Where do you go for advice? What if you had a tribe of mentors to consult about your life and career?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Tribe of Mentors<\/em>, Tim Ferriss distills advice from more than 130 world-class experts such as actor Ben Stiller, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and media mogul Ariana Huffington. Ferriss reached out to these experts and compiled their advice when he was seeking direction in his own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you, too, find direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n If you want to know how to live your life, who better to ask than people who have lived life to its fullest? In Tribe of Mentors<\/a><\/em>, Tim Ferriss compiles life advice from experts of all kinds, including artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Author Tim Ferriss got the idea to write Tribe of Mentors<\/em> around the time he turned 40. Facing a mild existential crisis, uncertain about how he wanted to live going forward, he decided to solicit advice from the wisest, most successful people he could think of. Ferriss sent the same list of 11 questions to these experts via email and Twitter, promising to put his favorite responses into a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This book is a spiritual successor to Ferriss\u2019s book Tools of Titans<\/a><\/em>, another collection of distilled wisdom. Ferriss asserts that Tribe of Mentors <\/em>covers a broader range of perspectives<\/a> than Tools of Titans<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve categorized the book\u2019s advice into broad topics, emphasizing ideas repeated by multiple experts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, let\u2019s discuss a topic that may influence how you read the rest of this: how to interpret and apply advice. We\u2019ll begin by explaining why you shouldn\u2019t completely trust any piece of advice, no matter who gives it to you. Then, we\u2019ll detail an alternative: trusting your intuition more than the authority of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of Ferriss\u2019s experts argue against blindly accepting any advice because no single piece of advice applies to everyone.<\/strong> Writer and speaker Julia Galef asserts that the exact same advice may be helpful to one person and unproductive to another who\u2019s in a different situation. Learn to critically judge the advice you receive, tailoring it to your unique circumstances or rejecting it if it doesn\u2019t apply to your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, philanthropist John Arnold recommends largely ignoring the advice of others. He says that nearly everyone who gives advice is drawing solely from anecdotal experience. Consequently, they make statements that seem objective but are actually unique to their circumstances. There\u2019s no single path to greatness, no matter what anyone says. Two people using vastly different strategies can both find wild success. For instance, one author may write a bestseller by forcing themselves to sit and write down every idea they have. Another may write their<\/em> bestseller by taking frequent walks and only writing down ideas when they flow naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than trusting the expertise of others, some of Ferriss\u2019s experts suggest learning to take advice from yourself\u2014trusting your intuition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hedge fund advisor and chess master Adam Robinson asserts that the intuitive unconscious mind<\/a> is significantly more powerful and insightful than the conscious mind<\/a>.<\/strong> Filmmaker and author Soman Chainani elaborates, arguing that many of your conscious thoughts that seem true are actually false ideas from your past that you haven\u2019t challenged. In contrast, your unconscious mind communicates with intuitive feelings and images that are often more accurate indicators of the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts assert that trusting your intuition is particularly important when you\u2019re creating art.<\/strong> Actor and director Ben Stiller argues that a unique, authentic voice is what makes art compelling. In particular, he warns against overriding your intuition by modeling your art after what you assume a broad audience wants to see. Television showrunner Brian Koppelman agrees, adding that the only way you can fully dedicate your heart and soul to your work is to create what you intuitively feel drawn to create. He notes that this level of dedication is necessary for the highest creative success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve discussed how to interpret and apply advice, let\u2019s examine some of Ferriss\u2019s experts\u2019 advice on the broad topic of purpose: What should you do with your life? More specifically, how should you spend your time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To answer these questions, we\u2019ll first explain why it\u2019s necessary to identify what matters most to you and prioritize meaningful causes over other ways you could use your time. Then, we\u2019ll discuss why it\u2019s best to work as hard as you can in pursuit of these meaningful goals<\/a> (while resting enough to do so effectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts argue that assessing what you truly care about is the key to spending your time in a fulfilling way. