Tim Ferriss hosts one of the world’s most popular podcasts (~1 billion downloads), has one of the most highlighted books ever on Kindle (The 4-Hour Body), and 2 million newsletter readers. Here's what I learned by interviewing him: 1. Set high standards for your brand. Everything Tim Ferriss puts out passes through a strong filter: If the CEO of a Fortune 500 company saw it, would he become less or more interested? If less, then Tim doesn’t put it out. 2. A good reputation is hard to acquire and easy to squander. Good ones are scarce. That's why they're so valuable. 3. Embrace your weird self to find your voice. You don't need to play it up but definitely don't hide it. 4. Tim says he becomes a slower, duller thinker when he doesn’t write. You probably do, too. 5. To maintain consistency, lower the bar for what it looks like to show up. Tim's mantra: "Just write two crappy pages." That's it. 6. There is a glut of mediocrity in the world. Don’t contribute to it. Tim says: “Experimentation is fine, but publishing mediocrity when you could do better is lazy.” 7. If you're stuck on a problem, try journaling on questions that force you to think differently. 8. Some questions to ask: What would this look like if it were easy? How can I achieve my 10 year goals in the next six months? What if I could only subtract to solve problems? 9. When building a brand, find the one decision that removes 10,000 decisions. Saves time and guarantees consistency. 10. Find things to write about by experimenting on yourself, and sharing what you discover. The information is almost guaranteed to be singular and distinctive. Anybody can extract second-hand insights from books, especially in the age of ChatGPT. 11. Aim to be a category of one. 12. "Don't be the best, be the only." - Kevin Kelly 13. Write at the time of day that suits you best. For Tim, that's late at night when the moon is up, the world is quiet, and the wolves are howling. 14. I've always liked the quote: "First we shape our tools, then our tools shape us.” Tim writes on Scrivener because it helps him move chapters around, test different sequences, and so on. 15. A unique writing style is useful, but worry about the what before you worry about the how. Instead of leaning on literary style to set himself apart, Tim focused on unique topic selection. The best strategy for the vast majority of writers: Pick a differentiated subject. Have uncommon experiences. Sail into uncharted waters. 16. If your writing feels stuffy and performative, kick back and write like you're explaining something to friends after a few glasses of wine. 17. When writing The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim tried to sound smart in the first draft, but it didn’t work. Second draft: He tried being funny, and it didn’t work. Third draft: Tim wrote as if he was explaining the ideas to friends after some wine. The result? One of the best-selling self-help books of all time. 18. Tim wrote The 4-Hour Workweek in an email inbox because he wanted to recreate the feeling of writing to a friend. The little cues of the email window helped set the vibe he needed. 19. Writing is like an annual doctor’s checkup for your thinking. You believe nothing’s wrong, you go for the check-up, and the x-ray scans throw up something useful. Writing x-rays your thinking…and highlights the points of weakness. Writing is an opportunity to fix your faulty ideas before they hurt you. 20. Ask people for feedback on your writing by saying: "What’s the 20% I should keep, no matter what? Then, ask: "If I had to cut 20%, what 20% should that be?" This makes it easy for them to give you harsh feedback if they're scared of offending you. Hire a smart law student to proofread your work. If they’re still a student, working with them can be pretty affordable too. Lawyers are trained to notice and take out anything ambiguous that can be used against their clients. 21. Hire a smart law student to proofread your work. If they’re still a student, working with them can be pretty affordable too. Lawyers are trained to notice and take out anything ambiguous that can be used against their clients.
David, you are so visibly moved at the end of the interview that it was also emotional to me. Tim has also been a huge influence in my life and I understand (at least in part) why you felt that way. Also, I noticed Tim in an introspective mood, kind of passing some wisdom to the next generation. Thank you for making this awesome podcast and particularly this episode. So many gems that are worth getting back to.
I am brazilian, now I am writing my first book about "why everybody should do a backpacking after the high school", and I am watching and reading everything Tim's been saying about writing. It's helping me a lot, I hope in some years I can finish this book and thanks Tim for giving me everything I need to write my first book ❤️
Man, that comment from Tim at the end where he said that you are running a tight ship (which is true) is amazing. I know much you appreciated that. It brought a smile to my face. Great interview, it can be very intimidating to interview your heroes, but this was dense, interesting, and you even got a bit of a scoop about his next book. If I could offer one piece of feedback (maybe not for the video but for the audio version) is to find a way to reduce the "hmm" or most sounds of agreement. Maybe muting these moments in the editing process? When watching the interviews in RUclips it doesn't faze me much, but when I'm listening on Spotify I do notice it and it kinda distracts me away from what the other person is saying. Just food for thought! Keep it up, David! It's inspiring/cool to see how thoughtful and intentional this podcast is (not surprised).
Dude, you landed the white whale!! David, well done, mate. I can only imagine how nerve-wracking this must've been, and you handled it like a seasoned pro. Love this podcast. I've revelled in every episode. Keep it up.
I love Tim Ferris! He would be a dream guest on my podcast. However, you were incredible. I love how prepared you are for your interviews and the production is top of the line. Thank you for making this!
