“If you’re having trouble thinking bigger, just think stranger.”
This episode is a review of the past year, as well as a look at how I plan for new years.
I haven’t written New Year’s resolutions for roughly six years. Instead, I do a post-game analysis with a series of exercises and odd questions. This episode describes that, as well as a few lessons I’ve learned.
All of the links and resources I mention in the audio can be found below.
Thank you for listening, and wishing you and yours all the best in 2017!
- Listen to it on iTunes.
- Stream by clicking here.
- Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another podcast with an end-of-year review? — Listen to my last podcast of 2015. In this episode, I share 25 of my favorite learnings from 2015: tips, gadgets, and quotes from podcast guests that I’ve incorporated into my own life. (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring chaga. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.
People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement right now — this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.
This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you for free exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
- Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
- Making Oprah from WBEZ
- How a Gang of Skinheads Forever Changed the Course, The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Shopify’s Build a Business Competition
- The Culting of Brands: Turn Your Customers into True Believers by Douglas Atkin
- Debt by David Graeber (Get it on Audio)
- The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World and Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth and Art by Lewis Hyde
- Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
- Seth Godin likes Kramer knives
- Mystery Show Case #3: Belt Buckle
- 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly, The Technium
- Testing The “Impossible”: 17 Questions That Changed My Life
- My Life Extension Pilgrimage to Easter Island
- How to Say “No” When It Matters Most (or “Why I’m Taking a Long ‘Startup Vacation'”)
- DonorsChoose, QuestBridge, and BUILD are education-oriented nonprofits I enjoy working with.
- Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton
- The Five Minute Journal: A Happier You in 5 Minutes a Day
- The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups
- Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga
- Wired Business Conference
- How to 10X Your Results, One Tiny Tweak at a Time
- The 30-Day Challenge: No Booze, No Masturbating (NOBNOM)
Show Notes
- What I took away from a documentary about Oprah Winfrey. [07:29]
- There are only two emotions: love and fear. [08:18]
- Are you attempting to be a force of good in the world, or are you representing darkness? [09:44]
- Book, podcast, and knife recommendations from Seth Godin. [10:36]
- “If you delight them, you’ll never lose them.” [11:39]
- If I had to charge two times more for my product or service and couldn’t do any paid advertising, what would I do instead? [12:50]
- 80/20 analysis: 20 percent of activities, experiences, or people who produced 80 percent or more of my most positive emotions and outcomes. [14:21]
- Should I go on a podcast tour? [19:14]
- I need to see more sunrises and spend fewer days in big cities. [20:34]
- If it is not on the calendar, it is not real. [21:12]
- Can money buy happiness? [22:20]
- Using my journal to spot patterns. [24:14]
- Thinking in threes: three things to add and three things to remove from life. [26:57]
- Matchmaking? [27:21]
- The solution to cleaning up dog hair without anyone moving my stuff. [27:50]
- Can I pay for every possible VR demonstration? [28:38]
- Coming up with absurd ideas for experiments. [30:17]
- 10x vs. 10% [33:16]
- The importance of scheduling the fun stuff. [34:54]
- I’m taking suggestions for potential 30-day challenges and experiments (remember NOBNOM?). [36:59]
- A virtual hug and legitimate gratitude to all of you and best wishes for the new year! [38:58]
People Mentioned
- Oprah Winfrey
- Tony Robbins
- Seth Godin
- Lewis Hyde
- Kevin Kelly
- Peter Attia
- David M. Sabatini
- Navdeep S. Chandel
- Derek Sivers
- Dan Sullivan
- Molly
- Jocko Willink
- Sarah Silverman
- Jerrod Carmichael
- Shay Carl
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Greetings Tim!
Love the live podcast idea. Please consider Hopkinsville KY this August. It will be the best location to witness the total solar eclipse as it’s path crosses the US this summer. As you suggest, we’ve had it on our calendar for over a year. Anticipation is building.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers!
Love your work!
Last January I went the whole month with drinking nothing but water for an experiment. No bubbles, no flavors; no drink of any other sort. It was difficult and fascinating. For some reason, my 13 year old son joined me in a last minute decision, and it was great being able to compare notes with him.
It’s a long shot for Tim to visit the UK, but myself and Jamie Davison have created a Tools of Titans group for the UK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/939502749513019/
Great to know you’d already created a FB page! Thanks for the link – will join the group.
Thanks, Tim! I’m curious about why Oprah is one of your dream guests for the podcast. Is it because of the questions she asks, her accomplishments or maybe because of people she inspires and reaches? Have you though of attempting to interview Ellen, or perhaps getting featured on her show? Her website has a whole, “Send to Ellen” section and her fan mail address is easy to find. We’ve mailed her a few mugs over the years, partly because most of our pottery fans seem to be in a similar demographic. She might be more accessible and active right now, if you could convince her to let you play AcroYoga base, hah!
