The James Altucher Show

Tim Ferriss has a life-changing surprise for you. It was expensive. I mean, it was expensive for him. It cost him a couple hundred thousand dollars to get. It also wasn't easy. He fought for a year and a half to get it. This is going to change our lives. Yes, both of us. Let me ask you this: What's the one skill you always wanted and don't have? Is it Brazilian jiu-jitsu? Flirting? Playing poker? How to get out of a hostage situation? Whatever it is, you can learn it. You just need to know how to learn. Learning is a skill. Tim Ferriss did a bunch of experiments and mastered learning. In today's show, he reveals the secret to gaining any skill you ever wanted. He FINALLY got digital rights to his TV show, The Tim Ferriss Experiment. It's about how to conquer fear in any skill at 10 times your learning speed. Think of it as MythBusters meets Jason Bourne. "My job is to get people from zero percent to the top five percent in six months or less," he says, "The skill I'm refining is meta-learning. It's the toolkit." The best part is that he filmed all 13 experiments. Now it's a show. It's "MythBusters meets Jackass." Clearly, a must watch. I'm going to make my daughter binge-watch it today. Even if she has homework. This is more important. And more valuable. The best part? He's releasing all 13 episodes "House of Cards-style" today. They're available at iTunes.com/timferriss. In The Tim Ferriss Experiment, Tim goes around trying to learn the most difficult skills in the world. Sometimes, he's successful. Other times, he has to pull himself out of having an anxiety attack. In today's interview, Tim reveals why we suck at learning new skills. The best part is that it's not your fault. You can do anything you want. Think about it. People with no legs can run. Listen today to hear how to choose the best teacher, find an unorthodox mentor, alter your technique, and much more. In this episode, you will learn: *What's holding you back from learning the skills you want *How to present yourself in the best way possible *How to find unorthodox mentors and teachers *How to identify outliers *How to learn to learn *What examples you should study when practicing a new skill Links and resources mentioned in the show: Tim Ferriss Book Club: http://fourhourworkweek.com/category/tim-ferriss-book-club/ Extra footage from The Tim Ferriss Experiment: http://fourhourworkweek.com/tv/ Resource to choose the best photo online: https://www.okcupid.com Thanks so much for listening!   If you enjoyed this episode of The James Altucher Show, please leave a review or a rating on ITunes. I read every review, and it helps to make the podcast better ------------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.

28 Apr 20151h 1min

If you slept on the floor last night, you're off to a great start. Ryan Holiday started on the floor. I guess that's where we all start. The difference is we want to stand on the floor, not sleep on it. But maybe you should stop thinking that way. Maybe you should sleep on the floor. Ryan Holiday didn't even sleep on his own floor. He slept on someone else's floor. Even better, it was his boss's floor. Maybe give that a try tonight. Sleep on your boss's floor. That's how you choose for yourself. Work with people whose floor you want to sleep on. Ryan went from the floor to director of marketing of American Apparel. Now he runs his own creative consulting firm. He landed five clients on the New York Times bestseller list in one week. I'm one of Ryan's clients. He does great work. That's why I interviewed him a second time. Tucker Max and Tim Ferris are his clients, too. And because no one is born a New York Times bestselling author (or maybe they are, I don't know), listen to Ryan's tips for aspiring authors. He also reveals the most common reasons authors and entrepreneurs fail. Tip: you need to stop loving your ideas. Love for your ideas sets you up for failure. Hear why and hear the solution. You might have heard me say, "85 percent of all businesses fail." Today, I share how to reduce your risk of failure to only 20 percent. If nothing else, try sleeping on the floor. In This Episode You Will Learn: *The most common mistakes of aspiring authors and entrepreneurs *The key to success behind Ryan Holiday's "meta-campaigns" *How Ryan Holiday landed jobs with clients including Tucker Max, Tim Ferris and James Altucher *Ryan's keys to success behind building "meta-campaigns" *Examples of how to "lean into problems instead of running away from them" *The best way to spread your ideas as widely as possible Links and Resources Mentioned in the Show: www.RyanHoliday.net - sign up for his book recommendations Check out both of Ryan Holiday's books on Amazon James first interview with Ryan Holiday James interview on CBCN   Books Recommended in this Episode: Trust Me, I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday Mastery by Robert Greene Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes Money by Tony Robbins Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler     Thanks so much for listening! ------------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 Apr 201559min

