I received Tim Ferriss new book ‘Tribe of Mentors’ as a Christmas gift this year and just like every single one of Tim’s books, I love it. Like Tim mentions in the book, you might not like every single profile or answer, but even if you get one super actionable tip then that’s a win. I decided to share some of my answers, partly for fun and partly in hopes that something here might help you.
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
This might be cheating but The Four Workweek by Tim Ferriss himself was a big one for me. I received it as a gift when I was in high school and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities out there in the world. Although I would call it a business book, it triggered something in my head that sent me down the rabbit hole of self improvement. It also taught to me to be very protective of, and value, my time.
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)? My readers love specifics like brand and model, where you found it, etc.
A whiteboard. A generic 2′ x 3′ whiteboard I bought from Staples and some dry erase markers. I’ve tried using a variety of calendar and to do list apps but nothing has helped more than a whiteboard that I keep hung up in my bedroom where I jot down important short term dates, reminders, and occasionally a quote if I come across one, things like that.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why? It could be a few words or a paragraph. (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)
“Extreme Ownership” – Jocko Willink. This was a general mantra I began embracing before I ever heard of who Jocko was but I’ve really internalized it since I’ve began following him. Too often in society people look for a scapegoat or a reason why something is bad, or not going their way. Although I won’t discount the effect external forces can have on our life, since I’ve began taking ownership of every situation I have been in, my happiness has gone way up and I often feel much more inclined to accept the situation as it is and to figure out how I will deal with said situation. If everyone in the world did the same, the world would be a much better place.
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
I love the ridiculousness of rap lyrics. I’ve been known to laugh while listening to rap music. (This isn’t a swipe at rap, it’s one of my favourite genres.)
In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?
This is a mindset shift that happened just a couple months ago and it’s my attitude towards school. I despise the school system and up until a couple months ago I would skip class, do minimal homework, study the least amount possible, etc. out of spite towards school. I realized this was ridiculous as the only person it affected was me. Although I still think the school system is poorly set up, I’ve decided that if I can’t change the game, I can change how I play the game. This has improved my performance in school, obviously, and improved my happiness, as being spiteful is a negative emotion.
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
I have always been good at saying no, however I never had a strategy. It wasn’t until I read Derek Sivers “Hell Yeah or No” blog post that I realized that I was employing the same strategy. I highly recommend reading it, here.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)
I’ve noticed that when I have gone through periods like this that it’s often because I’ve let go of the fundamentals. Is my sleep schedule regular? Have I been eating well? Have I been going to the gym? Have I meditated? I find that once I have a few days of being consistent with these fundamentals that it carries over to all aspects of my life. On the off chance that the fundamentals are in place and I still feel overwhelmed or unfocused, then it’s possible I truly am overworked and need a few days of rest and recovery.