I’d love to come see you live if you swoop through the Midwest for a tour. If you think a pottery kick-wheel demo might be an interesting pairing with an AcroYoga demo, drop me a line and I’d love to zip over with some Stoneware and a portable kick-wheel. Our Facebook live pottery demos have been reaching 50-200k+ views consistently.
Do you have any specific tips for using a Facebook Group to raise interest for Tools of Titans locally? What would you name the group? I was at a party in Minneapolis Saturday and someone I’d never met enthusiastically recognized TOT on the coffee table.
Happy New Year! Agreed- a podcast roadshow would be great! and I would love it if you were to stop in Chicago.
Have you chosen your off-grid trip yet for this year? Have you ever been to East Africa? If not, I highly recommend it- absolutely beautiful! I’ve been working on a project in Tanzania for several years and it’s like my second home. And actually, as a dog owner (Molly is super cute btw), might be interesting for you to see what dog ownership looks like in different contexts (I study dog ecology, ownership, and rabies in rural villages near Serengeti).
Just a thought….
Cheers!
Hi Tim,
The Noc-Noc challenge is going to be fun. What was the ultimate decision the type of challenge?
For 2017, I decided to switch a resolution to build upon my previous resolutions:
2015 – Read 52 Book
2016 – Read only Fiction
2017 – No reading(in english bu French and Chinese is OKay), only writing to finish a novel
I think people should break down their New Year’s resolutions to action steps to create a larger picture.
What do you think as a writer?
Would be great if someone creates TOT group for Londoners.
Though slim chances for TIM to come and do Live podcast here in London but who knows. We can share our learning techniques from TOT, our success and questions.
Two suggestions on places to visit for your traveling podcast — Longmont, CO for a conversation with Mr. Money Mustache and Salina, Kansas for another conversation with Rolf Potts. Very cool that you are open to exploring smaller US cities. Best, Kathy
Hi Tim,
I admire the work you do. I’m a huge fan. Your tips with respect to achieving successful business and fulfilled life are invaluable and life changing. You are a great role of a self-made man.
With regard to your Live Podcast idea, I think it’s an awesome idea, in big or small cities. it will build communities of diverse people who are interested business, health, lifestyle, self-improvement, and constant self-learning. I already created Tools of Titans LOS ANGELES and many of my friends are signed up…
On a side note, I’d like to have your advice regarding which conferences or workshops you can recommend to attend for people who would like to start their own business (I’m researching the ideas for my business now). If u can shoot me a quick message that would be great.
Thanks and wishing you success in this beautiful 2017!!!
Houston is right at 100. I’m reaching out to the Houston Acro-yoga community, but after watching a few of the youtube videos…f*&# that man…it looks intense. Anyway, hope you can make it down here. — Andy Mann
A podcast tour is waiting for you in Austin. I have 250 fans (and growing) in a facebook group who are ready to laugh and learn. Until then, we will be doing meetups to discuss our own experiments inspired by ToT. Stories to come via our facebook group!
Happy New Year Tim. If you go to Nebraska you have to get Warren Buffet on a podcast. He’s a legend with unlimited wisdom.
We’ve set up a Tools of Titans group for Albuquerque. If you’re in New Mexico, join our group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1227658007281455/
Love your podcasts . . . but I wish you provided transcripts–so often I’m short of time and I can read much faster than I can listen to a podcast. On the other hand, getting the full sense of expression can also be great!
I bought Tools of Titans and look forward to it–it was too heavy to take on this trip!
Thanks for all you offer!
I’d love to do NocNoc!! I find challenges very helpful in generating better habits.
Hi Tim,
I am a big fan of you from Germany and listen regulary to your amazing podcasts- really awesome! I was very attracted by mushroom coffee, but unfortunately had to learn that there is no Tim-discout for me in Germany- Foursigmatic has an international store, so it would be great to get also a discount as a German user. Tolols of Titans is great! Best regards Sandra
Hey Sandra, ich kaufe meinen foursigmatic coffee über ihren Shop bei amazon.de. Loving Lion’s Mane best. Viele Grüße, Greta
@Greta- Hi Greta, thanks for the tip!
Yes please do a podcast tour! And come to Charleston, SC! I’ll help organize.
This was a very helpful episode, especially looking back at the year’s worth of events and interactions. There are certainly a few things that need to be cut out to make life more enjoyable this year. But I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much improvement I’ve made by simply focusing more on the people in my life. Thank you for creating this episode.
Tim – I am LOVING TOT and just purchased a few more copies to gift.. everyone needs a TOT imho 🙂 Thank you for writing it.
As for more live podcasts – yes please!! Please come back to NYC (a selfish request as it’s my home) but perhaps consider rural locations where stress is through the roof.. Victoria, Texas, for example. Check out the suicide and drug overdose stats there.
There are numerous rural communities where a little TF attention, wisdom, and TLC could go a long way..
