“If you only master yourself and you don’t help anyone else, we’d call you happy, but nobody would define you as successful.” – Derek Sivers

This particular episode of The Tim Ferriss Radio Hour explores success, a slippery and dangerous term if ever there was one. The particular guests selected for this episode represent not only achievement, but also appreciation and a well-rounded version of what I consider to be a successful human being.

This episode features:

• CDBaby founder Derek Sivers on the importance of challenging your own definitions of success.
• Performance coach Tony Robbins on best lessons learned from working with legendary investors.
• Venture capitalist Chris Sacca on missed opportunities and the commonalities of successful people.
• Legendary investor Ray Dalio on the three things that make up a successful life.
• Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson on the best thing his parents taught him.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Tim Ferriss Radio Hour!

Want to hear another podcast of The Tim Ferriss Radio Hour? — In this episode, we explore meditation and mindfulness with Chase Jarvis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Harris, and Rainn Wilson  (Stream below or right-click here to download):

This podcast is brought to you by 99designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99designs.

I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca, and I’ve also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you’re happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade.

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

• Connect with Derek Sivers:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

• Connect with Tony Robbins:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

• Connect with Chris Sacca:

LOWERCASE capital | Twitter | Instagram

• Connect with Ray Dalio:

Bridgewater Associates | Principles.com | Twitter | Facebook

• Connect with Richard Branson:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (check out Derek’s own notes on this highly recommended book here.)
• Utopia by Thomas More
• Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (read Derek’s notes on this one here.)
• Anthony Robbins’ Personal Power II: The Driving Force! by Anthony Robbins
• Money — Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins
• Contrarian Investing: Buy When There’s Blood in the Streets by Daniel Myers, Investopedia
• Invest Like a MultiBillionaire: Asymmetric Risk Reward by Tony Robbins
• A Few Possible Reasons Why Paul Tudor Jones Despises His Infamous Documentary, ‘Trader’ by Linette Lopez, Business Insider
• Why Kyle Bass Acquired $1 Million Worth of Nickels by Simon Lack, In Pursuit of Value via Business Insider
• Y Combinator
• Chris Sacca’s 5 Biggest Misses by Olga V. Mack, Startup Grind
• Fight Club
• Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
• Finding My Virginity by Richard Branson
• Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life by Richard Branson
• Reliving 16 Great PR Stunts From Richard Branson, Pressat
• Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson
• The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery
• Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
• The Elders

SHOW NOTES

• A cautious reminder that even our superheroes at the pinnacle of success are human, flaws and all. [04:21]
• Introducing Derek Sivers. [06:48]
• Who is the third person who comes to mind when Derek hears the word “successful” — and why? [07:45]
• What Derek believes is the true goal of communication. [09:27]
• Derek’s secret superpower. [10:15]
• Does business need to be complicated? First, we need to define words like “complicated” versus “simple,” and “easy” versus “hard.” [11:29]
• How can someone determine what their own utopia might look like? [14:12]
• How does Derek define success? [16:01]
• According to Derek, if you can do these four things, you can do anything. [18:09]
• Introducing Tony Robbins. [19:05]
• What Tony has learned about successful trading from working with legendary investors like Paul Tudor Jones and John Templeton. [20:05]
• What a 50% investment loss actually means. [21:17]
• What’s a nickel really worth? A lesson in riskless trade from Kyle Bass. [23:51]
• Tony reiterates what Derek Sivers said about the “helping others” part of the success equation. [27:33]
• Who said “losers react and winners anticipate?” [28:13]
• The reason a diversified portfolio is important for any investor no matter how smart they think they are. [28:43]
• Introducing Chris Sacca. [32:43]
• Commonalities between successful founders Chris knows. [33:15]
• The rigged game of investing and the whales that got away. [35:17]
• Introducing Ray Dalio. [41:00]
• Why does Ray remember early failures more vividly than early successes — and what does this tell him about both? [41:32]
• The three ingredients of a successful life. [45:12]
• What makes intelligent people unhappy? [46:21]
• Introducing Richard Branson. [47:45]
• What would Richard recommend to someone looking to sharpen their tools of negotiation? [48:11]
• In business as in life, your reputation is everything. [49:33]
• Are there any business ideas Richard is glad he was talked out of or prevented from doing? [50:37]
• What are Richard’s best practices for launching a new company? [52:00]
• What prompted Richard to write Finding My Virginity? [54:21]
• Books Richard recommends or gives to others most. [56:12]
• In the last five years or so, what new behaviors, beliefs, or habits have improved Richard’s life? [57:12]
• Key lessons learned from Nelson Mandela. [58:39]

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Posted on: July 5, 2018.

Please check out Tribe of Mentors, my newest book, which shares short, tactical life advice from 100+ world-class performers. Many of the world's most famous entrepreneurs, athletes, investors, poker players, and artists are part of the book. The tips and strategies in Tribe of Mentors have already changed my life, and I hope the same for you. Click here for a sample chapter and full details. Roughly 90% of the guests have never appeared on my podcast.

Who was interviewed? Here's a very partial list: tech icons (founders of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Craigslist, Pinterest, Spotify, Salesforce, Dropbox, and more), Jimmy Fallon, Arianna Huffington, Brandon Stanton (Humans of New York), Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ben Stiller, Maurice Ashley (first African-American Grandmaster of chess), Brené Brown (researcher and bestselling author), Rick Rubin (legendary music producer), Temple Grandin (animal behavior expert and autism activist), Franklin Leonard (The Black List), Dara Torres (12-time Olympic medalist in swimming), David Lynch (director), Kelly Slater (surfing legend), Bozoma Saint John (Beats/Apple/Uber), Lewis Cantley (famed cancer researcher), Maria Sharapova, Chris Anderson (curator of TED), Terry Crews, Greg Norman (golf icon), Vitalik Buterin (creator of Ethereum), and nearly 100 more. Check it all out by clicking here.