“Don’t let someone knock you off your course after you’ve put in all the work.” – Soman Chainani
This is a special episode of the podcast, which features three guests: author Soman Chainani (@SomanChainani), author Susan Cain (@susancain), and East Rock Capital co-founder and investor Graham Duncan.
All three are featured in my latest book, Tribe of Mentors, and all three share something in common: they’re experts at mitigating risk. All of them have been great at capping downsides and making various career decisions that have paid off in large ways.
I hope you enjoy this episode with these three brilliant guests!
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
- Listen to it on iTunes.
- Stream by clicking here.
- Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear a conversation with a mentor from Tribe of Mentors? Listen to this episode with Tim Urban, in which we discuss the future, how to deal with procrastination, AI, and much much more. Listen to it here (stream below or right-click to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Ascent Protein, the only US-based company that offers native proteins — both whey and micellar casein — directly to the consumer for improved muscle health and performance. Because the product is sourced from Ascent’s parent company, Leprino Foods — the largest producer of mozzarella cheese in the world — it’s entirely free of artificial ingredients and completely bypasses the bleaching process common to most other whey products on the market.
If you want cleaner, more pure, less processed protein — which I certainly do — go to ascentprotein.com/tim for 20 percent off your entire order! I’m a big fan of all of their flavors — the chocolate, vanilla, and even their newest option, cappuccino. Enjoy!
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs.
I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca, and I’ve also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you’re happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
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
- Connect with Soman Chainani:
Website|Twitter|Instagram|Facebook|YouTube
- Connect with Susan Cain:
Quiet Revolution | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Connect with Graham Duncan:
- The School for Good and Evil Series Complete Box Set: Books 1, 2, and 3 by Soman Chainani
- The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
- Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
- Mother Dirt AO+ Mist Live Probiotic Skin Spray
- Headspace
- ALF
- The Best of Archie Comics: 75 Years, 75 Stories by Archie Superstars
- Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (includes Liking What You See: A Documentary)
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
- Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids by Susan Cain, Gregory Mone, and Erica Moroz
- Susan Cain’s TED Talk: The Power of Introverts
- Dance Me to the End of Love by Leonard Cohen
- Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen
- Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
- Hinach Yafah (You Are Beautiful) by The Idan Raichel Project
- Saudade: An Untranslatable, Undeniably Potent Word by Jasmine Garsd, alt.latino
- O Canto Da Saudade (Pam) by Madredeus
- Saudade by Cesária Évora
- East Rock Capital
- SubPac M2X Wearable Physical Audio System
- Making Sense of People: The Science of Personality Differences by Samuel Barondes
- The Big Five Personality Theory: The 5 Factor Model Explained by Courtney Ackerman, Positive Psychology Program
- The Big Lebowski
- In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life by Robert Kegan
- Changing on the Job: Developing Leaders for a Complex World by Jennifer Garvey Berger
- Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey
- The Tim Ferriss Show, Episode 22: Ed Catmull, President of Pixar, on Steve Jobs, Stories, and Lessons Learned
- Parable by Louise glück
- Work with Source
- “One Last Time” — Hamilton at the White House
- FINIS Freestyler Hand Paddles
- Cressi Palau Short Snorkeling Swim Fins
- Matiz Gallego Sardines
- Vital Choice Redtresca Salmon Bellies
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
- This is Water by David Foster Wallace
- Integration is Better Than Rigidity or Chaos by Dr. Arnie Kozak
- The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
- Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
- The Quiet Master of Cryptocurrency — Nick Szabo
Show Notes
- Introducing Soman Chainani. [06:18]
- Three books that help Soman work creatively, live genuinely, and explore humanity. [07:11]
- What recent purchase of less than $100 had the most positive impact on Soman’s life? [11:18]
- A failure that taught Soman a valuable, but humbling lesson. [13:42]
- Soman’s billboard and musings on life, death, and meditation. [17:11]
- One of the best investments of energy, money, or time Soman has ever made. [19:31]
- An unusual habit or absurd thing that Soman loves, and why he feels the best stories are universal. [22:08]
- In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved Soman’s life? [24:12]
- What advice would Soman give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world — and what advice would he ignore? [26:19]
- Bad advice Soman hears given often to artists. [28:27]
- In the last five years, what has Soman become better at saying “no” to? [29:48]
- What does Soman do to overcome feeling unfocused or overwhelmed? [31:12]
- Introducing Susan Cain. [32:32]
- How has a failure or apparent failure set Susan up for later success? [33:30]
- One of Susan’s most worthwhile investments of time. [36:14]
- An unusual habit or absurd thing Susan loves. [37:40]
- Susan’s favorite word in any language. [39:01]
- What advice would Susan give a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world? [40:02]
- What does Susan do to overcome feeling unfocused or overwhelmed? [43:06]
- Introducing Graham Duncan. [44:02]
- An unusual habit or absurd thing Graham loves. [45:07]
- What would Graham’s billboard say? [45:43]
- Books that have greatly influenced Graham’s life and the mental models that guide how he thinks about people and teams. [47:17]
- What recent purchase of less than $100 had the most positive impact on Graham’s life? [57:44]
- How has a failure or apparent failure set Graham up for later success? [58:49]
- Bad recommendations Graham often hears in his field. [1:01:20]
- What does Graham do to overcome feeling unfocused or overwhelmed? [1:02:59]
- In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved Graham’s life? [1:03:50]
- What advice would Graham give a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world? [1:04:51]
People Mentioned
- Soman Chainani
- Susan Cain
- Graham Duncan
- Brian Koppelman
- Celine Dion
- Bill Gates
- Leonard Cohen
- Idan Raichel
- Josh Waitzkin
- Bobby Fischer
- Kwame Anthony Appiah
- George Saunders
- Samuel Barondes
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Robocop
- Bill Clinton
- Barack Obama
- The Dude
- Woody Allen
- Kanye West
- Scott Barry Kaufman
- Robert Kegan
- Jennifer Garvey Berger
- Laird Hamilton
- Gabrielle Reece
- Ed Catmull
- Steve Ballmer
- Satya Nadella
- George Washington
- Alexander Hamilton
- Ray Dalio
- Yuval Noah Harari
- Byron Katie
- David Foster Wallace
- Dan Siegel
- Robert M. Pirsig
- Mike Burry
- Eddie Lampert
- Steve Jobs
- Elon Musk
- Ayn Rand
- Steve Eisman
- Michael Lewis
- Tom Stoppard
- Charlie Munger