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"People ask me how I got my career, how I did anything, and I will...
Shane Parrish@shaneparrish
3 views
Oct 29, 2026
~1 min read
"People ask me how I got my career, how I did anything, and I will flat-out tell you I outread the motherf***ers."
"If you want to think better, you have to start by reading more."
"I realized very early on I wasn't the brightest guy; I wasn't the best at all that stuff, but I was willing to read three or four or five times the amount as anybody else was willing to read."
"If you want to think better, you have to start by reading more."
"I realized very early on I wasn't the brightest guy; I wasn't the best at all that stuff, but I was willing to read three or four or five times the amount as anybody else was willing to read."
Shane Parrish@shaneparrish
My conversation with @steven_kotler on flow, cognitive performance, and doing your best work.
Kotler is the executive director of the Flow Research Collective, where he studies flow and the science of peak performance.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How to get so absorbed in what you’re doing that distractions fade.
• How to find a challenge that holds your attention without overwhelming you.
• Why a hobby you gave up might be worth picking up again.
• What frustration tells you when you’re learning and how to respond.
• How to focus on work you don’t feel like doing.
• How to think clearly when there’s too much information, and you’re unsure what to trust.
Listen and Learn
(Includes paid partnerships.)
Kotler is the executive director of the Flow Research Collective, where he studies flow and the science of peak performance.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How to get so absorbed in what you’re doing that distractions fade.
• How to find a challenge that holds your attention without overwhelming you.
• Why a hobby you gave up might be worth picking up again.
• What frustration tells you when you’re learning and how to respond.
• How to focus on work you don’t feel like doing.
• How to think clearly when there’s too much information, and you’re unsure what to trust.
Listen and Learn
(Includes paid partnerships.)
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