I was incredibly touched by your candid commentary on mental health/suicide in TOT.. the US is under a siege of anxiety, depression, and worse.. and it doesn’t need to be this way. A dose of Tim Ferris perspective and inspiration could help.
💥 🗽 🍎 💥 ToTNYC MISSION COMPLETE!!! and growing… We can’t wait to SEE you LIVE in NYC. Stop by and say hello to the fb group: Tools of Titans NEW YORK CITY! 🏋🏅🍷
Hi Tim! I’ve been listening to this at work, great music to help me focus without distracting since it’s all instrumental…thought you might enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdjIPSks2h0
I enjoy the podcast, however it makes me feel like I cannot relate to him when Tim is talking about spending a month in Paris or taking trips around the world. Typically the content is pretty “financially neutral”, and he did summarize saying spending time with family etc., but I feel like it is a different situation than just “spending time together” when you can take your parents to Europe for a month. Not trying to hate, thanks for the podcast.
Tim,
I know you’re a fan of the 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch. I really hope you could get him on your podcast in 2017.
He knocks out some amazing articles and is one of the most underrated bloggers around in my opinion. http://richardkoch.net/blog-2/
Amazing wisdom and business knowledge, it would be a great podcast!
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/286683
NOCNOC! I’m in! Also, just got Tools of Titans & have decided to make it my 2017 manual. Can’t wait to dig in! Happy New Year! Love you Tim!
Hi Tim – We are listening to this podcast while on our ski tour through Wyoming, Idaho & Oregon. Our ears certainly perked when you found that the pattern with your good times from 2016 where traveling off the grid with friends & family. We feel the same and have actually built our business around this very idea. Thank you for your year in review. Not sure if this is the right avenue for talking about this but if you decide to take that trip through the US, we have some ideas:) We partner with the LymeLight Foundation to raise awareness for Lyme Disease (I, Gretchen have had it since I was 10, just diagnosed last year). Our campervans are built for adventure (full kitchen, extremely comfortable, stocked with all the gear you’ll need and not a huge RV) and we think you’d love exploring in a ROAM rig, taking your podcast on the road & raising even more awareness for the Lyme community. We’ve wanted to reach out for a while now but after listening to this last podcast, decided to just pull the trigger & comment:) We hope your new year is off to a good start! Take care, Gretchen & Taylor from ROAM
Tim, I have been listening for some time now and love all the “actionable” tips I’ve gotten from you! Really hoping you do the live podcast tour so you can visit us in Fargo ND (yup the one from the movie)
Hi Tim,
I love your books and have learned quite a lot from them starting with giving me the motivation to quit my job and start my own business.
You often talk about being a Type A personality which leads me to believe that you are at least somewhat interested in categorizing personality types.
One thing I haven’t read about in your books so far (I’m only 10% into 4HChef and halfway through Tools of Titans) is a more detailed analysis in these types.
The most popular and accepted system is called Big Five but I would like to talk to you about a different system called Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which you might not have heard about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
While the first system is interesting enough I find that the second one (strongly correlated with the first one but not as universally accepted) has a lot more interesting implications and applications.
This system categorizes a person in 4 different categories each with 2 extremes. You don’t strictly belong to either extreme but in most cases you will mostly tend more to one than the other. The categories are (only shortly described):
Where do you get your energy from? Extroversion (being with a big group of people) or Introversion (being alone/with few good friends)
How do you process information? Sensor (details) or iNtuition (connections)
How do you make decisions? Thinker (take a step back and analyze rationally) or Feeler (project yourself into the situation and feel how it will effect you/others)
How you organize your life? Judger (very organized and punctual) or Perceiver (likes freedom and dislikes rules/appointments)
The combination of letters (and therefore attributes) will tell you a lot about yourself and others.
A proper personality type test can be done by licensed people (e.g. certain psychologists), by yourself with a good book (I would recommend “The Art of Speedreading People” by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger) or with an online test (not as accurate in many cases). As a quick introduction to spike your interest you could try the latter, e.g. at https://www.16personalities.com/ although I would recommend reading a suitable book on it.
From what I know about you in your books I would say that you are very likely a INFJ personality type. Of course at this point these letters might not make a lot of sense for you, but they will if this topic interests you and you read a bit more about it. I’m very certain on the first and the last two letters, the second letter is the most tricky one for me to read in other people. As you very often state certain facts, numbers, names etc. you might be of the Sensor extreme but I think you have more traits in common with the iNtuition extreme as the connections throughout the book a very well worked out and you can often find sentences like “XXX reminds me of YYY” (e.g. for tastes in the 4HChef).
You might be familiar with this topic but if not maybe you are interested in it and can get some knowledge about yourself and other people out of it (I know I have).
