Productivity Expert: How To Finally Stay Productive: Ali Abdaal | E93

Name: Productivity Expert: How To Finally Stay Productive: Ali Abdaal | E93
Uploaded: 2021-08-16T05:00:10.000Z
Duration: 3 h 12 min 6 s

Introduction

In this section, Ali Abdul introduces himself as a creator, entrepreneur, and productivity expert. He defines productivity as optimizing for happiness and shares his thoughts on procrastination.

Defining Productivity

Ali Abdul defines productivity as using time well and working on things that are meaningful to him.

He optimizes for happiness in his definition of productivity.

Overcoming Procrastination

Procrastination is a problem with getting started.

The key to overcoming procrastination is taking a little nudge at the start towards actually getting started.

Ali Abdul uses the two-minute rule hack to overcome procrastination. Two minutes is all you need to change your life.

Prioritizing Happiness

In this section, Ali Abdul talks about how he prioritizes happiness over goals and destinations.

Prioritizing the Journey

Ali Abdul believes that the journey is more important than the destination.

He reminds himself that he is enough by internalizing that point.

He focuses on enjoying himself day-to-day rather than worrying about the goal at the end of it.

Introduction by Stephen Bartlett

In this section, Stephen Bartlett introduces Ali Abdul as a guest on his podcast.

Introduction of Guest

Stephen Bartlett introduces Ali Abdul as a creator on YouTube with millions of subscribers.

He describes him as an entrepreneur who came first at Cambridge and a productivity expert who has read more books than anyone he's ever met on the subject.

Getting Context from Guests

In this section, Stephen Bartlett asks Ali Abdul about his background and where he came from.

Ali Abdul's Background

Ali Abdul was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1994.

His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his mother moved them to Lesotho in southern Africa.

They were there for about five or six years before moving to the UK in 2003.

He discovered entrepreneurship and coding while attending secondary school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

Discovering Entrepreneurship

Throughout school, Ali Abdul would look forward to going home so that he could do some more coding or tinker on some websites.

He made a little bit of money as a freelance graphic designer by lying about his age on PayPal and pretending he was 18 when he was actually 13.

He and his friends were all interested in entrepreneurship throughout school.

The Influence of Environment on Career Choices

In this section, the speaker talks about how growing up in an environment where doctors, lawyers, and engineers were seen as the only viable career options influenced their decision to pursue medicine.

Growing Up with Doctor Parents

The speaker grew up in an environment where parents and friends were doctors.

There were very few viable careers presented to them other than doctor, lawyer or engineer.

The idea of being a doctor seemed prestigious and cool to the speaker even at a young age.

Status vs. Saving Lives

The speaker reflects on how status and prestige played a role in their desire to become a doctor.

Even after taking a break from medicine, the speaker's mother tries to convince them to return by emphasizing the prestige associated with being a doctor.

The speaker struggles with optimizing for old-world prestige instead of happiness.

Cultural Influences

Financial security was one of the biggest predictors of happiness for immigrant families like the speaker's.

Being a doctor was seen as a way to achieve financial success and survival.

Traditional careers like banking, medicine, engineering or law were seen as successful paths while entrepreneurship or social media wasn't really considered.

Choosing Between Medicine and Computer Science

At 16 years old, the speaker had to choose between pursuing computer science or medicine.

Combining Medicine and Tech

In this section, Ali Abdaal talks about his decision to combine medicine and tech, how he started a tech startup while in university, and how he eventually became a YouTuber.

Combining Medicine and Tech

Ali decided to combine medicine and tech because he believed it would be more valuable to be a doctor who knows how to code than a coder who knows how to code.

He started a company that helped students get into med school by offering in-person courses. Later on, he turned it into an online question bank for different med school admissions programs.

Although Ali dabbled with medical tech startups while at university, he realized that teaching was what drove him intrinsically.

Becoming a YouTuber

Ali had dreams of becoming a YouTuber since 2009 after following popular YouTube cover artists like Coach Schneider and Sam Tsui.

He eventually became a YouTuber as content marketing for his medical school admissions business where he created tutorials on YouTube for free.

