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Steven Bartlett: 9 Secret Habits That Made Me A Millionaire

Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal・113 minutes read

Steven Bartlett shares his journey from broke college dropout to successful entrepreneur, advocating for self-education, harmony in life, and understanding when to quit. He emphasizes discipline, achieving goals, balancing work with personal life, and fostering healthy relationships through effective communication and alignment of expectations.

Insights

  • Steven Bartlett emphasizes the significance of focusing on knowledge and skills early in life, as seen through his journey from working in call centers to founding successful businesses.
  • Bartlett introduces a quitting framework that stresses the importance of quitting as much as starting in life, encouraging individuals to evaluate the value of hardships and potential rewards.
  • The discussion delves into the power of discipline, showcasing its role in enduring challenges and sacrifices necessary for success, drawing parallels with Muhammad Ali's dedication.
  • Bartlett's insights from his books provide practical advice on navigating challenges, strategic decision-making, and personal fulfillment, offering guidance on discipline, balance, and self-education for growth and success.

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Recent questions

  • What is Steven Bartlett's journey to success?

    Steven Bartlett went from a broke college dropout to founding Social Chain and becoming the youngest dragon on BBC's Dragons Den. He emphasizes early focus on knowledge and skills, dismisses work-life balance, and advocates for finding harmony in life. Despite struggles, Bartlett's passion for self-education and his quitting framework highlight the significance of informed decisions and discipline in achieving success.

  • What is Steven Bartlett's quitting framework?

    Steven Bartlett's quitting framework emphasizes assessing if the hardship of a situation is worth the rewards and if efforts to improve it are worthwhile. It aims to help individuals make informed decisions about quitting based on perceived value, highlighting the importance of quitting as much as starting in life.

  • What advice does Steven Bartlett offer on discipline?

    Steven Bartlett stresses the power of discipline, highlighting the importance of enduring challenges and sacrifices for success. He discusses the balance between discipline and following what feels good, questioning its importance in achieving goals and personal fulfillment.

  • How does Steven Bartlett approach work and personal growth?

    Steven Bartlett discusses the importance of discipline, autonomy, and control in work, emphasizing the need for a supportive community and a sense of play for increased enjoyment and creativity. He incorporates power, play, people, progress, and purpose into work for a fulfilling experience.

  • What insights does Steven Bartlett share from his books?

    Steven Bartlett offers practical advice on navigating challenges, making strategic decisions, and finding personal fulfillment in his books, including "Happy Sexy Millionaire" and "The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life." He delves into the balance between discipline and following what feels good, providing valuable insights for personal growth and success.

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Summary

00:00

From Dropout to Dragon: Steven Bartlett's Journey

  • Steven Bartlett, a successful entrepreneur, author, and podcast host, shares his journey from a broke college dropout to founding Social Chain and becoming the youngest dragon on BBC's Dragons Den.
  • He emphasizes the importance of focusing on knowledge and skills early in life, as he did while working in call centers before launching successful businesses.
  • Bartlett dismisses the concept of work-life balance, advocating instead for finding harmony in life to feel good overall.
  • He discusses his unconventional path to success, growing up as the only black family in a poor area, experiencing insecurity and shame, and eventually giving up on traditional education.
  • Despite his struggles in school and university, Bartlett reveals his passion for self-education, stealing psychology textbooks and excelling in business classes.
  • Bartlett introduces his quitting framework, emphasizing the significance of quitting as much as starting in life, and the need to quit things that do not serve one's purpose.
  • The quitting framework involves assessing whether the hardship of a situation is worth the rewards, and if efforts to improve a situation are worth the potential rewards.
  • Bartlett's framework aims to help individuals make informed decisions about quitting based on the perceived value of the hardship and potential rewards.
  • He also discusses the power of discipline, highlighting the importance of enduring challenges and sacrifices to achieve success, as exemplified by Muhammad Ali's dedication to becoming a champion.
  • Bartlett's insights from his books, including "Happy Sexy Millionaire" and "The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life," offer practical advice on navigating challenges, making strategic decisions, and finding personal fulfillment.