Have a great day,
Patrick
I was listening to your podcast, and a few people said you should do things with high school students; which you said you loved doing… but you sort of flew past that idea and got really excited about doing the live podcasting tour. Maybe this sounds odd, but I don’t think a podcast tour is as valuable as you teaching. I think that while spending a few hours in a room with your super fans is great–You know what would be even greater than that? Having an impact on someones life that really needs it. Giving teens hope and teaching them they can create their own future and giving them the tools and access that your listeners have is priceless. I wish I had someone like you talk to me when I was a shitty kid in high school. Inspiration would have made a huge impact at that age.
Anyways, you could totally do the tour and have a room full of people that will all take selfies with you, and it will be cool. Or you could have a huge impact on the lives of people that could actually use it and ten years from now, maybe twenty, you might a bunch of amazing adults that say, “Tim, seriously, that time you talked to my school, taught my class…it changed my life.”
Seriously dude. You’re kind of my hero right now.
Keep up the awesomeness.
Yes on a Podcast Tour just as long as you come through the Phoenix area.
Yes on more sunrises. I do it each morning.
Looking forward to more monthly challenges! NoC NoC sounds like a great start to the year!
Yes, bring the fucking podcast tour!
Hey Tim! I took your FB group challenge and we had 334 people join in less than 48 hours. What are the next steps for getting you to Santa Cruz? You’ve got some super fans down here.
Noc-Noc? I’m in. Let’s do it.
Ok, Tim, I took you up on your quasi-challenge…check out @ToolsOfTitansChicago on Facebook and start packing! #CircusIsComingToTown
Tim, I’ve been following you ever since you interviewed Jocko for the first time. I am continually impressed by those you interview and was extremely glad to have been gifted Tools of Titans for Christmas. It’s proven one to keep me engrossed for hours at a time. Even though I’ve listened to many of your podcasts, reading what those I’ve listened to and those I haven’t in the format you’ve introduced with the book is incredibly fulfilling. There always seems to be an answer to a question I’d been thinking of independent of the book and your interviews. Thank you for the diligence you’ve put in between the covers of this book and the many hours you’ve put into “deconstructing” those whose knowledge and experience are so succinctly contained within them. Thank you for sharing pieces of yourself and your life in there as well. I assume that, although you’ve been at this for awhile, it’s not so easy to open yourself and your life to mass consumption. May 2017 bring you many new and uplifting experiences and even more fortuitous ventures. Thanks again for the work you do. It’s extremely appreciated.
Tim, I was recently introduced to your podcast and blog and have loved them both. Such good stuff!! You should try and interview Wim Hof. He holds 20 world records. He hiked Everest in nothing but shoes and shorts and he is a meditation guru. I don’t know if you know who he is, but he would be a fascinating interview and right up your alley. Here is to 2017!
Tim,
Well done, as usual. I haven’t finished the entire podcast-but thought I’d check out some of the comments while in front of the computer. I love the idea of the travelling podcast, and would like to recommend Tacoma, Washington.
We have a race called “Unleashed at Stadium Bowl” that had 500 participants last year. We race up and down the stairs of the historic Stadium High School Bowl (school where 10 Things I Hate About You was filmed). It is fun like a throat-punch, I’m sure you’d like it.
The race is the primary fundraiser for our animal rescue, but it is really a community building event. There are numerous venues (indoors if needed) in which a post race podcast could be taped. We expect close to 1000 racers this year, and I imagine many if not most would be ‘FHWW’ people–even if they don’t yet know it.
I prefer Tacoma over Seattle/Bellevue. We are Grit City, close to Joint Base Lewis McChord, urban yet approachable. Our race is Sunday August 6th. We are close enough to Seattle that it would draw that crowd, but in Tacoma you get to run the stairs!
Your work matters. Keep it up.
bsn
Tim,
I totally forgot. I don’t Facebook because of what I learned in SERE school..maybe one of these days. All of my friends so, so I’ll have one of them create a Facebook page.
bsn
Love your work Tim! Come to western pa for your podcast. Summer is lovely. We have some acro-yoga in the vicinity… boxing… kayaking… Ill be starting the facebook group Tools of Titans Dubois-Brookville.
Tim,
Huge each fan of more monthlong experiments. I am on year 6 of no booze, caffeine, or refined sugar for the month of Jan. It’s the best/worst ever and at the least it makes you appreciate what you are missing when it’s back in life. Also makes daily journal easy ( I am grateful for sour patch kids, bourbon, etc).
Hell yes to the traveling podcast. Been poking around the idea of doing the same same but different (my wife and I are on month 7 of track loving the the world with only a smaller pack and $25/day per person.)
On your challenge to I think bigger – we plan adventure every 6 months as you recommends. Ice Climbing for a week every year starting the day day after Christmas has made the ploughing through fall so easy. I want to kick an idea by you if you’re into it.
Peace in the middle east,
Bobby
Hi Tim,
Loved your podcast, especially the 10x Your Results concept and the Are you attempting to be a force of good in the world, or are you representing darkness.
