employee from overseas arrived.2. Trust People and don’t MicromanageTo scale yourself successfully and operate a sound business and keep a sound mind you have to trust others to do their work.It free’s you up to focus on delivering the core things you need to do. It empowers others to do great work knowing that they are responsible for delivering on important items.Matt was great at finding young inexperienced individuals with an edge and getting the best out of them by giving them opportunities to grow.3. Be your honest selfHonesty is a theme that is important in so many areas.Want to give a good pitch?= have all the facts to hand and just be honest and yourself.Want to be a good networker? = Just do the hobbies you honestly enjoy and don’t put yourself in awkward business meet ups.Want to be successful employee or leader?= Find the things you honestly enjoy and commit to doing that the best you can and don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole to please others.BOOKS:The Alchemist (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alchemist-Fable-About-Following-Dream/dp/0722532938/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OMYQKH9IG2MT&keywords=the+alchemist&qid=1580046051&s=books&sprefix=the+alch%2Cstripbooks%2C360&sr=1-1) — Paulo CoelhoA really cute and inspiring book about following your dreams and learning about the world. Perhaps a perfect example of the Growth Mindset in a fable form. Definitely read it if you haven’t. Suitable for any age. I think I’m looking forward to reading this to my children when I have them its sooo goodCreativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Get in the Way of True Inspiration  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0593070097/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K8MPOE8HH46V&keywords=creativity+inc&qid=1580046085&s=books&sprefix=creat%2Cstripbooks%2C473&sr=1-1)— Ed CatmullFrom the cofounders of Pixar. An incisive book about creativity in business and leadership.Part autobiography, part history of Pixar, part business book, Creativity Inc is an inspiring look at the role creativity plays in one of the most successful media businesses the world has ever seenThe Hard Thing About Hard Things (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+hard+thing+about+hard+things&i=stripbooks&crid=1M5R7N1TEKZVG&sprefix=the+hard+%2Cstripbooks%2C535&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9) — Ben HorowitzThe tale of starting and growing a business to a billion dollars and losing it all and getting back and then nearly losing it and then starting another billion dollar business. Basically, there is no recipe for success and it is defined by what you do when things are going wrong. Such a good read.Sam’s Review and summary (https://medium.com/@sam_harris/the-hard-thing-about-hard-things-ben-horowitz-summary-and-review-8013261e1b4c)Thinking Fast and Slow  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0141033576/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OIJ8YB0FLPH&keywords=thinking+fast+and+slow&qid=1580046249&s=books&sprefix=thinking%2Cstripbooks%2C406&sr=1-1)— Daniel KahnemanEngaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions, how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives — and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble.Hooked (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hooked-sells-other-marketing-resist/dp/1292074426/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=hooked&qid=1580046209&s=books&sr=1-6) — Patrick FaganHow a marketer can pull on human traits to create more effective communication from the latest neuroscience and behavioural economics research.CONTACTMatt and CrowdEmotionWebsite — CrowdEmotion.co.uk (https://www.crowdemotion.co.uk/)Twitter — twitter.com/CrowdEmotion (https://twitter.com/CrowdEmotion)Medium Publication — Making Senses (https://medium.com/making-senses)Matt on Medium (https://medium.com/@mattceluszak)Matt on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MattCeluszak)Matts TedX speech — Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJxOrv6rQX8&t=27s)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Matt Celuszak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Miller is the CEO of Buzzhire, an on-demand staffing agency for the hospitality industry in London. Their app provides a modern solution to staffing issues and empowers users to work when they want at a price that suits them.Nick has also launched several other businesses including EatFirst and Jumia whilst working for RocketInternet.We discuss the best strategies for raising finance, creating a successful team and some amazing insights on being an entrepreneur.TOP TIPS1. Be Sensible About EquityRaising a large amount of money always seems like a good idea but ask yourself if