Ep. 231 - Jim Norton: Dropout and Laugh (A Comedian's Journey)

You've heard the stories about college dropouts who go on to become billionaires... like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerburg... And you might even know that 20% of America's millionaires never stepped foot on a college campus. But how many guys have you heard of who read at a second grade level... yet go on to be millionaires? My guess is none... but you're about to meet one. His name is Lewis Howes, and he's this week's guest on the James Altucher Show, a radio show we recently helped to launch. Lewis Howes' story is nothing short of amazing... At age 10, he was 6'3". He described himself as a "gangly, skinny, ugly, acne kid, who couldn't read or write or do anything." In the eighth grade, he could only read at a second-grade level. He cheated on every test in high school because he says that's the only way he could pass. But Lewis' life changed dramatically after talking his way into college. He wanted to become a football player... and despite a series of major setbacks and injuries, he became a two-time All-American. Thing is... when it came time to leave college, the NFL didn't want him. He had no other skills. He was broke and depressed. By now, you might be wondering how listening to a former semi-pro football player can help you become more successful and wealthy. Turns out, a lot more than you'd think... Howes figured out an ingenious way to make a fortune. At one time, he was making an incredible $60,000 per hour. This week, you'll hear the amazing story of Lewis Howes, who now travels the globe teaching people exactly how they can achieve their dreams. Schools can't prep you for success anymore. Today's millionaires prove that if schooling and traditional employment does not work for you, then you must figure out how to connect with people on a different level. And Lewis teaches you exactly what you need to do to get there. He reveals the secret thing that people should never, ever do when they're trying to get ahead. I was shocked because it's usually the first thing people think they SHOULD do! He also reveals the question that he always asks during networking sessions. Lewis explains, "That simple question opened the door" to his future as a millionaire.   Like James Altucher, Lewis Howes is a quirky, interesting guy, who's become a huge success by thinking outside the box.   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Feb 20141h 13min

On this week's show, James and Aaron Brabham chat with Ylon Schwartz: poker champion, chess master, and gamer extraordinaire.   He is without a doubt one of the most intriguing characters you're ever likely to encounter...   College Dropout Who Has Never Had a Real Job Wins $8 Million in Cash at the Poker Table...   If you watched the 2008 World Series of Poker, you may remember Ylon Schwartz and his trademark curly locks...   The day before the championship, Ylon was drowning in debt and in trouble with the law back in his hometown of New York City. From rock bottom, he redirected years of frustrations about money and women, channeling it towards winning the game...   ... and walked out of the Las Vegas Rio Casino with a cool $3.7 million in his pocket.   In fact, Ylon has won an estimated $8 million in cash, just from playing poker. Not bad for a college dropout who has never held a job.     Today, he's one of the most widely recognized and well-respected poker players in the world.  ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Feb 20141h 9min

On this week's show, James' special guest is A.J. Jacobs, a journalist, lecturer, self-described human guinea pig and author of four New York Times bestsellers.   In this episode, he shares life-changing tips about how to improve your business, become healthier, and live better.   You see, A.J. has spent years conducting the wackiest "experiments" we've ever heard of to see what he could learn.   You won't believe the crazy things he has done!   James and A.J. discuss how to generate great ideas... and the importance of exercising the "idea muscle" in your brain. The very act of generating 40 different ideas literally made A.J. millions of dollars.   Other things you'll learn when you listen to this show include:   ** One simple exercise that will make you feel more confident and optimistic. George Washington used this tip to create an aura of authority...   ** How to reframe the boring parts of your job as something creative. If you aren't satisfied living in a cubicle, you need to hear this...   **What you should do within the first three seconds of meeting someone to overcome shyness...   ** Why overthinking is a problem... and how you can stop your brain from ruling your life...   ** A.J.'s proven technique for using Facebook to fix almost any problem...   ** How he's using genetic testing, of all things, to grow his business...   Like James Altucher, A.J. Jacobs is a quirky, interesting guy, who has become a huge success by thinking outside the box. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Feb 201456min

On this week's show, which you can now access free of charge, James covered several interesting, unique, and useful topics... which I guarantee you won't hear anywhere else.   For example...   *He shares his idea of the absolute best place to meet women... and how to avoid feeling embarrassed if she says no to your invitation.   *He discusses the 2 reasons traditional jobs are a scam... why he tries to avoid working in the workplace... and the ways you can avoid having a regular ho-hum job...   *And he explains why there has been such a dramatic change in the way we interact with total strangers... how that impacts the way we sell our goods... and how to use this change to your benefit...   Altucher has an interesting take on this subject and you won't want to miss it!   Then James brings on his special guest...   James' good friend Gary Vaynerchuk, author of a New York Times best-selling book: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook.   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Jan 201455min

On James' very first show, he covers several really interesting, unique, and useful stories, which I guarantee you won't hear anywhere else. Then James brings on his special guest for Show #1...   Maybe you've heard of Tucker Max. Maybe not.   Tucker is an entertaining guy, who figured out a way to basically reinvent the entire book-publishing industry.   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 Jan 201453min

Robert Greene, best-selling author of Mastery, joins The James Altucher Show. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201434min

This week, James Altucher interviews Greg Zuckerman, author of .The Frackers ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201437min

This week, we have James Altucher interviews with Marc Eck?, author of the new best-seller, Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201453min