I think Australia needs to hear your message, and am very confident that we could set something up in the major cities for a live Podcast Tour, there will be more than enough of us!!!
I’m in for Brisbane!!!
Tim you are so grateful and fuzzy in this one! We love you too. Keep shining! 🙂
Hi Tim,
As a public health professional who thinks in terms of social determinants of health, I am fascinated by the dynamic interplay of how where you live, work, play, learn,and worship affects one’s health outcomes. I’m curious to know whether you might consider exploring in your national podcast tour and Facebook groups on how Tools of Titans can be applied to not only improving individual’s health/wealth/wisdom but also scaling up to enhance the well-being of communities (i.e., neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and churches)? Can these tools have a measurable impact beyond the individual-level? How do you engage folks who haven’t already drunk the Kool-Aid of Tools of Titans but could really benefit from contributing to the conversation and from finding ways to bridge/apply the tools in their own communities?
stay well,
Diane
In regards to your US road trip idea / plan… You might want to search, “Overlanding” (off road camping), “XP Camper”, “Earthromer” ,”Overland Expo”. Some other individuals that have traveled the world would be the blogs, “Song of the Road”, “Goats on the Road”, “MJSailing” which I think your listeners might enjoy as an alternative lifestyle if one is more in tune with the journey and importance of people instead of the destination while traveling. I’ve been thinking about recording conversations via the “StoryCorps” Ap. In regards to your matchmaking comment, I talk to strangers during my commute to SF on Bart and ask them what they are interested in as a way of helping them pursue their passions by connecting them to resources or people. I’ve also started to get more involved in my local schools to help students realize their full potential. My passion project is a humble worldwide social movement that enables everyone to know everyone or more likely a computer that knows everyone and suggests people dead or alive whom you might learn from or who are on similar journeys as yourself. It in a beta testing phase, me being the beta / computer and doing more of a performance / conceptual art piece for now. I was trying to document the interactions online, but it was getting a little labor intensive. To be more present with the family, I have narrowed the audience down to one, being my wife whom I journal my thoughts, feelings, poems every day on the morning commute and sometimes in the evening. Check out “Modern Love” and “Dear Sugar” also if you’re into body work with the yoga you might find the “Somatica” school of Danielle and Celeste or “Sex with Emily” Podcast educational…
Hi Tim,
You give so much to the world (and me). Thank you.
The biggest question when reviewing the year you didn’t discuss is ‘when will I know she is the one’?
It is impossible that you have not dated beautiful women that would already be an ideal partner… So, how do you ready yourself to take the leap?
I don’t have the answer. I listened eagerly for 2 years asking myself and wishing for you to unlock the answer. As I walked down the isle, I wondered if one side of the equations is as follows:
(Supposing spark, intelligence, lifestyle and values are aligned then:)
1. Do you like her parents (their family environment may be a good view into a possible future together, plus you find you spend so much time with them when kids arrive)?
2. Do you like her friends? (The friends she has is a good indication of friends you will make together or friends you choose to support or not support) and
3. Do your friends (and parents?) gel with her (often a good indication if you are blinded by the trees of ‘love’).
Otherwise, you can’t make a mistake. Marriage (or your choice in partner) is a wave in the ocean, once committed the force will bring you joy, take you new places and importantly bring little people to the world. Your own game still will have the most to do with it.
I could go on. Reach out to me if you want to discuss more. Final comments: I selfishly want you to marry and have kids too. Children are the biggest catalysts for change in your own life (in a good way), I’d love for more on that advice and adventure to be examined by your podcasts (to help me).
Please don’t ‘experiment this’ in a show with a great athlete of your interest. It is your private choice and there will be good and bad in her.
I believe you will make it work whoever it is and the net sum will still be positive. That said, I secretly wish for you to be lucky enough to find a right one – you derserve it and I wish this gift for everyone. (You do however need to take a plunge. Is one wave really that much better than another when you love surfing (i.e. being a dad.)?)
Use all means possible (including IT). Propose to 3 people this year. Marry the first one that says yes. Then make it work and don’t look back.
(Apologies if you already know all this.)
Truely wishing you the best of luck, Nick.
Hi Tim,
For the tour you’re considering, I’d love to hear from people who have read the book and how it affected them. So maybe a few minutes of your podcast you can sit down with someone from the Facebook group and get a sense of what they got out of the book and how they continue to use it and reference it.
Tim, I’d like to put in a hell yes vote to your idea of “going on tour” with podcasts around the country. I’ve been a huge fan for years, have gifted the 4 hour workweek many, many times, and am a loyal podcast listener. Your work has been so inspiring for my own self actualization, but also for my work as an Army psychotherapist. I am more than willing to coordinate the D.C. area and will standby for further guidance!