Starting Out as a YouTuber

In this section, Ali Abdaal talks about his early days as a YouTuber and why he started creating content.

Early Days as a YouTuber

Ali found it weird that people would just go on YouTube and make videos but was inspired by other successful UK-based YouTubers like True Geordie and Alfie Days.

He initially wanted to become the type of YouTuber who played musical instruments along with friends singing covers of popular songs but later used YouTube as content marketing for his medical school admissions business.

Why He Started Creating Content

Ali started creating content on YouTube because he saw a gap in the market for free tutorials on how to do well in med school admission exams.

The Tipping Point

In this section, the speaker talks about how his first viral video on YouTube changed everything for him and led to exponential growth.

Making a Viral Video

The tipping point for the speaker was his first video that went viral.

He had researched extensively on how to study for exams and wanted to make a video about it.

He planned to make it his 100th video but ended up making it earlier at around his 81st video.

The video received a lot of views and comments from people he knew in real life, which started the exponential growth trajectory.

Consistency is Key

According to the speaker, consistency is key when it comes to YouTube success.

He advises making one video every week for two years, which will change your life in terms of skills, experience, contacts, and friends made through the process.

However, he acknowledges that not everyone can do this without some intrinsic driver or enjoyment of the process.

Importance of Consistency

In this section, the speaker talks more about consistency being key on YouTube and what he has learned from his experience.

The Power of Consistency

According to the speaker's experience on YouTube, making one video every week for two years will change your life.

This consistent effort builds skills and experiences that can lead to success over time.

While there are no guarantees of outcome or specific numbers in terms of subscribers or income, consistency is still important.

Predicting Viral Videos

It's hard to predict what makes a viral video successful despite many attempts by marketers and YouTubers alike.

While there may be some principles that increase chances of virality, outcomes are still unpredictable.

Attitude towards YouTube

In this section, the speaker talks about his attitude towards creating content for YouTube and how consistency is key to success.

Consistency is Key

The speaker aims to create two videos a week, even if he's not happy with them.

Successful YouTubers have a similar attitude towards consistency.

Compounding happens slowly over time, but results happen all at once when a video goes viral.

Lessons Learned

In this section, the speaker reflects on lessons learned in life and how small decisions can compound over time.

Small Decisions Compound

The speaker reflects on how small decisions can compound over time and lead to big results.

Examples include dental hygiene, health and fitness, and business decisions.

It's not always the big decisions that matter most; it's often the small ones that add up.

Accountability and Motivation

In this section, the speaker discusses accountability and motivation in achieving goals.

Accountability Leads to Results

The speaker hired a personal trainer who holds him accountable for working out consistently.

Removing the need for discipline and willpower by outsourcing accountability leads to better results.

Financial pacts with friends or family members can be effective motivators.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

In this section, the speaker talks about intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation in achieving sustainable success.

Sustainable Success Comes from Intrinsic Motivation

The speaker believes that sustainable success comes from intrinsic motivation rather than external motivators like money or rewards.

Getting started is often the hardest part of any task due to procrastination.

The speaker suggests finding ways to overcome procrastination, such as breaking tasks into smaller steps or using external accountability.

Psychological Discomfort and Procrastination

In this section, the speaker discusses how psychological discomfort can lead to procrastination. He explains that people often procrastinate because they feel uncomfortable starting a task, especially if they don't feel competent or knowledgeable enough to complete it.

Causes of Psychological Discomfort

People may avoid tasks because they lack confidence in their abilities.

Fear of being judged by others can also cause psychological discomfort.

Unrealistic goals, such as wanting to write a best-selling book, can create internal friction and make it difficult to start.

Overcoming Procrastination

The key to overcoming procrastination is taking the first step towards getting started.

Eliminating external friction, such as environmental distractions, can help reduce procrastination.

Using the two-minute rule - committing to doing something for just two minutes - can help overcome internal friction and get started on a task.

Newton's First Law and Procrastination

In this section, the speaker uses Newton's First Law of Motion to explain why people struggle with procrastination. He suggests that taking small steps towards getting started is key to overcoming inertia and getting things done.

Newton's First Law and Procrastination

Newton's First Law states that an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force.

