by

Tim Ferriss

Adam Robinson — Outflanking and Outsmarting the Competition (#322)

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“If I realize my focus is off, and certainly when I’m experiencing any negative emotions, I ask myself, ‘Where should my attention be right now?’ Almost always, the answer is ‘my mission,’ which is like a beacon that always beckons.” — Adam Robinson

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where I share the habits, tools and patterns of world-class performers. This special short episode features insights from Adam Robinson (@IAmAdamRobinson). His answers to my questions were highlighted in my most recent book, Tribe of Mentors.

For those of you not familiar with Adam, he has made a lifelong study of outflanking and outsmarting the competition. He is a rated chess master who was awarded a Life Title by the United States Chess Federation. As a teenager, he was personally mentored by Bobby Fischer in the 18 months leading up to his winning the world championship.

Then, in his first career, he developed a revolutionary approach to taking standardized tests as one of the two original co-founders of The Princeton Review. His paradigm-breaking — or “category killing,” as they say in publishing — test-prep book, The SAT: Cracking the System, is the only test-prep book ever to have become a New York Times bestseller. After selling his interest in The Princeton Review, Adam turned his attention in the early ’90s to the then-emerging field of artificial intelligence, developing a program that could analyze text and provide human-like commentary. He was later invited to join a well-known quant fund to develop statistical trading models, and since, he has established himself as an independent global macro advisor to the chief investment officers of a select group of the world’s most successful hedge funds and family offices.

Adam has also been one of this show’s most popular guests, and you can check out his first appearance here, and his second here.

Enjoy!

Adam Robinson — Outflanking and Outsmarting the Competition

Want to hear another conversation with an investor who has his mind on more than money? — Check out my interview with Steve Jurvetson, an early VC investor in SpaceX, Tesla, Planet, Memphis Meats, and Hotmail. Stream below or right-click here to download.

Steve Jurvetson — The Midas Touch and Mind-Bending Futures

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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 Adam:

Website | Twitter

SHOW NOTES

  • What would Adam’s gigantic billboard say, and why? [04:18]
  • How do you change what you’re doing if you’re not getting the results you want? [05:29]
  • When self-confidence is almost as bad as self-doubt. [06:05]
  • Bad recommendations Adam hears often in the field of global finance. [07:02]
  • One of Adam’s most worthwhile investments — in spite of initial reluctance. [12:51]
  • A recent purchase of less than $200 that has had the most positive impact on Adam’s life. [16:50]
  • What new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved Adam’s life in the past five years? [17:21]
  • What advice would Adam give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world? [20:54]
  • What does Adam do when he feels overwhelmed or unfocused? [26:45]
  • What has Adam become better at saying “no” to in the last five years? [29:45]
  • An unusual habit or absurd thing Adam loves. [31:29]

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