Come to DC please!!! I can even hook you up with a place to stay in an unbeatable location: cryotherapy center, yoga studio, TRX/kettlebell/other high intensity fitness center (rated #1 in DC), Michelin Star & other top restaurants, a speakeasy, best coffee in DC, a fancy pet babysitting place, and your local neighborhood bar all within 1 min walking distance! Hope to see you here!
Hi Tim! If you feel like visiting Montreal during your tour, I’ll be happy to assist! We have great skiing in the area. Happy 2017!
Tim, what would it take to get you to come to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada? I am willing to make it happen!! It is fu**king cold here in the winter but our summers are beautiful. We have an amazing river valley, a great food scene and truly wonderful people. You have changed my life in a big way and I would love to meet you and bring you to my city.
Hi Tim- Pease do a tour, if you are seeking more sunrises and the opportunity to spend more time In the country this would be an exceptional way to check off multiple goals. I have been working with this roving farm to table organization for the last two years and the experience has been phenomenal. Its high end, we don’t advertise and we have a phenomenal following. It has allowed me to see some of the most beautiful places in the country, work with some incredible farmers and world class chefs and has allowed me to fall asleep under the stars and rise with the sun. Their business structure is what I believe you will find appealing, pick a location, set a date and allow for ticket sales, once the event is sold out guests can seek an alternative date/location have the option of adding additional dates in the sold out location. Your audience will come to you, and if you perhaps offered a camping option, most will delight in some glorious acro play as well! If you need a wing woman sign me up. Thank you for all that you do and your incessant inspiration for self improvement.
Shared my thoughts on 2016 in a blogpost. Much inspired by Tim: https://takslife.com/2017/01/03/lesson-from-last-year-what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger/
An RV podcast tour + Acro Jams is an amazing idea.
But I’m biased. I live in an RV full time and travel around going to acroyoga jams and other movement based activities, so of course I’d think that was awesome! I might even come to more than one of them.
My best RV touring tip: Use the Allstay’s Walmart site to find which Walmarts allow/encourage free parking. So much easier than trying to get an actual RV spot for one night stopovers.
Cheers!
Hailey
All of this is well and good if our major signaling system—our hormone/gut cross talk—is working. But, today emerges a new critical problem: environmental castration. And, what to do about it. In the past 2 decades it’s been clear that milestones of reproduction are being futzed with by toxic pollutants with far-reaching consequences. Now our toxic planet is assaulting our human ability of connection/pleasure/performance. 20 yr. old’s are having sexual dysfunctions previously only seen in seniors. Nature never does anything without a purpose: including pleasure. Worth a chat? I’m a hormone scholar yada yada and love that you rally our spirits and bodies, but our hormonal Internet system must be on board, too.
Kansas City would welcome you with open arms. I know a certain Library that would love to host you.
One of my favourite episodes of the year!
Just wanted to point on that the knives Seth Godin likes are probably “Kramer” knives. The current link seems incorrect.
Make Carbondale a stop on the mobile podcast circuit. On August 21, 2017 we will be the greatest point of duration for the eclipse. SIU had Bucky Fuller as a professor and is the home of his original dome home. We have lots of hiking, wineries & breweries and the top ranked BBQ among other things.
See more at the Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/Tools-of-Titans-Carbondale-IL-1746866582005722/
Hi Tim,
I would absolutely love a live podcast tour! Would you consider a detour out to Sydney Australia? I can rally up a ton of people to attend! Plus the weather is great this time of year.
Loved podcast of “what I learned in 2016”. First time I ever listened to one of your podcasts. My psychiatrist sent me the link to it! He thought I would enjoy it.
Another suggestion would be to have a milonga after the interview with Elon Musk or other remarkable guest in Los Angeles 🙂 we have great tango instructors!!! 🙂
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FEBxvhRLAoI
Tim, how did you know when your story was “strange enough” that people would find it interesting?
Tim, what would happen if instead of just a tour of the U.S. you made it a podcast world tour? I’ve started a Tools of Titans Facebook Group for Glasgow, Scotland on the off chance you decide to go crazy.
Thanks for an epic episode!
Hi- Love the podcast, love Tools of Titans. Keep up the great work. Can anyone tell me where I can find the “Crazy Idea” exercise he references as written in Tools of Titans?
Thanks!
Brad
Tim,
I am not going to waste time writing to your assistants.
Check your Twitter. Let’s get to work on these resolutions!
I am your wing woman.
I am your Acro yoga partner.
I am in the experimental mindset and have studio space throughout Portland. Let’s jam.
Portland is the perfect place to expand your practice.
Look me up on ANY social media play form: Tatiana Tomich
Then email me. I look forward to it. 🙏🏼
Tatiana . s . tomich@ gmail.com
No spaces
This was a great episode! I wish I would have made it around to it earlier when I was getting through the holiday shenanigans. I especially liked the take away from the Oprah documentary on doing a thought experiment in which you look at having love and fear as your only emotions.
Interestingly, I also decided to start the NOC NOC challenge for a 3 month stint before hearing this. I’m glad going ketogenic and complaint free has an official and hilarious name and hope more people jump on! The Dom D’Agostino piece in Tools of the Titans was really helpful for being able to add some strength and muscle while eating this way. I add the Blue Ice supplement you recommended in 4 Hour Body, zinc, magnesium, and D3 supplementation FTW!
Atlanta would be happy to have you!
Speaking of matchmaking, have you ever considered being the matchmaker yourself? I’m sure many of your listeners would love to connect with like-minded individuals. Enjoying your podcast already narrows the field; some sort of Meyers-Briggs or similar system would be an additional cool (and easily automated) vetting component. Your listeners may skew male, but do you have data on your single listeners? That ratio might be more equal. Just a thought!
Please do a podcast tour and include Missoula MT – dog friendly and conveniently on the way from Seattle to Chicago!
Tim, I am the organizer of a local Meetup group of ~500 in Jackson, Mississippi— I’d love to be part of creating a Facebook group (presumably from my Meetup + additional promotion in my network) and hosting you for a live podcast! I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to Mississippi (let alone Jackson), but there’s actually a lot of great things happening here and you have many fans here!
Hello Tim, I don’t know where you are at with your Podcast Tour, but I’d like for you to consider Long Island as a venue. and we can look at the Boulton Center in Bay Shore https://boultoncenter.org/ of which I have a friend that runs it. In addition, I already had a small group of Titans experimenting stuff from Tools of Titans on Facebook, Called Tools of Titans Experiment in Action. I wanted to keep it small but you mentioned having 250 members in the group, so I wanted a challenge and I believe that we will have that many members. What else can I do to reverse engineer TF to come to Long Island other with some wine mushroom coffee and maybe get Josh Waitzkin to banter with you in Bay Shore? You can find me on Facebook, or email with the email that you will not share with anyone. Thanks and I hope someone is reading.
Tim, Would you consider a video based live or pre-screened Q & A instead of a podcast tour?
Seems the time vs value ratio would be better served during a “virtual” town hall type of tour, you could broadcast from any (exotic) location.
Just a consideration, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I’m living the dream and your books had a large part in my success, much appreciated.
Hello Tim!
I have been a long time follower of your blog and have gotten so much inspiration from it. Most recently, this episode led to my New Year’s resolution to live my live my life more from love than fear. The episode also inspired me to put a proposal out to you related to your idea to take the blog on the road in 2017. What if you had a custom designed trailer to travel the country in? Think ultra cool Airstream built with your and Molly’s design tastes and desires in mind. Sharing an opportunity for adventure, not selling a trailer. I could make this a reality and believe it would end up on your positive 20% column at the end of the year.
Tim, first of all. Thank you for the 4-hour work week. It gave me the push. I went to Europe, ran a marathon, went back to pole dance, sold all the clutter in my life, detached negative people out, and much happier now. I’ve been working on my muse a bit longer than expected though… It’s taking me much longer than a month to put the idea into life. And more than that, it became all consuming thing in my life. This side business that was suppose to liberate me has now consumed me and I haven’t made a single cent yet:) I’ve must have gone wrong somewhere… Going to reread your book again. Hopefully that will help. Great episode by the way, doing the 80/20 analysis of 2016 tonight. Thank You for all the great content that you provide. Very helpful and inspirational.
I don’t follow random very well, so I organized my podcast notes into a process to experiment with this year.
Thought I’d share in case others need similar.
(The font/italic/bold/highlighting didn’t paste, forgive the goofball attempts to replicate the effects.)
A Year In Review
~~~ 80/20 Calendar Analysis ~~~
<1hr, record 2 columns + / –
+
looking for 20% activities/experiences/people who created 80%+ most positive emotions
(things you want // positive outcomes secondary to positive emotion for this analysis)
–
looking for 20% activities/experiences/people who created 80%+ most negative emotions // stress // bullshit // angst
(who/what do I need to retire from?)
Review the Columns
((finding patterns // spot commonalities))
?? What do I LOVE doing? (the Hell Yes's)
?? What can I set myself up to look forward to every 6 months?
~~~ Journal Analysis ~~~
go through the 5min journal / 1 page entries for the year
enhance & inform the 80/20 calendar analysis with this data
AM
~ Today I am grateful for ____
~ What would make today great?
~ I am ____ (owning aspect of the day)
PM
~ 3 Amazing Things that happened today
~ How could I have made today even better?
~~~ Insight From Inner Circle ~~~
asking those close to you:
?? What do you think I should do more of? less of?