12:48

"Discipline vs. Pleasure: Achieving Goals Effectively"

  • The speaker discusses the balance between discipline and following what feels good, questioning the importance of discipline in achieving goals.
  • They mention writing a book chapter on time management, highlighting the plethora of techniques available and the necessity of discipline for their effectiveness.
  • The scarcity of time is emphasized, with the speaker referencing the concept of waking up with limited "chips" to allocate throughout the day.
  • The speaker delves into the importance of discipline in various aspects of life, reflecting on personal areas of discipline and lack thereof.
  • An equation for discipline is introduced, focusing on the subjective importance of a goal, psychological enjoyment, and friction in pursuing it.
  • The speaker shares a personal example of finding motivation to go to the gym regularly, linking it to the global health crisis and the impact of health on all aspects of life.
  • They discuss the impact of emotional triggers on turning intellectual knowledge into action, using personal experiences with health and meditation as examples.
  • The importance of experiencing first-party evidence to change beliefs is highlighted, with the speaker emphasizing the need for personal growth and confronting stubborn beliefs.
  • The speaker mentions their use of Huel, a meal replacement shake, as a convenient and balanced meal option for busy individuals.
  • The episode is sponsored by Huel, with the speaker sharing their positive experience as a customer since 2017 and recommending it as a meal replacement option.

25:24

Hu Black Edition: High Protein, Low Calorie

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  • Not recommended for every meal but great for busy individuals seeking a healthy, affordable option at £1.68 per 400 calorie meal, cheaper than other protein shakes.
  • Sponsored by Hu, offering a free t-shirt and shaker with orders using the URL hu.com deepdive.
  • Trading 212 allows free trading of stocks, funds, ETFs, and foreign exchange, with a practice mode available for new investors.
  • Offers an Isa account for tax-free savings, daily interest on uninvested cash, and auto-invest feature for paycheck investments.
  • Coupon code AliAI provides a free share worth up to £100 when signing up on Trading 212.
  • Limiting beliefs discussed, including feeling disorganized due to upbringing in a messy environment, leading to comfort with messiness.
  • Insecurities and feelings of not being enough stem from childhood experiences of shame and financial disparity with peers.
  • Ambition and drive linked to childhood experiences of shame and insecurity, driving hard work and success.
  • Motivation in work tied to challenge and progress, with the importance of incremental difficulty and a sense of forward motion emphasized for team motivation and success.

37:44

Enhancing Work Through Conversational Insights Capture

  • A trackpad is glued under the table to capture important conversations and highlights them for later review.
  • The trackpad system listens to conversations, highlights key points, and sends them to the team for notes.
  • Finding a 1% gain in productivity through capturing valuable insights during conversations.
  • Challenging oneself and maintaining a sense of forward motion is crucial for progress.
  • Pursuing a goal that is subjectively meaningful to each individual is essential.
  • Autonomy and control in work are backed by science and vital for well-being.
  • Working within a supportive community of people enhances all other aspects of work.
  • The importance of approaching work with a sense of play for increased enjoyment and creativity.
  • Incorporating power, play, people, progress, and purpose into work for a fulfilling experience.
  • Utilizing the power of threes in frameworks and communication for clarity and effectiveness.

50:06

"Overcoming Comparison: Empathy, Inspiration, and Success"

  • The team was inspired by a vlog, leading them to start their own weekly vlog after struggling with daily content creation.
  • Episode 2 of the vlog left the speaker feeling depressed due to the high quality of another vlogger's content, leading to self-doubt.
  • Comparison is discussed as a common issue affecting self-esteem, with the root cause being explored in a book.
  • The speaker delves into the evolutionary reasons behind sugar cravings and weight struggles, highlighting the body's survival mechanisms.
  • Comparison is deemed crucial for quick decision-making and survival, ingrained in human nature.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy towards oneself when dealing with comparison and self-esteem issues.
  • Holding cognitive dissonance, separating conflicting thoughts without diminishing them, is seen as a productive approach.
  • The speaker shares personal experiences of healthy comparison leading to inspiration rather than envy.
  • The importance of separating admiration from aspiration is highlighted, focusing on personal growth rather than comparison.
  • The concept of filling five buckets, including knowledge and skills, is discussed in relation to achieving success, using Elon Musk as an example.