Thanks David. Like you, I've been a huge fan of Tim Ferriss going back to the 4HWW. I've taken four pages of notes from this interview. Here are few quotes I'm pondering: What is my long game? If you're gonna write a book, then write a f**king book. If this (writing a book) can't be your number one priority, don't try to write a book. There's a glut of mediocrity in the world, don't contribute to it. Not everyone needs to write a book. It's tempting to model the mutants...don't do it. Stop before you're exhausted. Thanks again for this interview.
A very informative interview David. If I may make a suggestion, as a filmmaker, it’d be best if the silences in the audio track weren’t made this silent. I kept wondering if my headphones got disconnected each time neither of you were speaking. A little bit of room tone makes for a smoother listening experience. Nonetheless, good job with the questions. Looking forward for more from you.
I have written penmanship since I was little but I have wrote book after book poetry but have not ever put it into practice I need help. I am 50 now I want to write a book
Great interview! But I'm wondering: Why the host is sitting on the right side? Almost all interviews I can remember have the host siting on the left....
tim has very sharp eyes so he looks extra smart talking stuff that may not be actually thaaat smart. how much of his success is attributed to the fact that he is a good looking white bro?
I can't stand the guy. I try, but I can't. Boring nerd, zero charisma. But because he made money, he puts on this 'sage' persona and everybody goes "Oh my god, he is so amazing!". I read two of his books and I think both are absolutely useless.
great interview and insights! I think this Tim interview went under the radar for many, so I hope it gets out there more. and even thought it's a decade old, I recommend checking out Tools of Titans. For me it was a gateway to new ideas and thinkers, thought experiments, and personal experiences that can change your life (in a few min a reading). Each page has something fun and easy to read, and then experiment with.
Tim Ferriss hosts one of the world’s most popular podcasts (~1 billion downloads), has one of the most highlighted books ever on Kindle (The 4-Hour Body), and 2 million newsletter readers.
Here's what I learned by interviewing him:
1. Set high standards for your brand. Everything Tim Ferriss puts out passes through a strong filter: If the CEO of a Fortune 500 company saw it, would he become less or more interested? If less, then Tim doesn’t put it out.
2. A good reputation is hard to acquire and easy to squander. Good ones are scarce. That's why they're so valuable.
3. Embrace your weird self to find your voice. You don't need to play it up but definitely don't hide it.
4. Tim says he becomes a slower, duller thinker when he doesn’t write. You probably do, too.
5. To maintain consistency, lower the bar for what it looks like to show up. Tim's mantra: "Just write two crappy pages." That's it.
6. There is a glut of mediocrity in the world. Don’t contribute to it. Tim says: “Experimentation is fine, but publishing mediocrity when you could do better is lazy.”
7. If you're stuck on a problem, try journaling on questions that force you to think differently.
8. Some questions to ask: What would this look like if it were easy? How can I achieve my 10 year goals in the next six months? What if I could only subtract to solve problems?
9. When building a brand, find the one decision that removes 10,000 decisions. Saves time and guarantees consistency.
10. Find things to write about by experimenting on yourself, and sharing what you discover. The information is almost guaranteed to be singular and distinctive. Anybody can extract second-hand insights from books, especially in the age of ChatGPT.
11. Aim to be a category of one.
12. "Don't be the best, be the only." - Kevin Kelly
13. Write at the time of day that suits you best. For Tim, that's late at night when the moon is up, the world is quiet, and the wolves are howling.
14. I've always liked the quote: "First we shape our tools, then our tools shape us.” Tim writes on Scrivener because it helps him move chapters around, test different sequences, and so on.
15. A unique writing style is useful, but worry about the what before you worry about the how. Instead of leaning on literary style to set himself apart, Tim focused on unique topic selection. The best strategy for the vast majority of writers: Pick a differentiated subject. Have uncommon experiences. Sail into uncharted waters.
16. If your writing feels stuffy and performative, kick back and write like you're explaining something to friends after a few glasses of wine.
17. When writing The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim tried to sound smart in the first draft, but it didn’t work. Second draft: He tried being funny, and it didn’t work. Third draft: Tim wrote as if he was explaining the ideas to friends after some wine. The result? One of the best-selling self-help books of all time.
18. Tim wrote The 4-Hour Workweek in an email inbox because he wanted to recreate the feeling of writing to a friend. The little cues of the email window helped set the vibe he needed.
19. Writing is like an annual doctor’s checkup for your thinking. You believe nothing’s wrong, you go for the check-up, and the x-ray scans throw up something useful. Writing x-rays your thinking…and highlights the points of weakness. Writing is an opportunity to fix your faulty ideas before they hurt you.
20. Ask people for feedback on your writing by saying: "What’s the 20% I should keep, no matter what? Then, ask: "If I had to cut 20%, what 20% should that be?" This makes it easy for them to give you harsh feedback if they're scared of offending you. Hire a smart law student to proofread your work. If they’re still a student, working with them can be pretty affordable too. Lawyers are trained to notice and take out anything ambiguous that can be used against their clients.
21. Hire a smart law student to proofread your work. If they’re still a student, working with them can be pretty affordable too. Lawyers are trained to notice and take out anything ambiguous that can be used against their clients.