~~~ Insight From Absurdity ~~~
"Think Stranger"
?? What are the most absurd, crazy things I could do?
let the hand flow unedited for several pages
the seeds of potential will emerge
~~~ Insight From 10x ~~~
?? What might I do, no matter how crazy, to 10x _____?
step out of realistic incremental gains for a moment to explore into the ridiculous
trusting the seeds will emerge // seeds feeding into new frameworks/processes/structures
~~~ Business / Passion / Creative Analysis ~~~
?? "If I had to charge two times more for my product or service and couldn’t do any paid advertising, what would I do instead?" ~ Seth Godin
back into it
charge twice as much as closest comparable offering, then work backwards to create an experience worth that much ~ TFerriss approach
(for a deep dive analysis, see 17 questions)
~~~ Fresh Calendar ~~~
Fun Stuff First, Love Doing First, Hell Yes's First, 20% most positive experiences First
"work fills a void, so make a reasonable void for it"
anticipation of the experience enhances the positivity of the experience
Schedule & Defend These!
!! powerful Defend tactic: pre-commit with a financial or social obligation
~~~ Purchase Analysis ~~~
Money is necessary but not sufficient for physical, psychological wellbeing.
"If you have money to solve a problem, you don't have a problem."
Tools to use money to increase your wellbeing, (and effectively, your happiness):
If I could only use $100 right now to most increase my happiness (physical, psychological wellbeing), how would I apply it?
Ask again with $500 cap.
Ask again with $1,000 cap.
If there was 10-20% of cash on hand I could afford to lose, how would I apply it to increase my quality of life?
When considering these purchases:
How will this affect how I use my time?
How will I use this on a random night each week?
3 things I'd most like to add to my life
3 things enhancing my sense of wellbeing/contribution
3 things I'd most like to remove from my life
~~~ Making It Happen / Action As Commitment ~~
Never leave the site of a plan without taking an action toward it's fulfillment. ~ Tony Robbins -ism
Purchase Enhancers:
Do one thing to create / step on path toward goals
(even if all you got goin is a saved penny tossed into a coffee can)
What other action steps will I take right now as a physical show of my commitment into creating my best life?
I am a 56 year old man from baton rouge,la. With a 7 and 9 year old. I first got 4 hrs. Body,just wanted to thank you the last couple of years for keeping me sain while going through a divorce.Would love for my kids to listen to you but no luck yet. Baton rouge tour?
I absolutely love the podcast/acroyoga tour idea!
PLEASE come to Pittsburgh.
Tim, I would like to host you for a mobile podcast in Okinawa, Japan. I’ve heard you reminiscing about returning, here’s your opportunity! Our birthdays are one day (and one year) apart; therefore, I propose a birthday adventure. Bring on the big 4-0!! I’m also down for a birthday adventure to a new, unexplored location.
Hi Tim I didn’t get why you are opting out of startups? Yes would love to do group challenges
With your traveling podcast, I think it will be facinating to discover the 2 America’s we live in. Those that line the coast and middle America very different worlds. Also do not forget Utah(more stars than sky) so beautiful to explore maybe explore the four corners area..spooky..Thank you for thought provoking ideas and interest it helps for the time between. Andrea
Hello handsome.
Podcast tour feedback: great idea to keep it interesting for you and meet your audience.
Pls make sure the topics/themes are varying. Coming to a new place with new people is a boost for you and the crowd but for us listeners it’s still “just” a podcast.
Happy Thursday from Sweden.
Hey Tim!
Tools of Titans Northeast Pennsylvania is approaching 500 members on its first day being up!
2 hours from NYC and Philly.
Plus we can host it at my gym which is a 25,000 square foot Crossfit Box!
We’d love to have you NEPA is fired up!!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1419453338095738/
Hi Tim,
If you are still considering a visit to some smaller cities this year, we would love to have you in Asheville, NC. There is lots of beauty to be seen here in the south east, and activity you may enjoy too (acro-yoga, outdoor adventuring, excellent food options, a local float tank facility etc.). There’s an active community here of those dedicated to learning and development. If you have interest, there is a link to our Facebook group below. I know a trip here would be very well received. I hope this finds you well. Thanks for all that you do!
Cheers,
Michael
https://www.facebook.com/groups/385175028502245/?fref=nf
This “post-game analysis” technique is so powerful! Thanks for sharing that Tim. The real clincher is following through on what you’ve found. This method can lead towards some massive changes that could seem scary.
Also, It’s so much easier to reflect when you’ve made a mistake than when things are going generally well. But having a designated time to target areas of improvement is clearly a tool of the most powerful folks out there, who settle for nothing less than greatness.
I thought of you when I wrote this article, Tim:
https://medium.com/@eathankeyboards/exploit-4-priceless-questions-to-turn-any-heartbreaking-failure-into-a-bulletproof-success-22f12814996c
I’m pretty sure you have zero time for stuff like this (providing feedback on how your fans might digest your advice). But if you do I’m excited to hear if you think I’ve put out something of value.
Hey Tim. Any podcast plans for a “What I’ve Learned” retrospective on 2018? Really enjoyed this one from 2016.