you really need it straight away or if you can do without and retain a bigger holding and thus more control of your company. VC’s are often put off by companies where the founders don’t have a controlling share in the company.Equally, don’t be greedy and try to retain too much of your business. Selling at an inflated valuation can be damaging and limit your ability to raise further finance. So be realistic about your value and give out shares accordingly.2. Enjoy your commutePlan your living and working situation in a way that you enjoy your commute. It is one of the single biggest contributors to well being and happiness much more than most material items. So before taking on that higher paying job, ask your self will the commute make me happy, rather than will the money.3. Interview StrategyAsk Oddball questions to gauge more personality. If you think the candidate is a fit are worthwhile to spend time in the interview to make sure they really understand your business. Ensure that they have everything they need to make the decision to work for you.4. Have clear distinctions of roles for founders.CEO — to raise money and drive the visionCOO — to run the business and keep things togetherCTO — to build the techEach person should have ownership of their area and be trusted by the others that they will deliver. Of course, you need to meet regularly to be sure your all working towards the same goal. But each in their different area and then stop getting in each other’s way.5. Plan realistically — Don’t take on too muchExpect all of your plans to take twice as long and ensure to take on a minimal amount of stuff at any point in time so that you do it properly. And then you don’t get stressed out and deliver what you say will the way you want to!Give yourself time to focus on being awesome at minimal stuff instead of being poor at everything.BOOKS:Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches  (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Leadership-Winning-Hearts-Matches/dp/0241244943/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A1R99SRGAT7Q&keywords=quiet+leadership&qid=1580046475&s=books&sprefix=quie%2Cstripbooks%2C486&sr=1-1)— Carlo AncelottiA thoughtful insight into managing people and getting buy-in from others, it sounds like a great read and happy to add to my ever-growing list. Nick mentions a great quote._‘People don’t care how much you know, till they know how much you care.’ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HELENA SMITH — WRITER FOR LONELY PLANET AND ROUGH GUIDES AND AUTHOR OF HACKNEY GUIDESHelena Smith is a travel writer and book author. She writes for the ‘Lonely Planet’ and ‘Rough Guides’ publications whilst exploring the world, and has self-published her own books ‘Inside Hackney’ and ‘Eat Hackney’ in which she shares her insights travelling just a few miles from her doorstep.She shares her insights into travelling and how she worked her way into a dream job being paid to follow her passions.TOP TIPS1. Pack minimallyThe less stuff you have the better your trip will be. trust me. baggage drags you down, there is more stuff to lose, more stuff to carry. more stuff to unpack and repack every stop and it literally is a huge drain on your energy and attitude to do fun stuff and ties you down. having just a tiny backpack with everything you need is the most liberating thing you can do for a good travel experience! This can also be applied as a general life strategy to keep you freer and able to take new opportunities without being so entrenched in stuff2. Want to have a job as a writer — Just start writing.Actually pretty obvious in hindsight. to get good at writing you need to do it. By showing initiative and interest in writing about travel or local insights is the only way to get started in the world of travel writing. Just self-publish on a personal blog or submit to online magazines and grow from there. You can also review things on TripAdvisor and answer questions and give advice on Quora. In this modern age also things like an Instagram wouldn’t hurt…3. Bananas are awesomeYou can do lots of healthy alternatives to things with them and keep all your vegan friends happy. And you can basically buy them anywhere in the world cheaply. So no excuses.HELENA’S BOOKSInside Hackney (http://insidehackney.com/)If you’re in London or plan to visit the inside Hackney is a great resource beyond the average guidebook or using TripAdvisor. So many cool things she’s put in the book.Eat Hackney (http://eathackney.com/)For culinary travellers, Eat Hackney is your chance to get hold of and recreate the best food available in Hackney from the comfort of your own home. I’m already keen to try the Mung-bean curry she mentions and excited to see what other gems she has inside.HELENA’S FAVOURITE BOOKSTrue History of the Kelly Gang (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=true+history+of+the+ned&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss) by Peter CareyHer absolute favourite book. It sounds pretty interesting and as I’m about to visit Australia I’m lining it up on my next books to read.Daunt BookshopA great shop in London, it pairs travel books with novels about the country. So you can read a nice story about where you are going.SAM’S FAVOURITE TRAVEL BOOK PAIRINGS‘The Shadow of the Wind (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Wind-Cemetery-Forgotten-Books/dp/1474609880/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LC8F5WMPKP13&keywords=the+shadow+of+the+wind&qid=1580045060&s=books&sprefix=the+shadow%2Cstripbooks%2C484&sr=1-1)’ — Carlos Ruiz Zafón — Barcelona, SpainA beautiful captivating tale from early 20th century Barcelona, it’s one of my absolute favourite books also so a great read to lose yourself in.The Caesar (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conn-Iggulden-Emperor-Books-Collection/dp/B00JBAJV6E/ref=sr_1_17?crid=2J6Z5DCSEF4LQ&keywords=conn+iggulden&qid=1580045555&s=books&sprefix=conn+%2Cstripbooks%2C371&sr=1-17) —  A Series of 5 Books by Conn Iggulden — Rome, Italy, EuropeJust an epic account of the great man. All about Julius Caesar, Rome, Italy and also his conquests across Europe in general.‘Memoirs of a Geisha (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoirs-Geisha-Arthur-Golden/dp/0099771519/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KKKZAVWYEOTG&keywords=geisha&qid=1580045283&s=books&sprefix=geisha%2Cstripbooks%2C365&sr=1-1)’ by Arthur Golden. — JapanA stunningly beautiful book all about the last true geisha’s of Japan that follows the story of a young girl who goes to Geisha school to try help her family in a troubled age and goes on to be a leading geisha but during a time when Japan was catching up with the modern world.It’s just a really interesting book into a crazy country and a crazy life that doesn’t really exist anymore but with many poignant life lessons about how to succeed and stay relevant in a changing world around you.‘Nothing To Envy (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nothing-Envy-Lives-North-Korea/dp/184708141X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6RNWPP9AAZMN&keywords=nothing+to+envy&qid=1580045243&s=books&sprefix=nothing+to+en%2Cstripbooks%2C490&sr=1-1)’ by Barbara Demick, North KoreaThis book blew my mind. I literally had no idea about what has been going on in North Korea and it is a truly fascinating and shocking book about the crazy world of an entire country ran in a big brother state. it follows the tale of several families and characters and the effects that politics, famine and desperation has on them and the amazing resilience of human beings and the shocking power or information and what can happen when it is withheld from us. Obviously, I haven’t been to North Korea (YET) but I’ll update you on any progress on that front as I’m totally looking into it!Try a free Audible trial of any book here (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Free-Trial-Digital-Membership/dp/B00OPA2XFG?tag=samharris48%E2%80%9321)CONTACTHelena:You can find out more about Helena and her projects at:helenasmith.co.uk (https://helenasmith.co.uk)Twitter — Helena (https://twitter.com/HelsTravels)Twitter — Inside Hackney (https://twitter.com/insidehackney)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Helena Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Edward Broadhurst is a solicitor for local government and a member of the Territorial Army.A relaxed podcast where we explore his accidental launch and sale of his business and strategies to achieve more happiness and content in our lives. Some great tips covered and an interesting break from tech.If you want to get in touch with Ed it'll have to be via me:Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harsh is the VP of Engineering at TransferWise. On the podcast, he shares his wealth of experience leading software teams at scale.Prior to joining TransferWise, Harsh was Director of Product at PayPal leading product strategy and development of PayPal’s mobile apps and SDKs enabling third parties to build mobile wallet experiences. He also led eBay’s Local initiatives as Director of Engineering where he owned the vision and development of eBay’s Click & Collect platform globally, including launching eBay’s Click & Collect integration with Argos in the UK.He has a LOT of experience working with products at scale and managing teams through tough challenges and disasters.TRANSFERWISETransferWise is a leading low-cost currency exchange online currency exchange allowing you to easily send money across the globe.You can sign up here to send your first transaction for