Similarly, people who are stuck in a state of procrastination need a little nudge or push to get started on a task.

Tips for Overcoming Procrastination

Reduce friction by making tasks as easy as possible to start.

Break down tasks into small, manageable steps to make them feel less overwhelming.

Breaking Down Tasks and Overcoming Psychological Barriers

In this section, the speaker discusses how breaking down tasks into smaller steps can help overcome psychological barriers to getting started. He suggests that viewing a task as a series of small steps rather than one big challenge can make it feel more achievable.

Breaking Down Tasks

Viewing a task as a series of small steps can make it feel more achievable.

Breaking down tasks into smaller steps can help reduce psychological discomfort and make it easier to get started.

Tips for Getting Started

Focus on taking one small step at a time rather than trying to tackle the entire task at once.

Start with something simple, such as brainstorming ideas or creating a list of action items.

Overcoming Procrastination

In this section, the speaker talks about how to overcome procrastination by breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.

Uniquifying Tasks

Many tasks can be vague and overwhelming.

To overcome this, it's important to "uniquify" a task by breaking it down into smaller, more clearly defined steps.

For example, instead of "start a business," try "brainstorm 10 ideas for a name and pick one."

Next Action Steps

When faced with procrastination, ask yourself if the task is too vague or undefined.

Once you know what needs to be done, break it down into small next action steps that are clearly defined and achievable.

Huel Products Review

In this section, the speaker reviews his favorite Huel products.

Ready-to-Drink Berry Flavor

The speaker's first favorite product was the berry flavor ready-to-drink Huel.

It's nutritionally complete and tastes great.

Ready-to-Drink Banana Flavor

The banana flavor ready-to-drink Huel is the speaker's second favorite product.

He thinks it tastes even better than the berry flavor.

Protein Powder

The speaker uses Huel protein powder every day after working out.

His favorite flavor is salted caramel.

Time Blocking on Weekends

In this section, the speaker talks about time blocking on weekends to increase productivity.

Slave to the Calendar

During weekdays, the speaker's schedule is dictated by meetings and other obligations.

On weekends, he feels lost without structure or direction.

Time Blocking on Weekends

To combat this, the speaker time blocks his weekends.

He assigns specific tasks to specific times, such as cleaning the kitchen from 11am to 12pm.

How to Beat Procrastination and Sustain Motivation

In this section, the speaker discusses the three-part structure of his book, which focuses on beating procrastination and sustaining motivation. He emphasizes the importance of making tasks fun and enjoyable to maintain intrinsic motivation.

Making Tasks Fun

The speaker believes that focusing on making tasks fun is key to sustaining motivation.

He shares a story about how he shifted his mindset from "having to" put in a cannula for a patient to "getting to" make a difference in her life, which made him feel better about the task.

The speaker suggests that gratitude is an important aspect of maintaining motivation and recommends practicing gratitude journaling.

He acknowledges that it can be challenging to maintain gratitude when we become accustomed to our privileges but suggests exercises like hedonistic adaptation as a way to remind ourselves of what we have.

Mindset Shifts

The speaker emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts in sustaining motivation.

He suggests shifting from "having to" do something to "getting to" do something as a way of cultivating gratitude and intrinsic motivation.

The speaker also mentions stoic exercises like negative visualization as tools for maintaining perspective and appreciation for what we have.

Key Takeaways

To beat procrastination and sustain motivation, focus on making tasks fun and enjoyable.

Practice gratitude through journaling or other exercises like hedonistic adaptation.

Cultivate mindset shifts from "having to" do something to "getting to" do something as a way of fostering intrinsic motivation.

The Importance of Enjoying the Journey

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey rather than just focusing on achieving goals. He talks about how he reminds himself to be grateful for simple things and enjoy his day-to-day life.

Focusing on the Journey

The speaker reminds himself that if he always focuses on achieving goals, he will never be truly happy.

He writes a list of three things he is grateful for each morning, such as a cup of coffee or a nice chat with his housemate.

The speaker reflects on how cool it is that he gets to do what he loves for work and how 18-year-old him would have been amazed at where he is now.

Life Before Destination

The speaker references an author who wrote "life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination."