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks asserts that, once you dedicate yourself to a noble life purpose<\/a> that\u2019s greater than yourself, you\u2019ll feel fulfilled<\/strong> no matter what painful obstacles are in your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you identify what\u2019s most important to you? Pinterest founder Ben Silbermann recommends journaling to clarify your values<\/a>. Take a break from your urgent daily tasks to reflect on what matters\u2014write down what’s most important for you to do in the next few days, the next few months, and especially in the next several years. People feel lost and confused when they lose sight of their long-term intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, author Steven Pressfield (The War of Art<\/a><\/em>) contends that discovering what\u2019s most important to you isn\u2019t this simple. He frames the search for personal values as an ongoing struggle, arguing that you can only learn who you are and what you care about naturally through life experience\u2014in particular, through experimentation and failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you\u2019ve identified what\u2019s most important to you, you can find fulfillment by spending time on that meaningful purpose. However, historian Sarah Elizabeth Lewis asserts that life is full of distractions keeping you from pursuing what matters most to you. To overcome this, Lewis recommends blocking out time every day to make progress on your most important goal. Dropbox founder Drew Houston agrees, offering the more extreme recommendation to track your time in detail and reflect objectively on how you spend each hour of the day. Then, proactively build large blocks of time into your schedule to accomplish important tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial blogger Pete Adeney argues that the biggest prioritization mistake people make is sacrificing their time and energy to earn money for things they don\u2019t truly want or need. Adeney retired at age 30 with enough money to support himself and his family for the rest of his life on a frugal but comfortable budget. Accomplishing this involved rejecting anything that he didn\u2019t value and saving up for what he really wanted: freedom from the obligation to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts advocate working as hard as you can to accomplish the important goals you\u2019ve identified and prioritized. Weightlifting champion Jerzy Gregorek argues that everything that makes a meaningful impact on the world is the result of countless years of hard work.<\/strong> Thus, working hard is the ultimate act of love and selflessness you can give. Whenever you face a challenging decision, ask yourself which choice involves more hardship\u2014it\u2019s usually the right one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, some of Ferriss\u2019s experts contend that hard work is its own reward. Champion wrestler and quadruple amputee Kyle Maynard asserts that painful struggle is the source of his greatest joys.<\/strong> He states that he gets much more fulfillment from fighting against impossible odds than he would from settling into a safe, comfortable life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve covered why it\u2019s important to spend as much time as possible on the goals you care about most, let\u2019s apply these ideas to professional work\u2014how do you build a career that you\u2019re happy to spend time on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this section, we\u2019ll discuss whether or not passion for the work should be your highest priority when searching for a job. Then, we\u2019ll explore how some experts advise rejecting the traditional path to success and embracing a more risky lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts agree that a job you\u2019re excited about is the core of a fulfilling life<\/a><\/strong>. Political commentator Tommy Vietor argues that true passion should be your number one priority when looking for a career. Record producer Rick Rubin notes that if you follow your passion<\/a>, you won\u2019t care whether you find success or not since you\u2019ll be doing something you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Design expert Debbie Millman takes this idea further, arguing that if you\u2019re truly pursuing your passion, you\u2019ll have no reason to worry about maintaining a work-life balance<\/a>. The work itself will feel like all you need in life. Fantasy author Neil Gaiman voices a similar opinion, stating that work is there to center his life and make him feel content when nothing else will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people follow the traditional path to success\u2014slowly ascending from one secure job to a slightly better-paying one. However, some of Ferriss\u2019s experts note that constricting yourself to this path may keep you from building a career you\u2019re passionate about.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Actress Richa Chadha notes that the education system typically sets everyone up to follow the same path to success, but this comfortable, low-risk life can be a trap for people with bigger ambitions. If you want to leave a field you\u2019re not excited about, throw yourself into a new pursuit completely; otherwise, it\u2019ll be too tempting to go back to that comfortable life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt describes one way to commit to an untraditional life path: Get used to poor, cheap living conditions<\/strong> so you don\u2019t have anything to lose and the risks necessary for an untraditional career don\u2019t scare you away. Entrepreneur J\u00e9r\u00f4me Jarre took this idea to the extreme, secretly living out of an office building in New York City for several months until his startup began earning profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cryptocurrency pioneer Nick Szabo also advocates for non-traditional career paths, noting that you shouldn\u2019t feel the need to jump constantly from job to job. Unemployment can give you the space and freedom to devote your full attention to the creative ideas that seem the most promising to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you choose to pursue work you\u2019re passionate about, you\u2019re likely to experience some failure along the way. What\u2019s the best way to handle these failures? Ferriss\u2019s experts explain that, to