Been a follower of your podcast since the 1st cultural tutor one. Great content! I started following you on Twitter too.
Keep up the good work bro 🎉
Excellent interview and thank you for posting the key takeaways!
Point 20 has point 21 in it and the first two sentences in point 21 are redundant.
Oh my God getting Tim on the podcast is such a big deal! Thank you so much!
Indeed. He basically doesn't do *any* podcast appearances or talks anymore.
David, you are so visibly moved at the end of the interview that it was also emotional to me. Tim has also been a huge influence in my life and I understand (at least in part) why you felt that way. Also, I noticed Tim in an introspective mood, kind of passing some wisdom to the next generation. Thank you for making this awesome podcast and particularly this episode. So many gems that are worth getting back to.
I am brazilian, now I am writing my first book about "why everybody should do a backpacking after the high school", and I am watching and reading everything Tim's been saying about writing. It's helping me a lot, I hope in some years I can finish this book and thanks Tim for giving me everything I need to write my first book ❤️
This is one of my favorite podcasts on writing and guest selection.
You saved the best for last episode of 2023! Congratulations guys 🙏 Happy New Year!
Man, that comment from Tim at the end where he said that you are running a tight ship (which is true) is amazing. I know much you appreciated that. It brought a smile to my face.
Great interview, it can be very intimidating to interview your heroes, but this was dense, interesting, and you even got a bit of a scoop about his next book.
If I could offer one piece of feedback (maybe not for the video but for the audio version) is to find a way to reduce the "hmm" or most sounds of agreement. Maybe muting these moments in the editing process? When watching the interviews in RUclips it doesn't faze me much, but when I'm listening on Spotify I do notice it and it kinda distracts me away from what the other person is saying. Just food for thought!
Keep it up, David! It's inspiring/cool to see how thoughtful and intentional this podcast is (not surprised).
Hey David, your channel is gold mine for writers and aspiring writers. It's overloaded with treasures of knowledge.
Brilliant interview. Tim might be the coolest person on Earth. Been a fan of you both for years.
Love Tim Ferriss. Everything I've done in podcasting, I learned from this man. Just the best.
Dude, you landed the white whale!! David, well done, mate. I can only imagine how nerve-wracking this must've been, and you handled it like a seasoned pro. Love this podcast. I've revelled in every episode. Keep it up.
I love Tim Ferris! He would be a dream guest on my podcast. However, you were incredible. I love how prepared you are for your interviews and the production is top of the line. Thank you for making this!
Thanks David. Like you, I've been a huge fan of Tim Ferriss going back to the 4HWW. I've taken four pages of notes from this interview. Here are few quotes I'm pondering:
What is my long game?
If you're gonna write a book, then write a f**king book.
If this (writing a book) can't be your number one priority, don't try to write a book.
There's a glut of mediocrity in the world, don't contribute to it.
Not everyone needs to write a book.
It's tempting to model the mutants...don't do it.
Stop before you're exhausted.
Thanks again for this interview.
A very informative interview David.
If I may make a suggestion, as a filmmaker, it’d be best if the silences in the audio track weren’t made this silent. I kept wondering if my headphones got disconnected each time neither of you were speaking. A little bit of room tone makes for a smoother listening experience.
Nonetheless, good job with the questions. Looking forward for more from you.
So stoked to listen to this 🙌
Nice work. Tight ship. So enjoyable.
What a wonderful interview, David! Excellent questions. Best wishes to a great start to 2024 for you. Happy New Year!
I haven't read anything that Tim wrote 100% but I am writing him into MY fiction book.
KING TIM
Thankyou for wearing socks this time! 🙂
Thanks for posting this
Hey David, really nice video! I was wondering if I could help you edit your videos and also make them highly engaging shorts out of them.
I want to know what's that NEXT book!
I have written penmanship since I was little but I have wrote book after book poetry but have not ever put it into practice I need help. I am 50 now I want to write a book
this is cool. its Tim Ferriss
Great interview! But I'm wondering: Why the host is sitting on the right side? Almost all interviews I can remember have the host siting on the left....
Epic
❤
Please @timferriss write this book!🙏 It would help so many people!
So many ads on this podcast 🤦🏽♂️ sheesh
tim has very sharp eyes so he looks extra smart talking stuff that may not be actually thaaat smart. how much of his success is attributed to the fact that he is a good looking white bro?
666 likes
I can't stand the guy. I try, but I can't. Boring nerd, zero charisma. But because he made money, he puts on this 'sage' persona and everybody goes "Oh my god, he is so amazing!". I read two of his books and I think both are absolutely useless.
amazing or not, you really think hes as bad as you make him out to be?
dude you gotta stop the "Mmhmm" after the guest finishes every sentence. Great interview, but so annoying to listen to those little verbal ticks.
great interview and insights! I think this Tim interview went under the radar for many, so I hope it gets out there more.
and even thought it's a decade old, I recommend checking out Tools of Titans. For me it was a gateway to new ideas and thinkers, thought experiments, and personal experiences that can change your life (in a few min a reading). Each page has something fun and easy to read, and then experiment with.