The TMBA Info-Diet : How to Get Where You Want to Be in 10 Years
Subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed here. I also like to tweet a lot.
I’m a big fan of the Foolish Adventure Podcast. I’ve listened to most of the episodes. I learn a lot from Tim and Izzy. A few months back I started emailing Tim. Then we started talking on the phone. That turned in to weekly phone calls that are invaluable to me. Sure… call it a bromance.
This morning I was walking around the neighborhood just a few blocks from the TMBA house listening to Tim and Izzy’s break up episode. They’ve decided to go their separate ways. Lucky for FA fans Tim plans to continue the program.
At the end of the episode Izzy decided to deliver a final piece of advice.
If you could only give one piece of advice to entrepreneurs, what would you say?
What Izzy said was wonderful. I suggest you check it out yourself. Here’s a pic of where I was when he was saying it. I sorta stopped my walk and took a picture on my phone…
Izzy paraphrased a piece of advice he heard from motivational speaker Jim Rohn.
Who you will be in 10 years will be the sum of the people you surround yourself with and the books you read.
Simple. It sorta hit me like a bunch of bricks.
I feel ya Izzy.
* * *
How I Approach Information and Entertainment
I’ve radically changed the way I consume information and entertainment since I became an entrepreneur. I realize my approach is somewhat extreme for most people. I tend to like extreme stuff.
I can’t tell you how many times people have suggested that I watch The Wire. I get it– it’s likely an insanely wonderful artistic achievement. Much like The West Wing was for me back in college. I would gorge myself on that catalog.
Now I wouldn’t do that. It’s not that I’m more disciplined. I’ve just immersed myself in a pursuit where learning how to be better is more entertaining than watching TV and movies.
I don’t feel like I need to get away from my business to be entertained.
I think there is a flow state that can be achieved where the entertainment you consume shapes the work you do rather than distracts you from it.
In general, I’m drawn to entertainment that contributes to what I see as my main projects.
For example, I see my email inbox as entertainment. I spend a lot of effort and time reaching out to interesting people and writing back and forth with them.
I also respond with effort to the people who write to me.
Many people preach “automation” with stuff like this. Fair enough– but it’s pretty much the last thing I’d want to automate.
Opposition and Balance vs. Flow and Constant Engagement
A lot of people want to minimize the impact of email or other work on their life so they can go have a “real” life. They want to automate their customers. They want to get through their work and training so they can balance it with social stuff.
The question I’ve be asking myself: what if they were just the same thing.
What if you didn’t have anything to get away from?
Could be cool.
Thanks again Tim and Izzy.
-Dan
PS, speaking of books being important, here’s a quick list of some that have had a huge impact on my business and minset:
Getting Things Done – David Allen
The 4 Hour Work Week – Tim Ferriss
The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemmingway
Maverick – Ricardo Semler
The Ultimate Sales Machine – Chet Holmes
How to Get Rich – Felix Dennis
Dreaming in Code – Scott Rosenberg
No B.S. Direct Marketing – Dan Kennedy
The Singularity is Near – Ray Kurzweil
PPS, If you liked this article and want to hear directly from me, put your email address in to the form below.
PPPS, if you didn’t like this article, or found errors in it, I’d appreciate an email or comment below. I post thoughts publicly to improve them.