free. (https://transferwise.com/register?utmSource=url&utmMedium=invite&utmContent=&utmCampaign=3for50&referralCode=samh26&referralToken=samh26&profileType=PERSONAL#/)Borderless Bank AccountTheir new Borderless Bank Account is possibly my favourite product of 2017. You can register your own bank account with a physical address and bank account numbers so you can store legit money, pay people and be paid in several currencies. For anyone that travels frequently, enjoys currency speculation or supplies digital work across borders this is the most amazingly useful thing ever.You can sign up for an account here (https://transferwise.com/register?utmSource=url&utmMedium=invite&utmContent=&utmCampaign=3for50&referralCode=samh26&referralToken=samh26&profileType=PERSONAL#/)SAM’S TOP TIPS FROM THE EPISODEWhen building a team that scales, so called 10x engineers can be toxic and not worth the risk. Check that someone is a team-player first and has the right alignment with the company, then assess on how good they are.Take risks early in life and try wearing some different hats. See what suits you and commit to big idea’s before life gets in the way.In tech it is inevitable that things will break at some point. Don’t be so sure of yourself that good processes will prevent any failures occurring. Always keep in place good monitoring to ensure you catch it early and can diagnose and roll back or fix the problem quickly.FAVOURITE BOOKSThe Lean Start Up — Eric Ries (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0670921602/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0670921602&linkId=2deaa993ab7118ded9644d62681b13f5)The book that started the whole lean movement. A standard for all cash strapped entrepreneurs. The Lean Startup is about learning what your customers really want. It’s about testing your vision continuously, adapting and adjusting before it’s too late.Four steps to epiphany — Steve Blank (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Successful-Strategies/dp/0989200507/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25PWXZA3LW37N&keywords=four+steps+to+epiphany&qid=1580020897&s=books&sprefix=four+steps+to+%2Cstripbooks%2C467&sr=1-1)The Four Steps to the Epiphany launched the Lean Startup approach to new ventures. It was the first book to offer that startups are not smaller versions of large companies and that new ventures are different than existing ones. Startups search for business models while existing companies execute them.The book offers the practical and proven four-step Customer Development process for search and offers insight into what makes some startups successful and leaves others selling off their furniture.Start Up owners manual — Steve Blank (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0984999302/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0984999302&linkId=845a53471aace47bcaed4c642ff0e7b3)It s been called the bible for startups and the best $40 investment a startup can make (on sale at Amazon for far less)! A startup without customers is like a day without oxygen, and the Startup Owner s Manual helps founders get it right and shows you how to get, keep, and grow customers, literally every step of the way.Bill Bryson (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0035OC7VI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=samharris48-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0035OC7VI&linkId=9b345b4d56ea237214b7bfc4a27e5c60)A travel writer who creates ight-hearted yet insightful thought pieces on the world around him. A great read to understand a lot more about different cultures and what is going on across the globe all form teh comfort of your armchair.PODCASTSPLANET MONEYAn informative and often humorous insight into the world of money and the way economics shapes the world around us.50 THINGS THAT CHANGED THE MODERN ECONOMYShort 10 minute episodes on things you might never have thought of but perhaps play a huge role in your life or the modern world. Nice thought bites to listen to on the train to make you a little bit wiser.CONTACT USWe’d love to know what you learned most from the episode and feel free to leave a comment or start a conversation with us on twitter. You can find out more about Sam or Tom and talk about any episode you’ve enjoyed or the future of the podcast.Harsh and TransferWise:Twitter — @HarshSinha (https://twitter.com/harshSinha)Twitter — @TransferWise (https://twitter.com/TransferWise)Sam:Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/samjamsnaps/)Quora (https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Harris-58)Twitter (https://twitter.com/samharristweets)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris48/)Subscribe!If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Special Guest: Harsh Sinha. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices