the difference between people who are successful or not although those who are
successful or not although those who are
successful or not although those who are successful seem to know from age of
successful seem to know from age of
successful seem to know from age of seven or eight maybe older you know
seven or eight maybe older you know
seven or eight maybe older you know they’re very in tune with what they love
they’re very in tune with what they love
they’re very in tune with what they love they I compared to a voice inside their
they I compared to a voice inside their
they I compared to a voice inside their head not literally a voice but something
head not literally a voice but something
head not literally a voice but something saying I you you really are drawn to
saying I you you really are drawn to
saying I you you really are drawn to this subject and they hear it throughout
this subject and they hear it throughout
this subject and they hear it throughout their lives that for me it was it was
their lives that for me it was it was
their lives that for me it was it was writing and books since I was a kid
writing and books since I was a kid
writing and books since I was a kid and you know at anytime I deviated from
and you know at anytime I deviated from
and you know at anytime I deviated from that love and went into something else I
that love and went into something else I
that love and went into something else I just was so unhappy I knew that I wasn’t
just was so unhappy I knew that I wasn’t
just was so unhappy I knew that I wasn’t doing the right thing and so it’s just
doing the right thing and so it’s just
doing the right thing and so it’s just like this voice that keeps drawing you
like this voice that keeps drawing you
like this voice that keeps drawing you back to what you really really love
some of the most important discoveries
some of the most important discoveries inventions and innovations cut within a
inventions and innovations cut within a
inventions and innovations cut within a field come from people who are trained
field come from people who are trained
field come from people who are trained in a much different field and who have
in a much different field and who have
in a much different field and who have an outsider’s approach
an outsider’s approach
an outsider’s approach Louis Pasteur was a classic example of
Louis Pasteur was a classic example of
Louis Pasteur was a classic example of this he was trained as a chemist in
this he was trained as a chemist in
this he was trained as a chemist in mineralogist so he brought homage to a
mineralogist so he brought homage to a
mineralogist so he brought homage to a much different way of thinking to the
much different way of thinking to the
much different way of thinking to the subject of medicine and germs a method
subject of medicine and germs a method
subject of medicine and germs a method that was infinitely more creative Albert
that was infinitely more creative Albert
that was infinitely more creative Albert Einstein was a complete outsider his two
Einstein was a complete outsider his two
Einstein was a complete outsider his two most important discoveries came when he
most important discoveries came when he
most important discoveries came when he was working at the Swiss Patent Office
was working at the Swiss Patent Office
was working at the Swiss Patent Office Google itself exemplifies this idea it
Google itself exemplifies this idea it
Google itself exemplifies this idea it is perhaps the most successful business
is perhaps the most successful business
is perhaps the most successful business on the planet founded by two men who are
on the planet founded by two men who are
on the planet founded by two men who are relatively complete outsiders to
relatively complete outsiders to
relatively complete outsiders to business and who therefore structured
business and who therefore structured
business and who therefore structured and directed their company in a very
and directed their company in a very
and directed their company in a very novel and creative fashion I could go on
novel and creative fashion I could go on
novel and creative fashion I could go on and on and on with this list including
and on and on with this list including
and on and on with this list including many great artists there are two
many great artists there are two
many great artists there are two important reasons why Outsiders
important reasons why Outsiders
important reasons why Outsiders generally have a creative advantage
generally have a creative advantage
generally have a creative advantage first they are less steeped in and
first they are less steeped in and
first they are less steeped in and burdened by the conventions of the field
burdened by the conventions of the field
burdened by the conventions of the field that they are attacking they ask a
that they are attacking they ask a
that they are attacking they ask a different set of questions they approach
different set of questions they approach
different set of questions they approach problems from unconventional angles and
problems from unconventional angles and
problems from unconventional angles and second they are often trained in totally
second they are often trained in totally
second they are often trained in totally unrelated fields and so can make
unrelated fields and so can make
unrelated fields and so can make interesting and creative connections
interesting and creative connections
interesting and creative connections between two very different forms of
between two very different forms of
between two very different forms of thinking like science and business or
