I really admire Matt Mullenweg, the genius behind WordPress. Born in Houston, Texas, Matt is a tech wizard who co-founded WordPress in 2003 when he was 19. His journey is like a digital adventure, starting with a passion for blogging and evolving into a platform that powers a one third of the internet, including this blog. Matt is not just a tech person; he's also a proponent of open-source software and a champion for a more democratized web, which is a big part of what drew me to the web and is still one of the things I love about it. With his visionary leadership, WordPress has become the go-to platform for bloggers and businesses alike. Cheers to the minds shaping the digital landscape.
Watching this long form interview, got me excited once again on creating vs consuming and the power of a free and open web. I am often encouraged by listening to intelligent and interesting conversations like this one.
“How am I complicit in creating the conditions that I say I don’t want?”
Ethan Hawke and his daughter Maya Hawke were recently interviewed by Bishop Barron. Ethan and Maya’s most recent project is “Wildcat,” a film about the great twentieth-century author Flannery O’Connor. The film is directed by Ethan, and Flannery O’Connor is played by Maya. During the interview Ethan talks about people who struggle to find how they are. His answer to this struck me as wise. I listened to the entire interview, over an hour, and had to go back and listen again to this clip:
You know a lot of people go around the world and they go like, "Who am I?" you know, "I don't know who I am" and if you want to know who you are, you can make a case to be made, a very compelling case that God is telling you who you are by what you love, yeah and if you get close to what you love, what you love expands. And in the pursuit of excellence in any talent that you are given, that you are given, that everybody is given, right, in in the expression of Excellence at it you do honor to your maker right?
Ethan Hawke
In case you want to see the entire interview, I have included it here. The quote from above comes from about minute 5:55 to 6:41
Thanks to Tim, I've learned to question the path, embrace the change, and above all, take the damn reins.
20 Years of Experiments with Tim Ferris
Bill Gurly's interview with Tim Ferriss offers a captivating deep dive into the journey of one of the most influential digital creators of the last fifteen years. With an array of achievements that range from selling 10 million books to nearing a billion podcast downloads, Ferriss's trajectory is, for me at least, inspiring and motivating.
In the modern age of digital entrepreneurship, Tim Ferriss stands out as an emblematic figure. But dissecting his journey reveals more than just success – it showcases a methodical approach to dominating a niche that was synergistic with his unique strengths and cognizant of his limitations.
The Princeton Pivot
After his graduation from Princeton in 2000, In the early dawn of his journey, Tim rode on the edge of business, riding highs and grappling with the lows. However, it was his ability to pivot, learn, and innovate that set the stage for his iconic career. While his initial endeavors in Northern California and sports nutrition imparted invaluable lessons, it was the accidental genesis of his book, "The 4-Hour Workweek", that catapulted him to prominence. This is when I first heard of Tim, and it started to change my thinking.
Leveraging Strengths, Addressing Weaknesses
Tim's modus operandi was always about leveraging his strengths while circumnavigating his weaknesses. The decision to start a blog in 2006, prior to the release of his book in 2007, was no accident. Recognizing the power of blogs as a promotional tool at a time when their potential was largely underestimated, Tim used them to propel "The Four-Hour Work Week" into the limelight.
His foray into podcasting was also clever. While the original intent was to sharpen his interviewing skills through a short, six-episode stint, he enjoyed the process so much and the recognition of the medium's potential led him to continue. This pivot to podcasting came at a time when he experienced burnout from his intensive writing process, showcasing his ability to recalibrate and redirect his energies.
Moreover, Tim's approach to mastering new skills offers a blueprint for success. Instead of diving headfirst, he studied the landscape meticulously. His admiration for Dan Carlin's "Hardcore History" was less about the content and more about the format, the niche, and the engagement. This analytical mindset allowed him to understand the nuances of the domain and then tailor his approach, focusing on creating timeless content and refining his skill set.