He emphasizes that enjoying the journey is more important than reaching the destination.

The speaker tries to internalize that "the climb" is more important than getting to the top.

Living in Alignment with Your Values

In this section, the speaker discusses living in alignment with your values and figuring out what those values are.

Ambition vs. Insecurity

The speaker talks about ambition versus insecurity and whether your desires come from within or outside influences.

t(2263s) He mentions living in alignment with your values as a way to determine what you truly want.

Identifying Your Values

The speaker suggests that how something makes you feel is a good indicator of your values.

He does not provide any specific steps for identifying your values.

The Influence of Society on Morals

In this section, the speaker discusses how society's values and morals have changed over time and how they influence individual values.

Society's Changing Values

Our morals are highly influenced by what society is doing at the time.

Human history shows that what was once viewed as acceptable can now be seen as awful.

The force that tells us what is right or wrong, good or bad, and valued has changed over time.

Personal Values

Personal values are usually shaped by parents or early experiences.

The speaker goes based on how things make them feel to determine their personal values.

A lot of our values come from our willingness to survive by taking up the values of the communities we live in.

Discovering Personal Values

In this section, the speaker talks about discovering personal values through a life coaching program exercise.

Childhood Experiences

An exercise in a life coaching program involved going back to childhood memories and rating them on a scale of -10 to +10.

Salient memories from childhood can shape current core values.

Childhood experiences can reveal core values that one lives by currently.

Speaker's Core Values

Freedom and autonomy are primary core values for the speaker.

Togetherness and working with others is another value for the speaker.

Teaching others is an impact that the speaker cares about having more than saving lives through medicine.

Quitting Framework

In this section, the speaker talks about how having a good quitting framework can help individuals move in the direction of their values much faster than others. The speaker emphasizes the importance of conducting experiments and quitting as fast as possible to find out what one likes and dislikes.

Importance of Quitting Framework

Having a good quitting framework helps individuals move in the direction of their values much faster than others.

Conducting experiments and quitting as fast as possible is important to find out what one likes and dislikes.

Increasing the amount of experiments you're doing and quitting faster can help you find a job that aligns with your values.

Moving in the direction of what you love doing within an industry is important for finding fulfillment.

Challenges with Quitting

Quitting is easier said than done, and it requires huge confidence in oneself.

It's important to have a clear understanding of why you are quitting, not just because something is hard.

Making Decisions About Quitting

In this section, the speaker talks about making decisions about quitting based on personal values rather than external factors. The speaker shares a personal experience where they decided to quit pursuing medicine because they realized that the reward was not worth it.

Personal Experience with Quitting

Pursuing medicine in America required taking an extremely difficult exam called USMLE, which was not worth it for the speaker.

The decision to quit pursuing medicine was based on personal values rather than external factors such as difficulty or hardship.

Framework for Change

In this section, the speaker talks about his approach to change and how he fights for something if it's worth it and possible to change.

Approach to Change

The speaker believes in fighting for something if it's worth it and possible to change.

Time Management Tips

In this section, the speaker discusses time management tips that have helped him manage his time better.

Time Management Tips

The speaker recommends time blocking and breaking vague tasks down into specific ones.

He also suggests using the "daily highlight" technique from the book "Make Time" by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, where you identify one important thing to do each day and schedule a slot for it in your calendar.

Learning Better

In this section, the speaker talks about how we learn better by testing ourselves rather than consuming more information.

Learning Better Tips

We learn better by testing ourselves rather than consuming more information. Testing ourselves creates desirable difficulty which stimulates neuronal connections in our brain.

To improve grades or learning anything, test yourself more often. The more you test yourself, the better grades you'll get.

The Two Big Concepts for Learning

In this section, the speaker discusses two big concepts for learning - active recall and spaced repetition.

Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Active recall involves testing oneself more to improve memory retention.

Spaced repetition involves interrupting the forgetting curve at spaced intervals to make information go into long-term memory.

Most things around learning can be summed up by these two concepts.

Active recall and spaced repetition are essential for improving productivity.

Interrupting the Forgetting Curve

In this section, the speaker explains how spaced repetition helps in interrupting the forgetting curve.