01:03:13

"Skills and focus drive entrepreneurial success"

  • Knowledge and skills are crucial buckets in life that overflow into other resources, network, and reputation.
  • A team member left a company for a job with a great title and pay but lacked the necessary skills and knowledge.
  • Spending time in call centers to develop skills and knowledge was prioritized over glamorous jobs, leading to successful entrepreneurship.
  • Starting at a startup before launching a business allows for valuable learning and skill-building.
  • Plan A thinking involves focusing solely on the primary goal without considering alternatives to maintain motivation.
  • Personal experience of dropping out of university and shoplifting pizzas highlighted the importance of a singular focus on success.
  • Focus on one or two essential tasks leads to more significant progress compared to spreading efforts across multiple areas.
  • Struggling with overextension and time management, emphasizing the need to say no to certain opportunities.
  • CEO's value lies in handling significant strategic decisions and small personal gestures that only they can do.
  • Entrepreneurial drive, self-belief, and curiosity lead to exploring various business ventures despite the need for focus and prioritization.

01:16:21

"Entrepreneur's Vision: Impactful Ventures and Balancing Life"

  • The individual discussed in the text contemplated how they would alter their time usage if they had an additional 500 million in the bank.
  • They expressed a desire to start a media company similar to what they are currently engaged in if they were starting from scratch.
  • The concept of an "ikigai" was introduced, representing something one believes they can excel at, that pays, that they enjoy, and that serves others, with podcasting fulfilling this for the individual.
  • The individual detailed how they would invest the hypothetical 500 million into their existing companies, focusing on growth and philanthropic initiatives.
  • A business event attended by the individual emphasized transitioning from being an operator to an owner in business, with different archetypes like the artist, manager/leader, and entrepreneur discussed.
  • The individual shared their passion for creating impactful experiences through their various ventures, particularly focusing on storytelling and emotional connections.
  • They reflected on their creative process, involvement in every aspect of their projects, and their love for understanding how creations impact people emotionally.
  • The individual compared their creative approach to that of an artist, emphasizing the importance of creating experiences that evoke deep emotions in the audience.
  • They discussed their interest in psychology and the possibility of pursuing a psychology degree to become a therapist if they were not an entrepreneur.
  • The conversation shifted to balancing work commitments with personal relationships, with the individual sharing their struggle and strategies for maintaining harmony between work and personal life.

01:30:08

Relationship Balance and Communication: Keys to Success

  • Tightrope analogy: Emphasizes the importance of flexibility and balance in relationships, swaying and rebalancing when needed.
  • Signs of a bad week: Indicators include feeling disconnected, frustrations lingering, and issues arising in intimate settings like the bedroom or kitchen.
  • Key to relationship health: Regular check-ins and effective communication are crucial for maintaining a strong connection.
  • Relationship check-ins: Structured sessions involving questions about relationship satisfaction and appreciation, facilitated through a shared digital workspace.
  • Action points in reviews: After discussing positive aspects, action points are identified for areas needing improvement, ensuring continuous growth.
  • Importance of expectation alignment: Misaligned expectations can lead to unhappiness, highlighting the necessity of aligning expectations in relationships.
  • Influence of expectations on joy: Managing expectations is key to maintaining joy, as unmet expectations can lead to dissatisfaction.
  • Handling criticism: Staying true to personal values and intentions helps in coping with both positive and negative feedback, ensuring alignment with personal integrity.
  • Managing feedback: Implementing systems to filter feedback, focusing on valuable criticism while reducing emotional responses to unfounded claims.
  • Impact of public image: Maintaining humility and respect for all individuals, regardless of status, is essential in building a positive reputation.
  • Gratitude and self-improvement: Striving to be a good person while acknowledging personal flaws and working towards continuous growth is a fundamental aspect of personal development.

01:43:17

Influencing with patience, grace, and gratitude

  • The speaker expresses a commitment to making a positive impact on others by being patient, attentive, and responsible in their interactions, acknowledging the privilege of being able to influence and connect with people on a deeper level.
  • They appreciate the opportunity to contribute to a book and admire the grace and conduct of the person they are speaking to, expressing a desire to meet the standard set by them, while also valuing feedback on their work and showing gratitude for the support received.
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