The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers
Tim Ferriss
Tools Of Titans by Tim Ferriss is a short six hundred and seventy-one page book that attempts to capture the wisdom Tim has garnered over the years interviewing “Titans” on his podcast. Tim, who proclaims he documents nearly everything and is also an avid box checker, originally set out to reflect and compile notes for personal reference from his collection of podcasts and interviews conducted over the years.. However, as that process unfolded, “Tools Of Titans” was born.
The book is broken up into three major sections; Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Each section is filled with synopses of guests that Tim has interviewed throughout the years. He includes transcribed portions of the interviews along with his personal notes, experiences and additional insights related to the conversation. Something I love about what Tim Ferriss has put together is his personal integration of the material; sharing his experience with nutrition supplements, meditation techniques, journaling methods, even investment advice.
As many of the guests on his show share overlapping interests and/or have similar practices or use similar tools, Tim has gifted the reader with references to other guests and areas of the book where related wisdom can be located. During the introduction, Tim actually informs the reader that the book isn’t designed to be read necessarily from front to back like a typical novel (although this was my approach). Instead, he encourages the reader to view it as a reference and to skip over areas that aren’t of current interest.
Not only does the author “link” content throughout the book, he also has an extensive outline at the beginning followed by numerous indexes at the end. Of note are the compilations of all the top recommended films, books, and even podcasts by his guest.
Some books leave us with only perspective and the resulting single direct action of reflection. Tools of Titans certainly provides plenty of that, but it also has given me a lot of direct action items that I am currently integrating. Further, I have selected the next book I am reading from one of his guests recommendations and have eighteen more in my Amazon cart. Believe me when I tell you that there are many more than eighteen book recommendations scattered throughout, but these specifically called to me.
One bite at a time! If six hundred and seventy pages feels daunting, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. I will admit that I procrastinated reading this book for longer than I am comfortable stating (I need both hands to count the number of years on my fingers). That said, once I committed, I tackled this book like I was training for a marathon and I jammed all my training into the final week… you don’t have to!
Instead, consider that the book is divided into roughly one hundred and forty chapters. This averages out to be about five pages per chapter. Now, some are shorter and only a page or two… and others longer around eight to ten, but not much exceeding that. As such, it is easy to break off “bite-sized” chunks of wisdom and consume this book as part of a daily ritual.
Life favors the specific ask and punishes the vague wish. Tim Ferriss
What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.Tim Ferriss
(...) a person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.Tim Ferriss
When in doubt, work on the deficiencies you’re most embarrassed by.Christopher Sommer
The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.Tony Robbins
We don’t act because of equations. We follow our beliefs. We get behind leaders who stir our feelings.Chris Sacca
My goal is not to fail fast. My goal is to succeed over the long run. They are not the same thing.Marc Andreessen
If you have a very clear vision of where you want to go, then the rest of it is much easier.Arnold Schwarzenegger
If [more] information was the answer, then we’d all be billionaires with perfect abs.Derek Sivers
Even when everything is going terribly, and I have no reasons to be confident, I just decide to be.Derek Sivers
What problems do you face every day that nobody has solved yet?Peter Thiel
Amplify your strengths rather than fix your weaknesses.Chase Jarvis
Asking the right dumb question is often the smartest thing you can do.Alex Blumberg
I think of problems as gold mines. The world’s biggest problems are the world’s biggest business opportunities.Peter Diamandis
When you’re going 10% bigger, you’re competing against everybody. Everybody’s trying to go 10% bigger, When you’re trying to go 10 times bigger, you’re there by yourself.Peter Diamandis
Guilt [is] interesting because guilt is the flip side of prestige, and they’re both horrible reasons to do things.Maria Popova
Ours is a culture where we wear our ability to get by on very little sleep as a kind of badge of honor that speaks work ethic, or toughness, or whatever it is, but really, it’s a total profound failure of priorities and of self-respectMaria Popova
Discipline equals freedomJocko Willink
Productivity is for robots. What humans are going to be really good at is asking questions, being creative, and experiences.Kevin Kelly
In a world of distraction, single-tasking is a superpower.Kevin Kelly
(...) assume everybody is doing the best they can with what they have.Whitney Cummings
The difference between the people you admire and everybody else [is that the former are ] the people who read.Bryan Callen
Time and quiet should not be luxury itemsTim Kreider
The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.Paulo Coelho
Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want. Navel Ravikant
I try not to have more than one big desire in my life at any given time, and I also recognize that as the axis of my suffering. I realize that that’s where I’ve chosen to be unhappy.Navel Ravikant
Rather than trying to suppress something or swat it away, we say to the emotion/ourselves, “I see you.”Tara Brach
You want to be taken seriously? Then take things seriously.Edward Norton
If you’re studying my game, you’re entering my game, and I’ll be better at it than you. Josh Waitzkin
Bruce Lipton challenges the classic model of biology and genetic determinism, while offering evidence alongside the field of epigenetics to the power of belief.
Wim Hof, “The Iceman”, shares his passion and love for life. No magic, no illusion, no superpowers! Only a man willing to explore the depths of his potential.
The ONE Thing offers a simple, yet powerful framework to focus on what truly matters, driving meaningful progress towards what is most important to us.
Explore the connection between our thoughts and the realities we experience. the power of positive thinking, and the value of personal responsibilty.