How Spaced Repetition Works

Our memory for anything we learn will exponentially decay over time.

Interrupting the forgetting curve at spaced intervals is key to making information go into long-term memory.

Practicing a skill or fact at regular intervals lengthens the interval between practice sessions, which improves memory retention.

Productivity and Happiness

In this section, the speaker talks about his definition of productivity and how it relates to happiness.

Defining Productivity

Productivity means using one's time well and working on meaningful tasks that optimize happiness.

Being unproductive means not doing something intentionally because of distractions like scrolling through Instagram.

People often use productivity as a measure of economic output, but it should be about optimizing happiness.

The Perverse Pleasure of Being Unproductive

In this section, the speaker discusses how people derive pleasure from being unproductive and how it affects productivity culture.

The Culture of Productivity

There is a culture that values productivity as a measure of success and wealth.

People often get pleasure from telling themselves they are non-productive or chronic procrastinators.

This perverse sense of pleasure can lead to feelings of inadequacy when seeing others who seem productive.

Similar to fitness culture, where people feel inadequate when comparing themselves to models with six-pack abs.

The Desire for Productivity

In this section, the speaker talks about how the desire for productivity has created a counter-movement against it.

The Counter-Movement Against Productivity

The desire for productivity has created a culture that values being super productive and successful.

This has led to a counter-movement where people embrace their procrastination and lack of productivity.

Memes about procrastination can be just as popular as those about productivity.

Productivity and Relationships

In this section, the speaker talks about productivity and how it should not come at the expense of other important things like health and relationships. He also mentions a company called Fiverr.com that can help with outsourcing tasks to increase productivity. The conversation then shifts to relationships, where the speaker discusses his struggles with finding a partner due to conflicting narratives he has bought into.

Defining Productivity

The speaker emphasizes that productivity should not be solely defined by economic output but also by meaning and fulfillment.

It is okay to intentionally take a break from being productive if that was your intention for the day.

Fiverr.com

Fiverr.com is a company that helps with outsourcing tasks cost-effectively.

Outsourcing tasks to someone in another time zone can extend the amount of time available towards achieving goals.

Struggles with Relationships

The speaker discusses two conflicting narratives he has bought into regarding relationships.

One narrative is feeling like he is not valuable beyond academic achievements, while the other narrative suggests being more masculine and alpha will attract more partners.

The speaker struggles with balancing being himself versus acting outside of himself to generate more potential partners.

Ultimately, he concludes that being oneself is the only sustainable option for long-term results in relationships.

Relationship Advice

In this section, the speaker advises against exhibiting jealous, controlling, manipulative and insecure behavior in a relationship. He emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not changing intrinsic qualities for short-term results.

Being True to Oneself

The speaker advises against changing intrinsic qualities for short-term results.

Society may dictate certain preferences but it is important to prioritize internal fulfillment over extrinsic approval.

Pursuing things that make one feel good is important for long-term happiness.

Prioritizing Personal Goals

The speaker encourages listeners to work on confidence issues but not change who they are fundamentally.

Prioritizing personal goals such as health and fitness can lead to intrinsic motivation and long-term success.

Relationships based on external reasons will not last.

Creating Great Content

The speaker suggests understanding human psychology when creating content that people will care about.

Iterative processes can help understand what humans respond to.

Success on YouTube

In this section, the speakers discuss how success on YouTube depends on clickbait titles and delivering nuanced content. They also talk about the challenges of comparing oneself to others and feeling like one's work is not good enough.

Clickbait Titles vs Nuanced Content

Clickbait titles are necessary for success on YouTube.

Videos with less clickbait titles tend to perform poorly.

Videos that promise something at the start and deliver nuanced content throughout perform best.

Challenges of Comparing Oneself to Others

Comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy.

The speaker used to compare himself only to his friends in medical school but now compares himself to other successful YouTubers.

To combat comparison, the speaker tries not to compare himself at all and focuses on his own journey.

Feeling Like One's Work Is Not Good Enough

The speaker often feels like what he is doing is not good enough.

He worries about leaving money on the table, having an inexperienced team, or being a bad manager/leader.

He acknowledges that it is easier said than done to stop feeling this way.