Rich Roll was having a heart attack on his staircase. He was fat. He hated his work. He was unhappy. A few years later, he ran, swam, and biked 703 miles in seven days when he was 45 years old. When he was 40, he had a job he hated, but he was still trying to live the American dream: the two cars, the beautiful family, the partnership at a law firm. "I thought I was having a heart attack on the staircase," he said. "I was 50 pounds overweight. I was working 80 hours a week. I wasn't happy. I was going to die." That moment on the staircase was one of three or four turning points in Rich Roll's life that forced him to say: "I have a small window to change for the better." And then he did it. But what's interesting to me is that Rich Roll is an addict. I'm an addict. Many people I know are addicts. Many addictions are bad for you. When I was younger, I was addicted to just about everything that could possibly be harmful to me. Rich Roll, when he was 31 years old and a high-priced lawyer, had to check himself into a 100-day rehab center after he was drunk driving the wrong way down a one-way street. While in rehab, he noticed something interesting. "At first it felt really horrible, and then it felt better." When he was 40, he wasn't drinking, but he threw those obsessions into his NEXT unhealthy addiction. "I was living on the window diet" - if you can drive up to a window and order the food, then that's what he would eat. Like three Wendy's cheeseburgers. He threw himself into the lifestyle of top lawyer, 80 hours a week, eat whatever you can. But that moment on the stairs made him realize, with heart disease in his family, that he was at risk. So he started a seven day cleanse. All juices. "In the first three days I felt horrible, but I knew from my experience in rehab that it would get a lot better." And it did. At the end of the juicing, he felt incredibly energetic and cleansed. This was his third addiction. Gradually he went from juicing to a "junk vegetarian" style (pizza, etc.) to real plant-based vegan lifestyle. "I had so much energy, I couldn't stop moving. Even sitting at rest I couldn't stop tapping my leg." So one day he went for a run. He ran 24 miles. His biggest run prior that was 8 miles! And that was 22 years earlier. Sorry, Rich, if I'm getting the numbers slightly wrong. After that, he realized this was some latent ability that was coming out so he started to train. He trained every day. He started running in Iron Man competitions. Then the competitions got more and more intense until he did his 700 mile Hawaii run. Five Irons Mans in seven days. This was his fourth addiction. He was named one of the 50 fittest men in the world. But he was still a lawyer part-time and training part-time. He wrote a book about his lifestyle. He started giving talks for free and going to conferences. Spreading the word on this healthy lifestyle that had changed his life invigorated his relationships and catapulted him to become one of the healthiest people in the world. This was his fifth addiction. He couldn't stop spreading the word about what was happening to him. "It was hard at first," he said. "I wasn't getting paid and I was traveling everywhere." Gradually he started making a living at his new career and he gave up his job as a lawyer. His book The Plantpower Way" is about to come out, describing his lifestyle even more. Rich and I are one year apart in age. I can't even run down the block, although I try to live a healthy lifestyle. People always demonize addiction. It's bad! Don't be an addict! But there are positive addictions. "Well-being" is being addicted to three things: competence, positive relationships, autonomy. And maybe one more thing: Growth every day in all three of those areas. If you do those things, I can tell you that you will feel well-being today, no matter what else is going on in your life. The first... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Apr 20151h 9min

Jon Acuff, the author of five books, writes from the trenches. Today he talks with James about a few of the self-sabotage practices he used to follow. Jon also talks about the fear he had of creating an email list, instead using Twitter to make believe he was communicating with his readers, and his fear of self-promoting his books while not wanting to be one of those "extreme self-promoters." Jon wrote his first book while working at AutoTrader.com, doing interviews from his car during lunch and giving talks on weekends when he could slip away. He'd get up early before work to write his blog, and he'd read everything he could find about becoming a better writer. James and Jon also talk about the negative feedback you will get when you put yourself out there, and that no one is really trying to eat you (you'll have to listen here to understand). Jon spent a few years working with Dave Ramsey and his organization, and wrote his best seller, Do Over,after he left. He knew he needed to find his dream job and that it was the right thing to do, but it was also an extremely difficult decision. For six months before and after, sleep was fleeting. Bravery is often very difficult... Taking a dive into what it means to Do Over your life, Jon says, "You have the power to give yourself a fresh start." This is one of my favorite interviews. I didn't know Jon's work prior to the interview, but I'm now a huge fan. Listen and let us know if you agree. Regards, David Newman Senior Producer of Stansberry Radio   P.S. As you can tell, James is fiercely committed to helping people lead happier, wealthier, and more fulfilling lives.   That's why he's working on a new project - one that introduces you to life-changing ideas, secrets, and techniques you have never heard of before. It's the perfect guidebook for succeeding in a rapidly changing America. Read on here to learn more. ------------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 Apr 20151h 5min

