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BOOKS

Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking that Power the World’s Most Successful People by Polina Marinova Pompliano

I’ve been following Polina on Twitter and reading her awesome profiles on interesting people for a long time. She’s an excellent interviewer and writer and it’s been fun to watch this book develop over the past year.

In an awesome twist, I met Polina in person a few months ago when I was a guest on my buddy Pomp’s podcast (perfectly named, The Pomp Podcast) hosted by her husband (you can listen here).

Hidden Genius is Polina’s debut book and if you’re reading this, it’s right in your wheelhouse. She examines dozens of people at the top of their game, both modern icons and historical ones, and breaks down what made them tick.

As a bonus, after I checked out the book I asked Polina if she’d be down for a world famous Books & Biceps “behind-the-book” interview and she agreed. There are some great takeaways in this short Q&A, so read it and then buy her new book HERE.

The Books & Biceps Interview with Polina Marinova Pompliano:

Finkel: In one respect, the ‘secret ways of thinking’ can be treated as mental super powers anyone can acquire with the right mindset and focus… What is the one secret way of thinking you uncovered that you found the most useful in day-to-day life?

Polina: For me, it's about decision-making. I was someone who was very fearful and unsure when it came to making decisions. When I was deciding whether to leave my job at FORTUNE to pursue The Profile full-time, I was on something I call "the see-saw of misery." I would wake up certain I wanted to quit my job and go all in on my passion but I would go to sleep full of fears and uncertain thoughts.

But then I read the story of Samuel Adams beer founder Jim Koch. His framework fundamentally shaped how I approach pretty much every big decision in my life. When he felt suffocated by his boring corporate job at BCG, he had a choice: Does he stay in his safe role or does he start a beer company with no money or experience?

He was terrified at the prospect of making the wrong decision. So he began thinking about two words: “scary” and “dangerous.” Leaving BCG would be the scariest decision of his life, but staying would be dangerous because he wasn’t happy and he would live a life of regrets.

There are plenty of things in life that are scary but not dangerous and vice versa. He took the risk, left his job, and founded Samuel Adams beer. And once I read his story, I realized that I was simply scared — scared to tell my boss, scared to leave corporate America, and scared of betting on myself. But staying would be dangerous. So I left my job, went all in on The Profile, and never looked back.

2) You have a great quote from Leonardo DaVinci early in the book about stopping to look at everyday things we pass like walls, clouds, rocks, etc… to get “marvelous ideas”. How important is that for current creators in today’s 24/7 media, smart phone obsessed world? Why should we all get away from devices and just…think.

If you think about it, none of us are ever really bored anymore. Anytime you have a small window where your heart rate isn't spiking, you open your phone for a dopamine hit.

Boredom can actually enable creativity and problem-solving by allowing the mind to wander and daydream. Spanx founder Sara Blakely gets her best ideas in the car. For Albert Einstein, it was while shaving. For Daniel Ek, it's going on a morning walk. Research suggests that people’s most creative ideas strike when they’re not actively thinking about anything — that’s why showering, running, meditating, or any sort of rote activity can spark inspiration.

3) Of all the brilliant people you’ve interviewed and ideas you uncovered, are there any you’ve found more applicable to being a parent than to your work life?

Yes. Often referred to as "Silicon Valley's godmother," Esther Wojcicki is the matriarch of one of the most well-known families in the Valley. She's the mother of Susan, Anne, and Janet Wojcicki. In raising her kids, she created her own approach to parenting.

There are three big lessons I took away. The first is that you should practice the behaviors you want your children to emulate. One time, for example, Wojcicki read her daughter's diary without her consent. She felt awful about it and realized she was wrong for violating her privacy. So she went to Janet, admitted she was wrong, and asked for her forgiveness. It allows kids to realize that even adults make mistakes, and it shows them the right way to rectify a mistake.

The second is that rules become more effective when you include your kids in the rule-making process. Instead of taking a top-down approach, she recommends a bottom-up approach. For instance, if you want to limit the time your kids spend in front of a screen, call a family meeting and tell them you want them to come up with fair rules. The more you involve your children in a democratic process where their ideas are listened to, challenged, and respected, the more they'll learn to do the same for others.

And finally, I really liked her approach toward discipline. Rather than disciplining your kids with harsh punishments or grounding them for weeks, she implemented a different approach. “When children misbehave, have them write an apology and reflect on how they will improve," Wojcicki recommends. "Writing is thinking, and thinking prompts change.” By allowing them to reflect on their mistakes and offer solutions rather than excuses, I realized that you can teach your kids to own their missteps and it uses the logical part of their brain, rather than the emotional one.

4) What is the one way of thinking you researched that you wish you could instantly become a master at? Like you wake up tomorrow and ‘boom’, you now tackle problems with this mental model.

Oh man, I wish I could master the art of rational thinking. I wish I could better evaluate arguments and not get as invested as I do in seeing my viewpoint prevail. It's a constant struggle for me, but I also think the emotional part of my brain is what helps me be a better writer because I can connect with the reader on a deeper level than if it was just cold, hard logic.

Follow Polina Marinova Pompliano: @polina_marinova
Sign up for her newsletter: The Profile and buy: HIDDEN GENIUS

BICEPS

We wrapped up our two-week Yellowstone family adventure on Thursday and in a single word, it was phenomenal. My wife mapped out a flawless trip that hit every National Park and site on our list: Old Faithful, the Upper Falls, the Lower Falls, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Lamar Valley, Mammoth Springs, the Norris Geyser Basin, Jackson Lake and on and on.

We saw grizzly bears and moose and huge elk and deer and badgers and even bison swimming. It’s a lot of driving and a lot of walking/hiking. Most days we somehow drove 3-4 hours while also walked 15,000 to 20,000 steps. Old Faithful alone has a 6 mile loop to see all the geysers.

We also hiked, kayaked, walked, swam and probably covered 40+ miles of trails. We all somehow got in better shape on vacation…

AND YET: I miss the Flex Factory. I miss gyms. We had a decent hotel gym in our first spot, but the last 7 days we were in small, bare bones National Park lodges. Two beds. A bathroom. No TV. No Wi-Fi. And certainly no gyms.

I hate not lifting, so I put together this super short, 15-minute routine that I did in our little room once a day (while the kids made fun of me):

The Flex Factory National Park Hotel 15-Minute Meathead Circuit:

8 × 25 push-ups (diamond cutters, regular, wide, super wide)

4 × 25 air squats (we did enough hiking for legs - ha)

4 × 25 hotel chair shoulder press (yeah, i know. whatever, it’s what i had)

4 × 25 backpack fast biceps curls (my pack weighed about 20 pounds)

4 × 25 abs/leg lifts on a towel on the ground

5 minute hip/back stretch routine

DONE

Here is perhaps the best photo I’ve ever taken from my favorite hike down to the Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone:

Quick Flexes

It was my daughter’s 12th birthday this week. If you’re a parent, you’ll enjoy this:

One of my favorite authors, Cormac McCarthy, passed away this week at 89 years old. He had a fascinating writing career and looooooong road to success that most people don’t know about:

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Thank you all for reading.

Have a great weekend! - Jon