Never Being Fully Satisfied

In this section, the speakers discuss how achieving success does not necessarily lead to happiness. They talk about how there always seems to be a future version of oneself that will be happy when certain goals are achieved.

Achieving Success Does Not Necessarily Lead to Happiness

The past version of oneself may have been thrilled with current levels of success but the present version still feels unsatisfied.

There always seems to be a future version of oneself that will be happy when certain goals are achieved.

Being Okay with Current Levels of Success

The speaker has done a good job of being okay with his level of success.

He is not constantly striving for the next level and is content with where he is at.

Reasons for Pursuing Wealth

In this section, the speakers discuss their reasons for pursuing wealth and how they think about money.

Views on Money

The speakers discuss three possible reasons for pursuing wealth: to have more money for luxury, to take on a challenge, or to solve a problem in the world.

They agree that pursuing wealth solely to boost self-esteem or overcome imposter syndrome is not a good reason.

Both speakers view money as a means of buying back time and increasing convenience. They want enough money to avoid spending time on things they don't enjoy, such as waiting in airport queues.

However, they acknowledge that there are diminishing returns to money and that it won't make them exponentially happier. They both prioritize creating memories with loved ones over accumulating wealth.

Increasing Quality of Life

The speakers discuss how having more money could increase their quality of life by allowing them to afford first-class flights or private jets.

One speaker considers moving to London but wonders if he can afford an expensive apartment. He weighs the benefits of living in a more central location against the cost.

Luxury Possibilities

The speakers mention several luxury possibilities that come with having more money, such as owning a yacht or private jet. However, they emphasize that these luxuries are not their primary motivation for pursuing wealth.

Overall, the speakers view money as a tool for increasing convenience and creating meaningful experiences with loved ones. While they acknowledge the potential benefits of having more wealth, they do not see it as an end goal in itself.

Diminishing Returns

In this section, the speaker discusses how he believes that buying material possessions will not make him happier because he is already content with his life.

Happiness and Material Possessions

The speaker believes that missing the airport queue will not make him happier because he is already content with his life.

He does not think that having a bigger house or more expensive items would increase his happiness.

The speaker admits to making purchases for things he wants, such as a six-thousand-pound monitor, but acknowledges that it does not affect his overall happiness.

Utility vs Status Symbol

The speaker prefers to buy items based on their utility rather than as status symbols. For example, he would buy a nice suitcase for travel but not a Rolex watch.

He uses the mental model of asking himself if he would still buy something if he were the only person in the world to determine its true value to him.

The Importance of Money and Regrets of the Dying

In this section, the speaker discusses the diminishing returns curve of money and how it doesn't buy more happiness beyond a certain point. They also talk about the "Five Regrets of the Dying" and how it's important to live a life true to oneself rather than what others expect.

Money and Happiness

Beyond 50 to 70k, depending on what study you look at, money doesn't buy more happiness.

It's important to remind oneself of this when getting into a cycle of pursuing more stuff.

Five Regrets of the Dying

The speaker has these regrets written on top of their daily to-do list template.

Bronnie Ware wrote a book called "The Top Regrets of the Dying," where she interviewed hundreds of people on their deathbed asking them about their regrets.

The most common regret was "I wish I had lived a life true to myself rather than what others expected."

People have retrospective clarity over what did and didn't matter in life as they're about to die.

Living Life with Clarity

In this section, the speaker talks about how people don't believe they're going to die until they're faced with it. They discuss how living every day like it's your last is fundamentally bad advice but being conscious about time usage is important.

People who are dying have retrospective clarity over what did and didn't matter in life.

Living every day like it's your last is fundamentally bad advice because it could lead to self-destructive behavior.

Living like life itself will come to an end means being conscious about the use of time and focusing on what matters.

Mindset and Fulfillment

In this section, the speaker talks about the mindset that work has to be suffering and how young people need to understand that working hard is not a bad thing.

The main mindset issue in young people today is that work has to be suffering and that working hard is a bad thing.

Young people need to understand that working hard is not a bad thing and striving for something does not mean sacrificing happiness.