Dan Buettner ruined James' life, and in today's podcast, you'll find out why. Today, they talk about The Blue Zones, Dan's new book. It's a fascinating topic completed in conjunction with a 10-year project with National Geographic. It's not about just making it to 100; it's all about being healthy and active at 100, still enjoying life, and contributing. As Dan says, "they are repositories of wisdom and human experience, and that's an asset that is frequently diminished in our society and really celebrated in Blue Zones." If you want to live to 100, you should really learn the lessons of those who have lived to that age. Is it biology? Is it the environment, diet, attitude, or something else, or is it a combination of all of the above? "A long, healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may live up to a decade longer. "The recipe for longevity, Buettner has found, is deeply intertwined with community, lifestyle, and spirituality. You won't find longevity in a bottle of diet pills or with hormone therapy. You'll find it by embracing a few simple but powerful habits, and by creating the right community around yourself." In Blue Zones, age is celebrated, but here in the U.S., we warehouse our old people. If you're interested in living to a healthy and happy 100 years young, then I suggest you read Dan's new book, The Blue Zones, and listen here to this podcast. Regards, David Newman Senior Producer of Stansberry Radio   P.S. Hi, James here... My new book is finally out! It has taken me a year to put together all the skills I think are needed to create abundance in this new economy. I hope you write me with feedback and questions. I have more books coming. Here's what the initial reviews on this book have said: "James Altucher did it again. I just finished and have to say it was a great read. Great insight into the future of wealth." "I couldn't wait for this book to come out. It was well worth the wait! Very short and jam-packed with good ideas and advice for the budding entrepreneur. A must read!" "This is the road map out. Very specific ideas to get you unstuck and to thrive in the 21st century. If you follow the ideas in this book your will receive 1000% or more in return on your investment." I'm really grateful for the response I've received so quickly. I feel we are quickly building a strong community of people who are deciding to "choose themselves."   If you want to get the book exclusively in hardcover, plus several other special reports and a subscription to my brand-new newsletter, which is essentially the equivalent of two additional chapters every month, claim your copy here. ------------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.

9 Apr 201552min

What an interview... This one will go down in the archives as one of our best. Nick Megalis is a true artist in every sense of the word And he moves to the beat of his own crazy drum. Today Nick allows James to ask him anything. He's willing to tell us why his work is so important to him. It's a very funny interview but it goes deep. Nick says he's extremely fortunate that people like what he does and that Vine came along when it did. His Vine loops have been played more than 500 million times and he has made about a "trillion dollars" because of them (you'll have to listen to get the joke). When James asks him about his fans, he gets serious. He believes that anyone who watches his videos deserves a personal reply. And while he can't reply to all of them, he tries to every day. James asks him what's next... he lets us in on what's new and exciting and just may be the next big thing. Listen here. Regards, David Newman Senior Producer of Stansberry Radio   P.S. Hi, James here... My new book is finally out! It has taken me a year to put together all the skills I think are needed to create abundance in this new economy. I hope you write me with feedback and questions. I have more books coming. Here's what the initial reviews on this book have said: "James Altucher did it again. I just finished and have to say it was a great read. Great insight into the future of wealth." "I couldn't wait for this book to come out. It was well worth the wait! Very short and jam-packed with good ideas and advice for the budding entrepreneur. A must read!" "This is the road map out. Very specific ideas to get you unstuck and to thrive in the 21st century. If you follow the ideas in this book your will receive 1000% or more in return on your investment." I'm really grateful for the response I've received so quickly. I feel we are quickly building a strong community of people who are deciding to "choose themselves."   If you want to get it exclusively in hardcover, plus several other special reports and a subscription to my brand-new newsletter, which is essentially the equivalent of two additional chapters every month, claim your copy here. ------------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 Apr 20151h 4min

We sent you Part 1 of this amazing interview with Mark Ford on Tuesday and today we're releasing Part 2. If you've not listened to Part 1 click here to start there. Make sure you go to markfordbook.com and learn how you can claim your free copy of Mark's book, Living Rich: How to Live as Well as a Billionaire on a Middle-Class Budget. ------------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.

3 Apr 201554min

Today, we have a very special show for you. I recently hopped on a plane and headed to Palm Beach, Florida, where I recorded this two-part show from this gentleman's waterfront mansion. The man is a true legend in the field of entrepreneurship and investing, having started more than 100 companies, most of which have been successful. My guest today is New York Times best-selling author Mark Ford. You might recognize Mark by his pen name, "Michael Masterson," but I also wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of him. Unlike other business and financial "gurus," Mark is intensely private and has deliberately kept a low profile over the past 30 years. He has been a silent force behind the careers and ideas of many of the smartest people in investing and entrepreneurship. Mark's accomplishments are as impressive as they are varied: he has built more than 100 businesses... amassed a fortune in the high eight-figure range... climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, speaks four languages... is a best-selling author of nearly 20 books... and at 64, he still wears his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt five times a week as he spars with men half his age. But before you check out the interview, we forgot to include an important piece of information during the show. Mark agreed to give away one of his most popular books to my listeners. We start out today talking about what Mark calls, "becoming an intra-preneur." Not everyone can quit his or her job tomorrow. As an intra-preneur, you have to become the most valuable or one of the most valuable people within the company where you work. Mark then tells me about two very different negotiation techniques that he has learned from two of his mentors. They couldn't be more different. Mark talks today about the three sides of every business and which one you want to be a part of. And as Mark says, "You have to promote yourself." Plus, this is only part one of this amazing interview. Make sure you go to markfordbook.com and learn how you can claim your free copy of Mark's book, Living Rich: How to Live as Well as a Billionaire on a Middle-Class Budget. Regards,   James Altucher ------------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 Mars 201553min