thinking like science and business or
thinking like science and business or chemistry and medicine or engineering
chemistry and medicine or engineering
chemistry and medicine or engineering and design now we can’t all consciously
and design now we can’t all consciously
and design now we can’t all consciously follow such a path but even within the
follow such a path but even within the
follow such a path but even within the careers that were pursuing we can train
careers that were pursuing we can train
careers that were pursuing we can train ourselves to think like outsiders and
ourselves to think like outsiders and
ourselves to think like outsiders and help loosen up the mind in the process
help loosen up the mind in the process
help loosen up the mind in the process [Music]
[Music]
[Music] use active imagination is deceptively
use active imagination is deceptively
use active imagination is deceptively simple often what separates creative
simple often what separates creative
simple often what separates creative from conventional thinkers is that they
from conventional thinkers is that they
from conventional thinkers is that they simply search white they use their minds
simply search white they use their minds
simply search white they use their minds to generate possibilities that others
to generate possibilities that others
to generate possibilities that others dudes don’t think of and then they work
dudes don’t think of and then they work
dudes don’t think of and then they work to verify what they came up with we saw
to verify what they came up with we saw
to verify what they came up with we saw a classic example of this with posture
a classic example of this with posture
a classic example of this with posture another great example is with Henry Ford
another great example is with Henry Ford
another great example is with Henry Ford early on in his career in the earliest
early on in his career in the earliest
early on in his career in the earliest years of love what would later become
years of love what would later become
years of love what would later become the Ford Motor Company Ford was anxious
the Ford Motor Company Ford was anxious
the Ford Motor Company Ford was anxious to improve to speed up production of
to improve to speed up production of
to improve to speed up production of cars it was he saw the automobile as the
cars it was he saw the automobile as the
cars it was he saw the automobile as the ultimate consumer product but in order
ultimate consumer product but in order
ultimate consumer product but in order for it to become that he had to greatly
for it to become that he had to greatly
for it to become that he had to greatly increase production rate in his factory
increase production rate in his factory
increase production rate in his factory so he spent a couple days looking at his
so he spent a couple days looking at his
so he spent a couple days looking at his employees on the factory floor and
employees on the factory floor and
employees on the factory floor and trying to imagine how he could get them
trying to imagine how he could get them
trying to imagine how he could get them to move faster and car to car suddenly
to move faster and car to car suddenly
to move faster and car to car suddenly one day he imagined something completely
one day he imagined something completely
one day he imagined something completely different
different
different he imagined the men standing still and
he imagined the men standing still and
he imagined the men standing still and the cars coming to them he didn’t know
the cars coming to them he didn’t know
the cars coming to them he didn’t know what that really meant but he decided to
what that really meant but he decided to
what that really meant but he decided to try it out and lo and behold it
try it out and lo and behold it
try it out and lo and behold it increased productivity by such an
increased productivity by such an
increased productivity by such an incredible exponential rate that it
incredible exponential rate that it
incredible exponential rate that it could now become consumer product that
could now become consumer product that
could now become consumer product that he envisioned
he envisioned
he envisioned things like antibodies or assembly lines
things like antibodies or assembly lines
things like antibodies or assembly lines they seem so obvious to us now but they
they seem so obvious to us now but they
they seem so obvious to us now but they are never obvious in the present and
are never obvious in the present and
are never obvious in the present and they involve an incredible leap of what
they involve an incredible leap of what
they involve an incredible leap of what I call active imagination the difference
I call active imagination the difference
I call active imagination the difference between regular and active imagination
between regular and active imagination
between regular and active imagination is that the latter is used consciously
is that the latter is used consciously
is that the latter is used consciously to reach very very practical results
to reach very very practical results
to reach very very practical results it’s not imagination for coming up with
it’s not imagination for coming up with
it’s not imagination for coming up with wild things its imagination used for
wild things its imagination used for
wild things its imagination used for very practical results think of the
very practical results think of the
very practical results think of the active imagination as a kind of creative
active imagination as a kind of creative
