As Missoula counselors, we are always looking for new and wonderful ideas. “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss is one of those such books that hold a plethora of tools for your toolbox.

Today we will just countdown the top 5 ideas I am seeing as I am flipping through the book:

5

Terry Crews, who is a former NFL player, writer and actor said to Tim that his favorite book is “The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel.

“I have read hundreds of personal development books, but this is the one that clearly showed me how to visualize, contemplate, and focus on what it was I truly wanted. It revealed to me that we only get what we desire most, and to apply myself with a laser-like focus upon a goal, task, or project. That in order to “have” you must “do,” and in order to “do” you must “be”—and this process is immediate. Although it takes time for these desires to manifest in our material world, you must see the thing you desire as completed, finished, and real, now. The better you can do this, the more you can accomplish. I have bought several copies of this book and distributed it to family and friends. I also reread it probably once a month to keep my vision clear.”

4

Tim then asked him: If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say and why?

“God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

He says: I love this quote because it is all about defeating fear. Every great and extraordinary accomplishment in this world was done through courage. Hell, you don’t even get to be born unless your mother has the courage to have you. I repeat this phrase when I’m anxious or nervous about something. I ask myself, what’s the worst that can happen. Usually, the answer is, “You can die.” Then I answer back, “I’d rather die doing something I feel is great and amazing rather than be safe and comfortable living a life I hate.”

3

I would like engrain this quote in gold on my wall: “Ignore any advice that tells you you are going to miss something.”

He says: Every mistake I have ever made in business, marriage, and personal conduct was because I thought if I didn’t do or get this now, it was never going to happen. It’s like most clubs in LA. The trick is to keep the line long at the door, while the club itself is empty. The “aura of exclusivity” is really code for “bad atmosphere.” To do what you desire to do, you have all you need.

2

Debbie Millman has been called “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA. She is the founder and host of Design Matters, the world’s first and longest-running podcast – yes even over Joe Rogan.

I love her response to Tim’s favorite question. But is it Tim’s favorite question? Tim asked her:

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say and why?

My billboard would say this: “Busy is a decision.” Here’s why: Of the many, many excuses people use to rationalize why they can’t do something, the excuse “I am too busy” is not only the most inauthentic, it is also the laziest. I don’t believe in “too busy.” Like I said, busy is a decision.

We do the things we want to do, period. If we say we are too busy, it is shorthand for “not important enough.” It means you would rather be doing something else that you consider more important. That “thing” could be sleep, it could be sex, or it could be watching Game of Thrones. If we use busy as an excuse for not doing something what we are really, really saying is that it’s not a priority. Simply put: You don’t find the time to do something; you make the time to do things. We are now living in a society that sees busy as a badge. It has become cultural cachet to use the excuse “I am too busy,” as a reason for not doing anything we don’t feel like doing. The problem is this: if you let yourself off the hook for not doing something for any reason, you won’t ever do it. If you want to do something, you can’t let being busy stand in the way, even if you are busy. Make the time to do the things you want to do and then do them.”

Side note: I like this. I like to trade, “I can’t” type of language to “I won’t”. This changes the locus of control so that at least I am in control.

1

What’s one of the best investments you have ever made Tim asked her?  And she said “psychotherapy”.

BONUS:

NAVAL RAVIKANT is the CEO and co-founder of AngelList. And he’s an active angel investor in more than 100 companies.

The gift he’s given most often as a gift is TOTAL FREEDOM by Jiddu Krishnamurti because this is the “spiritual” book that he keeps returning to.  He also loves everything by Matt Ridley.  Genome, The Red Queen, The Origins of Virtue, The Rational Optimist—they’re all great he says.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

He says: Suffering is a moment of clarity, when you can no longer deny the truth of a situation and are forced into uncomfortable change.

Make sure to buy “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss! As you can see, it’s an endless goldmine of great ideas.