“Don’t believe everything that you think”
Bj Miller
Investing with Intention
Tim's investment strategy differed from many. While he did make smaller investments, his focus was less on immediate returns and more on long-term impact. Some of his most notable investments, such as Uber, Shopify, Duolingo, Facebook, and Twitter, were driven by personal interests. Investing wasn't just about money for Ferriss; it was a "real-world MBA," with knowledge, skills, and relationships as the real dividends. One of the most poignant takeaways from his investment journey is the importance of relationships. The connection with Garrett from StumbleUpon, for instance, eventually culminated in the investment in Uber.
The Creative Expedition
Tim's emphasis on staying where serendipity was most likely to strike - San Francisco - echoes the essence of his approach to content creation. Beginning with a blog in 2006, Tim viewed content not as ephemeral, but as timeless. Even his foray into podcasting in 2012, initially envisioned as a short-term project, became a testament to his commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
Taking a leaf from Dan Carlin's "Hardcore History," Ferriss’s primary podcasting mantra became one of challenging conventions, consistent experimentation, and skill refinement. The very process of podcasting, as Ferriss describes it, is akin to refining one’s thought process, offering invaluable insights into one’s clarity and coherence of thought.
The Art of the Interview
Tim’s approach to interviews is both meticulous and empathetic. From extensive research to ensuring a pre-interview chat, every step is designed to foster genuine connection and rich conversation. His quest for originality often involves delving into overlooked details or previously unmentioned topics.
The Platform Perspective
Tim’s insights into platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn reveal a discerning digital strategist. Using Twitter as a tool to bypass the usual gatekeepers and LinkedIn's potential as a broadcasting medium exemplifies his knack for optimizing digital tools.
Lessons from Failures
Tim’s transparency about the setbacks, such as the partial boycott faced by his book "The 4-Hour Chef" and his initial career choices, underscores the non-linear nature of success. These so-called failures weren’t mere stumbling blocks but stepping stones to new beginnings.
Own Your Weakness - Play to Your Strengths
Watching Tim Ferriss' trajectory provides more than just a roadmap to success. It serves as a testament to the power of introspection, adaptability, and strategic planning. By understanding his strengths, acknowledging his weaknesses, and positioning himself advantageously, Tim crafted a niche where he didn't just survive – he thrived. For any budding entrepreneur or creator, his journey offers a masterclass in intentional and strategic growth.
Tim mentions this book at the end of the interview.
Ethan Hawke - Give Yourself Permission to be Creative.
Ethan Hawke, the screen actor, gets candid about creativity and how people often doubt their own ability to be creative. He reflects on a story about the poet Allen Ginsberg, who was ridiculed for singing a song on a TV show. However, Ginsberg wasn't bothered because he believed his role as a poet was to stir emotions and trigger thoughts.
Ethan emphasizes that we aren't the ones to judge if our creations are good or not - that the world is an unreliable critic. He talks about how in moments of deep emotional pain or overwhelming love, poetry and art become essential ways of making sense of these feelings.
Ethan also discusses his belief that our purpose is to help one another, and a big part of that involves expressing ourselves. He suggests that as we lean into our passions, our authentic selves get revealed and expanded. This reminds me of what this blog is intended to be for me, leaning into my passions. He shares his own love for acting and how the roles he played helped him realize the similarities of the human struggle.
He shares an interesting story about his great-grandmother who dedicated many pages of her biography to the time she made costumes for a play, displaying how creativity was her mode of self-expression. He also nostalgically recalls how he and his stepbrother were inspired by the movie "Top Gun" - Ethan was motivated to become an actor, while his brother was inspired to join the army. Fascinating to me, how we can be impacted by art so differently.
Ethan's main point is the brevity of life and the importance of dedicating it to what truly matters to us. It's about pursuing what we love and being open to appearing foolish in the process. It's about initiating conversations and acknowledging our shared human experience. As he says, don't just read the book you think you should, read the one you want to read. Explore new music, engage with new people, even if it makes you feel a little silly - because that's the point.