active imagination as a kind of creative muscle that you’re developing first
muscle that you’re developing first
muscle that you’re developing first within the loose constraints of what
within the loose constraints of what
within the loose constraints of what you’re working on you open your mind up
you’re working on you open your mind up
you’re working on you open your mind up to you give a complete free of rein you
to you give a complete free of rein you
to you give a complete free of rein you entertain almost every possibility that
entertain almost every possibility that
entertain almost every possibility that you could imagine or visualize you
you could imagine or visualize you
you could imagine or visualize you engage in what Charles Darwin calls
engage in what Charles Darwin calls
engage in what Charles Darwin calls fool’s experiment and fools experiments
fool’s experiment and fools experiments
fool’s experiment and fools experiments this is the fun play part of serious
this is the fun play part of serious
this is the fun play part of serious play
play
play you use notebook sketches diagrams
you use notebook sketches diagrams
you use notebook sketches diagrams models prototypes to help externalize
models prototypes to help externalize
models prototypes to help externalize the products of your imagination once
the products of your imagination once
the products of your imagination once you have gone through this you now enter
you have gone through this you now enter
you have gone through this you now enter the second serious part of the process
the second serious part of the process
the second serious part of the process first you choose one or few of the more
first you choose one or few of the more
first you choose one or few of the more promising possibilities that were
promising possibilities that were
promising possibilities that were generated by your imagination and now
generated by your imagination and now
generated by your imagination and now you actively work to test verify or
you actively work to test verify or
you actively work to test verify or confirm it
confirm it
confirm it this might entail launching a beta
this might entail launching a beta
this might entail launching a beta version on the public once you have
version on the public once you have
version on the public once you have feedback you now go back into the first
feedback you now go back into the first
feedback you now go back into the first part of the process in a shortened form
part of the process in a shortened form
part of the process in a shortened form using your imagination to perhaps take
using your imagination to perhaps take
using your imagination to perhaps take what you have into an even better and
what you have into an even better and
what you have into an even better and higher form circling constantly through
higher form circling constantly through
higher form circling constantly through this process in shorter and shorter
this process in shorter and shorter
this process in shorter and shorter cycles until you’ve got something that’s
cycles until you’ve got something that’s
cycles until you’ve got something that’s both incredibly imaginative and
both incredibly imaginative and
both incredibly imaginative and incredibly realistic and practical by
incredibly realistic and practical by
incredibly realistic and practical by developing this by going through this
developing this by going through this
developing this by going through this over and over and over again you will
over and over and over again you will
over and over and over again you will develop your imagination into an
develop your imagination into an
develop your imagination into an incredibly powerful creative muscle
I want you to get over this notion that
I want you to get over this notion that I find so annoying that so many people
I find so annoying that so many people
I find so annoying that so many people have that success and power in life is
have that success and power in life is
have that success and power in life is dependent on something like genetics
dependent on something like genetics
dependent on something like genetics like some people are born with a larger
like some people are born with a larger
like some people are born with a larger brain or they have wealthy parents who
brain or they have wealthy parents who
brain or they have wealthy parents who are able to send them to the right
are able to send them to the right
are able to send them to the right or or it’s all a matter of luck
or or it’s all a matter of luck
or or it’s all a matter of luck what really makes people successful and
what really makes people successful and
what really makes people successful and powerful in life and it’s not just me
powerful in life and it’s not just me
powerful in life and it’s not just me saying this I read hundreds of books on
saying this I read hundreds of books on
saying this I read hundreds of books on the subject what makes people successful
the subject what makes people successful
the subject what makes people successful is their degree of motivation I could
is their degree of motivation I could
is their degree of motivation I could repeat it a hundred times but it’s true
repeat it a hundred times but it’s true
repeat it a hundred times but it’s true every time I say when you are motivated
every time I say when you are motivated
every time I say when you are motivated when you feel yourself emotionally
when you feel yourself emotionally
when you feel yourself emotionally engaged in the subject you learn faster
engaged in the subject you learn faster
engaged in the subject you learn faster you learn what could take somebody ten
