The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

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#365: James Altucher - How To Become An Idea Machine

"Vulnerability equals freedom."
- "You need to say something interesting. You need to step outside of your comfort zone."
James started writing in 1990 after a girl he liked chose to date a writer instead of him.
- He wrote 3,000 words a day and yet didn't publish anything for 12 years.
Why write about your flaws?
- Watch the movie 8 mile... "Eminem shares all of the negative aspects of himself. He left his competition with nothing to say about him. He beat him to the punch."
- "I don't hit publish unless I'm worried. Am I afraid? If yes, then publish."
- "All good writing has to have a story."
Commonalities of people who sustain excellence:
- Physically healthy - They are in shape
- Emotionally healthy - They have good relationships
- They are extremely curious - "Ken Langone came in my comedy club and asked tons of questions. He's so curious."
- They are very creative
- They have a "ready, fire, aim" approach - Sara Blakely started Spanx and got a $300K order and hadn't figured out how to manufacture her product yet.
Creativity/Idea generation is a muscle - If you don't work it, it atrophies.
- Write 10 ideas a day.
- Quantity is more important than quality. "He who has the most ideas wins."
  - You'll have a lot of bad ideas. You have to get through those to get to the good ones. Quantity is important.
  - "Writing 10 ideas a day changed my life. I wasn't depressed anymore."
Write ideas for companies and share with them... They might call you.
Being an "intrapreneur" within your company - Think of ideas that can help your company and share with the CEO.
- "Success is always on the other side of can't."
Great entrepreneurs focus on reducing risk
How to speak to powerful people?
- Realize they are just people
- Humor is key. "Laughter is the way to level the playing field."
Developing a skill - Deliberate practice
- The "10,000 Experiment" rule
- The key to getting good is to experiment
- Be in the top 1% of doing experiments
Work your idea muscle every single day - The neurons will be re-wired
- Share your ideas to help other companies
Over-promise AND over-deliver. Do both. Everyone else under-promise with the hope to over-deliver. Don't do that. Overpromise upfront and over-deliver.

365: James Altucher - How To Become An Idea Machine (The 10,000 Experiment Rule)

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

365: James Altucher - How To Become An Idea Machine (The 10,000 Experiment Rule)