push through failure, you just need to focus on the following upsides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s discuss each of these upsides in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physician Gabor Mat\u00e9 (When the Body Says N<\/em><\/a>o<\/a><\/em>) asserts that failure shows you how to improve yourself<\/a><\/strong>. Being fired from his job as a medical coordinator helped him discover that he was far more self-absorbed and less personable than he had realized. This prompted him to improve himself and find success in his next job. Similarly, CrossFit athlete Mathew Fraser lost a championship that he was certain he would dominate, which taught him he was prideful and complacent. This motivated him to work harder, allowing him to win the championship the next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of Ferriss\u2019s experts assert that failure is valuable because it forces you to respond in creative ways<\/strong>. These creative solutions often yield unique results since other people likely haven\u2019t tried them before. Bodybuilder and acrobat Jon Call recounts how a severe ankle sprain caused him to train in ways that didn\u2019t rely on his legs\u2014specifically, using gymnastic rings. This gave him unique experience and pushed his skills in new directions he otherwise wouldn\u2019t have chosen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, burlesque performer and entrepreneur Dita Von Teese describes how her failure to become a ballerina forced her to forge an alternate path to the lifestyle she wanted. She had to think of a way into the elegant side of show business that didn\u2019t require memorizing and executing intricate choreography\u2014a limitation that inspired her to start performing burlesque. Von Teese contends that this adaptation made her unique and allowed her to have a greater impact on the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt argues that devastating failure is valuable because it gives you freedom from fear.<\/strong> After you fail, time passes and you realize that almost no failure has major permanent consequences. This reveals that there\u2019s nothing to be afraid of, giving you the courage to risk failure again and improve your skills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, filmmaker David Lynch contends that failure gives you freedom from all creative constraints. <\/strong>After a massive failure, you have nothing more to lose, allowing you to create whatever your heart desires. This creative freedom is a source of pure joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you build a fulfilling career, learn from failure, and attain valuable skills, people will likely begin to put more demands on your time. Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts agree that if you want to devote your life to the priorities you care about the most, you have to aggressively defend your time against these requests.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Actress Aisha Tyler acknowledges that it\u2019s difficult to deny people asking you for help; however, every distraction you allow into your life takes you further from your meaningful goals. Chef Samin Nosrat agrees, adding that the clearer your personal goals are in your mind, the easier you\u2019ll find it to deny people making requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, even after you\u2019ve identified what matters most to you and are happily pursuing it, you\u2019ll feel too tired or scattered to focus and do the work. Ferriss\u2019s experts offer a few options for putting yourself back into a positive, productive mindset:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky contends that you should never feel guilty about taking a break from work when you need it.<\/strong> When you\u2019re having an off day and feel stuck<\/a>, just go do something else\u2014anything that allows your mind to wander and rest. Even if you\u2019re not thinking about the problem, you\u2019ll be unconsciously working through it in the back of your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly to Aronofsky, author and former skier Kristen Ulmer argues that when your body and mind start to resist the work, the best course of action is to stop working and listen to them. Do nothing but live in the moment, allowing yourself to get distracted and paying attention to how it feels. After living mindfully for long enough, your motivation to tackle the work will return\u2014whether it takes a few minutes or a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts note that any activity that gets you out of your mind and into your body is an effective way to recenter yourself.<\/strong> Entrepreneur and author Marie Forleo (Everything Is Figureoutable<\/a><\/em>) states that strenuous physical exercise allows you to thoroughly clear your mind and access a deep, unconscious intelligence in the body that helps you solve problems. Martial artist and chess master Josh Waitzkin (The Art of Lear<\/em><\/a>ning<\/a><\/em>) also advocates exercise as a mental tool, contending that engaging the body fundamentally changes how your mind runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of Ferriss\u2019s experts advocate for routine meditation<\/a> as a productivity tool.<\/strong> Musician Mike D (of the Beastie Boys) finds that a short meditation session gives him renewed focus for hours. Similarly, DJ Steve Aoki uses meditation to clear his mind and prepare to enter the flow state<\/a><\/em> at work: an egoless, focused, creative state of mind conducive to maximum productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in an unproductive emotional state, some of Ferriss\u2019s experts recommend using thought experiments<\/a> to get yourself thinking in new terms. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To let go of a painful emotion caused by an upsetting situation, actress Richa Chadha recommends repeatedly asking yourself \u201cSo what?