you learn what could take somebody ten
you learn what could take somebody ten years to learn you can learn in two
years to learn you can learn in two
years to learn you can learn in two years when you feel emotionally engaged
years when you feel emotionally engaged
years when you feel emotionally engaged with something you’re able to push past
with something you’re able to push past
with something you’re able to push past ops all the obstacles the sense that
ops all the obstacles the sense that
ops all the obstacles the sense that it’s genetics or the size of our brain
it’s genetics or the size of our brain
it’s genetics or the size of our brain or our parents money you can’t control
or our parents money you can’t control
or our parents money you can’t control any of that obviously and they could
any of that obviously and they could
any of that obviously and they could become kind of crutches for some people
become kind of crutches for some people
become kind of crutches for some people but the amount of motivation you feel
but the amount of motivation you feel
but the amount of motivation you feel the emotional connection you have to
the emotional connection you have to
the emotional connection you have to what you’re studying or doing that is
what you’re studying or doing that is
what you’re studying or doing that is something within your control that is
something within your control that is
something within your control that is something you can choose to take and it
something you can choose to take and it
something you can choose to take and it is you you’re gonna find people giving
is you you’re gonna find people giving
is you you’re gonna find people giving you all kinds of great advice about your
you all kinds of great advice about your
you all kinds of great advice about your careers about where you should go you
careers about where you should go you
careers about where you should go you know your MBA etc but if there’s one
know your MBA etc but if there’s one
know your MBA etc but if there’s one piece of advice that I think is more
piece of advice that I think is more
piece of advice that I think is more important than that is that is it is
important than that is that is it is
important than that is that is it is this idea of following this these
this idea of following this these
this idea of following this these natural inclinations and creating your
natural inclinations and creating your
natural inclinations and creating your own career
own career
own career and finding a way to engage the deepest
and finding a way to engage the deepest
and finding a way to engage the deepest motivating parts of your psyche you
motivating parts of your psyche you
motivating parts of your psyche you learn to embrace uncertainty and chaos
learn to embrace uncertainty and chaos
learn to embrace uncertainty and chaos life is inherently chaotic and it
life is inherently chaotic and it
life is inherently chaotic and it doesn’t fit into our tidy formulas not
doesn’t fit into our tidy formulas not
doesn’t fit into our tidy formulas not only does this not make you anxious but
only does this not make you anxious but
only does this not make you anxious but you find chaos and uncertainty deeply
you find chaos and uncertainty deeply
you find chaos and uncertainty deeply exciting and stimulating slowly adopting
exciting and stimulating slowly adopting
exciting and stimulating slowly adopting this as an overall philosophy will
this as an overall philosophy will
this as an overall philosophy will naturally loosen the mind up and give it
naturally loosen the mind up and give it
naturally loosen the mind up and give it greater creative flow you will naturally
greater creative flow you will naturally
greater creative flow you will naturally consider more options and possibilities
the brain evolved over the course of
the brain evolved over the course of millions of years so I try to make the
millions of years so I try to make the
millions of years so I try to make the point that you know what da Vinci was
point that you know what da Vinci was
point that you know what da Vinci was going through the process is there’s a
going through the process is there’s a
going through the process is there’s a template there and it’s the same because
template there and it’s the same because
template there and it’s the same because our brains haven’t really changed in an
our brains haven’t really changed in an
our brains haven’t really changed in an evolutionary sense in four or five
evolutionary sense in four or five
evolutionary sense in four or five hundred years on the other hand the
hundred years on the other hand the
hundred years on the other hand the circumstances are different and people
circumstances are different and people
circumstances are different and people now live in a world where there’s many
now live in a world where there’s many
now live in a world where there’s many more distractions so it’s harder to do
more distractions so it’s harder to do
more distractions so it’s harder to do that kind of focus that I was mentioning
that kind of focus that I was mentioning
that kind of focus that I was mentioning so in some ways it’s a little bit harder
so in some ways it’s a little bit harder
so in some ways it’s a little bit harder and the people that I’ve interviewed are
and the people that I’ve interviewed are
and the people that I’ve interviewed are really good at shutting out all of the
really good at shutting out all of the
really good at shutting out all of the distractions of the world that’s sort of
distractions of the world that’s sort of