Civility and authenticity are not mutually exclusive.
"Civilisation: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark" was a groundbreaking television documentary series produced by the BBC in 1969. The series was presented by art historian Sir Kenneth Clark, it aimed to explore the history of Western art and philosophy from the fall of the Roman Empire up to the mid-20th century. Across thirteen episodes, Clark journeyed through over two thousand years of western cultural history, delving into the various epochs, civilizations, and notable figures that significantly influenced the course of Western intellectual, artistic, and cultural development. He discussed the great works of architecture, sculpture, and painting, as well as literature, music, and philosophy, contextualizing each within its period and offering a wide-ranging, yet personal, survey of Western civilization. At time when all we ever seem to hear is how western civilization has destroyed the world, I find examining the benefits refreshing.
At this point I reveal myself in my true colours as a stick-in-the-mud! I hold a number of beliefs that have been repudiated by the liveliest intellects of our time: I believe that order is better than chaos Creation better than destruction. I prefer gentleness to violence; forgiveness to vendetta. On the whole I think that knowledge is preferable to ignorance, and I am sure that human sympathy is more valuable than ideology. I believe that in spite of recent triumphs of science men haven't changed much in the last two thousand years and in consequence, we must still try to learn from history: History is ourselves.
I also hold one or two beliefs that are more difficult to put shortly: For example, I believe in courtesy - the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people's feelings by satisfying our own egos And I think we should remember that we are part of a great whole - which for convenience we call Nature - All living things are our brothers and sisters. Above all I believe in the God-given genius of certain individuals and I value a society that makes their existence possible.
These programmes have been filled with great work of genius: in architecture, sculpture and painting, in philosophy, poetry and music; in science and engineering There they are - you can't dismiss them and they're only a fraction of what Western man has achieved in the last 1000 years - often after setbacks and deviations at least as destructive as those of our own time. Western Civilisation has been a series of rebirths. Surely, this should give us confidence in ourselves. I said at the beginning of the series that it's lack of confidence more than anything else that kills a civilisation: we can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusion, just as effectively as by bombs. Fifty years ago, W.B. Yeats who was more like a man of genius than anyone I've ever known… wrote a prophetic poem - and in it he said: "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity." Well, that was certainly true between the wars - and it damn nearly destroyed us. Is it true today? - Not quite because good people have convictions - rather too many of them. The trouble is that there is still no centre. The moral and intellectual failure of Marxism has left us with no alternative to heroic materialism and that isn't enough. One may be optimistic but one can't exactly be joyful at the prospect before us.
Lord Kenneth Clark
I have been thinking a lot about courtesy and how Baby Boomers and Generation X, in many ways, sold society that courtesy was inauthentic and, therefore, should be avoided. I have realized that this view is not only short-sighted, but also neglects the fact that a society needs courtesy and manners to remain civil. I have tried to reframe my core values, shifting from "Be authentic no matter who it hurts" to "Be your best, most courteous self." I regret the times in my life that I was ill mannered and uncivil, and believed I was justified in doing so, in the name of authenticity. So, anytime I hear about someone praising the virtues of courtesy, it piques my interest. Civility and authenticity are not mutually exclusive. Being polite and genuine can coexist.
I have been appreciating both of these creators for some time. So when they started a back and forth debate, I was excited to hear what they had to say. I think I learn more hearing for both sides of a well articulated argument than so many other situations.
One: A Question Protestants Can't Answer.
Two: Yep, I have an Answer
Three: Responding to Dr. Gavin Ortland
As much as I love books, you are still only hearing one argument. When you listen to a thoughtful debate, you get to have a balanced view and then draw your own conclusions.
This video from two years ago in which Dr. Gavin Ortland is one of the videos I appreciated his content the most. The way he embraced his own faith deconstruction with honesty and integrity was and is inspiring to me.