\u201d in response to what happened, and to continue asking \u201cSo what?\u201d until you\u2019ve gained enough of a distant, big-picture perspective to no longer feel so upset. For example, if a coworker takes credit for your project at work, you might ask \u201cSo what?\u201d and respond that \u201cOur boss is going to think better of them than they deserve.\u201d Ask again: So what? \u201cThey might get a bigger bonus than me.\u201d So what? \u201cI guess money isn\u2019t very important.\u201d Eventually, you reach a view of the situation that seems less threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To cultivate gratitude<\/a> and motivate yourself to live in the present<\/a> moment, computer scientist Muneeb Ali suggests a thought experiment<\/a>: Imagine the future<\/a> in which you\u2019re old, nearing death. Ask yourself how much you\u2019d be willing to spend on a time machine that lets you relive this moment<\/em>. This ideally will help you slow down and enjoy the priceless moments that you\u2019d otherwise ruin by worrying about the past or future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you may feel pressured to follow all this advice to the letter, many of Ferriss\u2019s experts acknowledge that this is an extremely difficult task. Be kind to yourself and don\u2019t feel the need to try too hard, <\/strong>these experts advise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Activist and businesswoman Muna AbuSulayman asserts that it\u2019s easy to feel like you have to be perfect and achieve wild success in every area of your life every day. However, this unrealistic expectation will cause you to suffer. Instead, try your best, then quit worrying. This peaceful acceptance of any outcome helps you enjoy life and ensures that instead of getting discouraged and quitting if things don\u2019t go to plan, you\u2019ll be happy to try your best again next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez argues that it\u2019s possible to maintain a playful mindset even in the most stressful situations. When Rodriguez faces tasks that seem impossible to accomplish with the time and resources he has, he makes it a habit to loudly proclaim, \u201cF\u00e1cil!\u201d\u2014Spanish for \u201ceasy\u201d\u2014to everyone around him. This mantra is half-joking and half-serious. It helps Rodriguez and his collaborators maintain a sense of humor as they work and gives them the optimism they need to accomplish much more than they thought was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the advice in Tribe of Mentors<\/em> is so wide-ranging, something in the book is likely relevant to your life situation. Complete and repeat this exercise whenever you need to translate some of the wisdom from this book into productive action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where do you go for advice? What if you had a tribe of mentors to consult about your life and career? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss distills advice from more than 130 world-class experts such as actor Ben Stiller, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and media mogul Ariana Huffington. Ferriss reached out to these experts and compiled their advice when he was seeking direction in his own life. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you, too, find direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":17458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,29,43],"tags":[1083],"class_list":["post-106732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-career","category-self-improvement","tag-tribe-of-mentors","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nOverview of Tim Ferriss’s Tribe of Mentors<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Take Advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Fully Trust Any Advice<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Trust Your Intuition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Trust Your Intuition When Creating Art<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How to Spend Your Time Well<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Identify What\u2019s Most Important to You<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Actively Prioritize What\u2019s Important<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Work Hard to Achieve Important Goals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Hard Work Is Rewarding<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How to Build a Fulfilling Career<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Follow Your Passion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Follow the Traditional Path to Success<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How to Fail Well<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Upside #1: Failure Teaches You<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Upside #2: Failure Pushes You to Get Creative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Upside #3: Failure Gives You Freedom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How to Say No<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Recenter Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Option #1: Take a Break<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Option #2: Engage Your Body<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Option #3: Meditate<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Option #4: Shift Your Perspective<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Thought Experiment #1: Detaching From a Situation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Thought Experiment #2: Creating Gratitude<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How to Be Kind to Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Exercise: Apply the Mentors\u2019 Advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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