#741: Jim Collins and Ed Zschau

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #361 "Jim Collins — A Rare Interview with a Reclusive Polymath" and #380 "Ed Zschau — The Polymath Professor Who Changed My Life." Please enjoy! Sponsors: Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.) LMNT electrolyte supplement: https://drinklmnt.com/Tim (free LMNT sample pack with any drink mix purchase) Timestamps: [00:00] Start [05:00] Notes about this supercombo format. [06:03] Enter Jim Collins. [06:28] How Jim’s students influenced his entrepreneurial path. [10:45] Why Jim carries a three-timer stopwatch. [12:21] Using a spreadsheet to optimize discipline in service of creativity. [13:42] Ideal minimum creative hours per year. [15:19] Avoiding a life-distorting “funk.” [17:41] Calculating an optimal end point. [19:27] Patterns discovered using Jim’s time-tracking method. [20:23] Three crucial components for living the life Jim wants to lead. [22:18] The bug book and the hedgehog concept. [30:31] Peter Drucker mic-drop lessons. [34:39] Enter Ed Zschau. [34:59] How I convinced Dr. Zschau to let me into his Princeton engineering course. [37:38] Ed’s background in competitive figure skating and the lessons it taught him. [41:45] The origin of Ed’s meticulous attention to detail. [45:31] The benefits of learning by doing through the case method. [49:21] Ed’s definition of entrepreneurship. [50:50] The role of optimism in entrepreneurship and life. [53:30] Ed’s aspirations as a teenager and young adult. [55:32] What drew Ed to Princeton as an aspiring physics philosopher. [58:21] How Ed got into teaching and his belief that career planning is overrated. [1:03:37] How Ed learned to become a good teacher and the influence of extemporaneous speaking. [1:06:53] Lessons from extemporaneous speaking competitions about preparation and adaptation. [1:11:04] Ed’s thoughts on focusing for extended periods versus opening himself to opportunities. [1:13:06] Ed’s decision to run for Congress. [1:17:57] Advantages of committing to a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives. [1:21:29] Ed’s experience and self-reflection after losing his Senate race. [1:23:40] Ed’s decision process when transitioning from investor to CEO. [1:26:05] Differentiating between high-impact commitments and peer pressure. [1:29:41] Comparing Ed’s parenting style to his teaching style. [1:31:17] Ed’s belief in encouragement over direction and his own upbringing. [1:34:45] The origin of Ed’s goal to live a life that matters. [1:37:05] Influential books and recommendations for aspiring entrepreneurs. [1:42:05] Ed’s current excitement and efforts to make higher education affordable through technology. [1:48:37] The mantra by which Ed lives his life and his childhood nickname. [1:50:57] How Ed brings the sound of music to his endeavors. [1:57:34] Ed’s influence on others to continue his work of changing the world. [1:59:40] Parting thoughts. * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss  Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss