In November of 2012 I decided to join professional network/entrepreneurial brain trust.
The rationale was simple, successful people don’t succeed on their own.
There are two parts to the program:
- Monthly interviews with a wide array of brilliant people, masters and advisors that have helped countless people with productivity, health, psychology, and more
- Membership to an exclusive community of ambitious professionals to hold you accountable, encourage you, and help you live a Rich Life
I read as much (or more) than anyone I know, but reading is a time consuming endeavor.
This brain trust provides access to knowledge, wisdom and proven strategies that top performers use to…
- Get more done
- Stay focused
- Earn more money
Below is a video preview and my notes from Ryan Holiday discussing, among other things, how to build your career
- Successful people know other successful people
- Prove something to one of them and they’ll share you
- Mentorships are gradual and happen over time
- Do squirrel work (bottom up, instead of having a grand strategy)
- Small, systemic steps to satisfy an urge
- Work you would do without being paid
- With respect to taking risks, you can always recover
- You’re not as in control of your life as you think you are
- Playing it safe does not provoke any reaction
- Echoing Seth Godin, Ryan asks, “If you were advertising and stopped, what would people notice and/or miss?”
- On Feedback:
- Don’t let the feedback of people you don’t care about dictate your actions
- Ask yourself, is the feedback constructive? (Both praise and criticism)
- If someone you’ve never met has a strong reaction to you, it’s all about them and has nothing to do with you
- On Marketing:
- Leverage high-valence emotions like anger and surprise
- Know who your audience is and take a stand in their direction
- Other takeaways
- Reading books *IS* part of your job (Shane Parrish on “How to Read a Book” and “Finding Time to Read“)
- Poise and perception lead reality
- Learn to project an image worth investing in
- What shortcuts are there?
- Around people
- To move up in an organization
- Test your assumptions
- How can you break the rules or do it differently than everyone else?
Some of my other favorites from Ryan:
And here’s 50 timeless philosophical takeaways from his wonderful book, “The Obstacle is the Way.”
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If you want access to all my interview notes, and additional insight and analysis on the mindsets and strategies that other top performers use, please subscribe below:
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