Work Doesn't Have to Be Suffering

In this section, the speaker talks about how work doesn't have to be suffering and how young people can make it fun and enjoyable.

Accepting That Work Can Be Fun

The speaker believes that if more young people accepted that work doesn't have to be suffering, it can actually be easy and fun.

To live a life on your own terms, you need to solve the money problem by finding ways to make money while optimizing for enjoyable things.

The sooner you tick the money box and align your economic engine with what you find fun, the more you can live life on your terms.

Importance of Solving the Money Problem

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of solving the money problem in order to live a fulfilled life.

Aligning Economic Engine with What You Find Fun

Everyone needs to solve their money problem because we all need to make money.

It's hard to live a fulfilled life if you don't care about making money or think it's weird talking about it.

The sooner you align your economic engine with what you find fun, the more you can live life on your terms.

Impact vs Specificity in Changing the World

In this section, the speaker discusses how younger generations are obsessed with creating an impact without having a specific plan or route towards achieving it.

Being Specific About Your Plan

People who end up changing the world are very specific about what they're going to do and it's very passion-driven.

Younger generations have it the wrong way around by being obsessed with creating an impact without having a specific plan or route towards achieving it.

To become a public speaker, you need to go and live a life worth talking about.

Effective Altruism

In this section, the speaker talks about effective altruism and how doing good in the world requires specificity and passion.

Doing Good in the World

Effective altruism is a movement that talks about doing good in the world through specificity and passion.

People who want to change the world should start with something specific like studying medicine to understand cancer rather than just wanting to create an impact.

Living a life worth talking about is important for creating opportunities to speak publicly.

Effective Altruism

In this section, the speaker discusses effective altruism and how it can be used to measure the impact of charities and careers.

Measuring Impact of Charities

The Against Malaria Foundation is a charity that has a high ROI in terms of lives saved.

Impact of charities can be measured, which allows for comparison between different charities.

Measuring Impact of Careers

Analysis shows that being a doctor in the developed world saves around 7 lives throughout their career.

Counterfactual impact measures what impact one has compared to if they did not exist or were not doing their current job.

The speaker's unique value comes from creating content on the internet and inspiring people.

Selfishness vs. Altruism

Developing oneself and skills can lead to creating a platform to help more people.

Filling one's own bottle before pouring out into others' glasses is necessary for helping others effectively.

This transcript was already in English, so no language changes were made.

Wealth, Fame, and Impact

In this section, the speakers discuss the impact of wealth and fame on one's ability to impose their worldview on the world. They also touch on the idea that many actions are ultimately selfish, even if we convince ourselves otherwise.

Wealth and Impact

Wealth allows individuals to impose their opinion and viewpoint on the world.

The podcast has been enabled by five years of selfishness in building a business for oneself.

The impact of the podcast is seen through comments and messages received.

Selfish Motives

The book "The Elephant in the Brain" argues that humans are ultimately selfish, but we convince ourselves that our motives are altruistic.

People often have both a good reason and a real reason for doing something.

Many actions may be done for personal gain or recognition, even if we claim they are purely altruistic.

Virtue Signaling

Society heavily influences what is considered good or noble behavior.

Admitting our own selfish motives can lead to creating a better world.

Being honest about our motivations can be liberating.

Servant Hedonism

By serving others and optimizing for serving others when making decisions in life, one can make themselves happier.

Curiosity is key to success across multiple sectors and industries.

Mental Models and Decision Making

In this section, the speaker expresses gratitude for being on the show and discusses how simplifying complex ideas is a sign of understanding. The speaker also thanks the host for the impact his book had on him, particularly in decision making through mental models.

Impact of Book on Decision Making

The speaker expresses gratitude for the impact that the host's book had on him.

The mental models discussed in the book have genuinely changed decisions made by the speaker.

The audiobook version of the book, narrated by the author, is recommended.

Upcoming Book Release

In this section, the host asks about an upcoming book release from the speaker.

Details About Upcoming Book

The speaker confirms that he has a new book coming out in two years.

The host offers to promote it closer to its release date.

The speaker expresses appreciation and thanks to the host.

Conclusion

This section marks the end of the interview.

End of Interview

Music plays as a transition to end of interview.