We’re just a tiny spark of light between two darknesses,” I said. “And my spark can now start to flicker. I feel a sense of relief at this.
Catalog
James Altucher
James Altucher is an American hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, bestselling author, venture capitalist and podcaster. He has founded or cofounded more than 20 companies, including Reset Inc. and StockPickr and says he failed at 17 of them. He has published eleven books, and he is a frequent contributor to publications including The Financial Times, TheStreet.com, TechCrunch, Seeking Alpha, Thought Catalog, and The Huffington Post. 2Career Altucher graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1989. He later attended Carnegie Mellon University as a doctoral student in computer science. Altucher's first job after graduating was in the IT department of HBO. At one point, Altucher hosted an HBO program, III:am, where he roamed New York late at night to interview residents. Altucher's entrepreneurial career began in 1996 when he founded Reset Inc., a web-design firm, while still working at HBO. His clients included Wu Tang Clan, American Express, Con Edison, Time Warner, and BMG. In 1998, Altucher left HBO, sold Reset Inc. for approximately $10 million, and used the proceeds to fund new internet investments. Altucher has said he began this period with $15 million and lost it all in two years, which led him to reevaluate his approach to both business and lif
We’re just a tiny spark of light between two darknesses,” I said. “And my spark can now start to flicker. I feel a sense of relief at this.
I start off stupid. I learn. I do. The only way to get better is to DO. Not think or write or watch. DO.
The simple mantra, ‘I know nothing’ has helped me so many times in the past seven years. I owe any success to those simple three words: I. Know. Nothing.
If you just listen, you never learn. If you just learn, you never do. And the way to DO is to experiment and see what sets your heart on fire.
Our life is a list of the experiments we try, the discoveries we make, the failures we encounter along the way to greater successes and rewards.
Life is an experiment. That’s the beauty of all of this. We’re all scientists in this giant laboratory.
My own dreams are deep inside, my secret wishes since I was a little boy. I can tell when I am moving in the right direction. I get a feeling in my upper chest. A warmth and excitement.
So the odds are on my side. I will live forever. Unless something weird happens. Like dying.
I try to do this instead: live life like it’s everyone else’s last day. Then you learn to treat everyone with the highest respect. They are dying tomorrow!
The gift of truth is rare. People will treasure it and try to return that gift.
But integrity is a dream we can all aspire to. And it’s a nice intersection to share with someone.
The key to success is not to think positive all the time. Not to be optimistic about everything.
Asking for help is difficult. It involves being vulnerable. But learning is not about things being easy. It’s about conquering every discomfort.
Own what you do. I don’t mean legally or financially (although that could be fine if you get it). But own your decisions. Make your choices. Once you have to ask for permission, someone else has the keys to your freedom.
One of the best days of my life was the day I took the elevator down to freedom. It was the middle of the day. I walked out. No boxes. No handshakes. I left and played chess in Union Square. The same place I got my first client after starting my own company.
The one mantra if you want to get good at something is not: Learn. Or read. Or study. Or dream. It’s do. Every day.
Discipline eliminates complexity. Everyday, you make micro and macro decisions. If you reduce the number of decisions you need to make daily, you have more freedom.