distractions of the world that’s sort of what separates them every single one of
what separates them every single one of
what separates them every single one of them Paul Graham you know Paul Graham
them Paul Graham you know Paul Graham
them Paul Graham you know Paul Graham Paul doesn’t have a smartphone
Paul doesn’t have a smartphone
Paul doesn’t have a smartphone he doesn’t spend time on the Internet
he doesn’t spend time on the Internet
he doesn’t spend time on the Internet he’s extremely focused that woman yoky
he’s extremely focused that woman yoky
he’s extremely focused that woman yoky Matsuoka she she does all of her writing
Matsuoka she she does all of her writing
Matsuoka she she does all of her writing with a pen and paper she’s not sitting
with a pen and paper she’s not sitting
with a pen and paper she’s not sitting there day in and day out on the computer
there day in and day out on the computer
there day in and day out on the computer checking her Facebook or Twitter page or
checking her Facebook or Twitter page or
checking her Facebook or Twitter page or whatever I could go through all of them
whatever I could go through all of them
whatever I could go through all of them that way Steve Jobs is sort of the
that way Steve Jobs is sort of the
that way Steve Jobs is sort of the ultimate icon of mastery of our era and
ultimate icon of mastery of our era and
ultimate icon of mastery of our era and he said the only thing that’s
he said the only thing that’s
he said the only thing that’s differentiated me from everyone else was
differentiated me from everyone else was
differentiated me from everyone else was my level of focus I could take a problem
my level of focus I could take a problem
my level of focus I could take a problem and I could focus on it and burrow into
and I could focus on it and burrow into
and I could focus on it and burrow into it and everybody else was so distracted
it and everybody else was so distracted
it and everybody else was so distracted he knew how to close his door get away
he knew how to close his door get away
he knew how to close his door get away from his wife his kids everyone and just
from his wife his kids everyone and just
from his wife his kids everyone and just focus so the all of these people have to
focus so the all of these people have to
focus so the all of these people have to overcome these tense distractions in our
overcome these tense distractions in our
overcome these tense distractions in our world they and they’re able to do it on
world they and they’re able to do it on
world they and they’re able to do it on the other hand what you can get with a
the other hand what you can get with a
the other hand what you can get with a click on the internet but with a Google
click on the internet but with a Google
click on the internet but with a Google search compared to what da Vinci had to
search compared to what da Vinci had to
search compared to what da Vinci had to do or a scientist in the 19th or 20th
do or a scientist in the 19th or 20th
do or a scientist in the 19th or 20th century is absolutely astounding so what
century is absolutely astounding so what
century is absolutely astounding so what you have at your fingertips the
you have at your fingertips the
you have at your fingertips the knowledge the things that you can
knowledge the things that you can
knowledge the things that you can connect and learn about the potential
connect and learn about the potential
connect and learn about the potential for learning skills is out of this world
for learning skills is out of this world
for learning skills is out of this world so if you’re able to overcome the
so if you’re able to overcome the
so if you’re able to overcome the distracting elements that are I am I go
distracting elements that are I am I go
distracting elements that are I am I go over and I wrote compare it to if you
over and I wrote compare it to if you
over and I wrote compare it to if you ever watch a basketball game and you see
ever watch a basketball game and you see
ever watch a basketball game and you see the opposing team shooting free throw
the opposing team shooting free throw
the opposing team shooting free throw and everyone behind him the stands are
and everyone behind him the stands are
and everyone behind him the stands are all going like this with those big you
all going like this with those big you
all going like this with those big you know trying to distract him there’s like
know trying to distract him there’s like
know trying to distract him there’s like hundreds of people that’s what the world
hundreds of people that’s what the world
hundreds of people that’s what the world is like now you’ve got thousands of
is like now you’ve got thousands of
is like now you’ve got thousands of people waving those things you’ve got so
people waving those things you’ve got so
people waving those things you’ve got so many distractions if you’re able to
many distractions if you’re able to
many distractions if you’re able to overcome that and be a person that can
overcome that and be a person that can
overcome that and be a person that can focus you have this like wealth of
focus you have this like wealth of
focus you have this like wealth of information and knowledge and ability to
information and knowledge and ability to
information and knowledge and ability to acquire skills that nobody a hundred
acquire skills that nobody a hundred
acquire skills that nobody a hundred years ago 20 years ago could dream about
years ago 20 years ago could dream about
years ago 20 years ago could dream about you
”
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