Today, we have Polina Marinova Pompliano on the show to discuss her latest book: Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World’s Most Successful People

Polina is the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital.

This conversation isn’t your typical book about celebrities and geniuses. It doesn’t purport to idolize any single individual, because, as we talk about in this episode, if you idolize someone, you have to accept everything about them, the warts and all.

Instead, what we talk about and the books share are attributes, behaviors and skillsets possessed by these high performing individuals that we can take for ourselves and make our own.

Whether it’s the Mamba Mentality of Kobe mixed with the Pain tolerance of Amelia Boone and David Goggins. We can take the best skills, attributes and mindsets from some of the greatest athletes, creators and thinkers and make them our own.

This was one of the most fun conversations I’ve had and I hope you enjoy.

Timestamps:

[06:24] Inspiration Without Idolization: How to gain inspiration from successful people without putting them on a pedestal.

[18:38] Creativity in the Kitchen: A conversation about creativity in storytelling, featuring stories from renowned chef Grant Achatz.

[13:02] Facing Resistance: Dealing with pushback from close friends and family when you’re trying to grow.

[26:50] Finding Your Creative Path: Tips on connecting, observing, and learning from greatness to fuel your creativity.

[40:53] Embracing Challenges: Why tackling challenges helps you prepare for important moments in life.

[50:04] Becoming Your Character: The importance of fully embodying the characters you portray in storytelling.

[53:53] The Power of Conflict: Polina analyzes Aaron Sorkin’s approach to storytelling, focusing on conflict and character motivation.

[01:02:55] Fluid Conversations: How to improve your conversational skills over time.

[01:19:41] Social Media Detox: The benefits of stepping back from social media to focus on your own thoughts.

[01:30:06] Defining Your Identity: Why it’s important to build your identity beyond outside influences and expectations.

Connect with Polina Pompliano:

Website – https://theprofile.substack.com

Twitter – https://x.com/polina_marinova

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinamarinova/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/polinampompliano/

Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@PolinaMarinovaPompliano

Book by Polina Pompliano:

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

In today's episode, I talk about the art of aligning your actions with your true desires to achieve success and fulfillment.

Learn about the importance of knowing what you want, understanding what it takes, and doing the work consistently. This episode provides practical examples and highlights common pitfalls like blaming, complaining, and getting angry when expectations aren't met.

Tune in to discover how reconciliation isn't about giving up, but about living with purpose and ensuring your actions truly reflect your goals.

👉 For more on this episode, check out the website:

https://thegrowth.guide/podcast/are-you-reconciled/

👉 If you want to learn how to Live Better, Achieve More, and Be Financially Free, Sign up for my Free Newsletter:

https://thegrowth.guide/newsletter/

Today, we have JL Collins on the podcast, a best-selling author and Financial Independence blogger.

JL’s first book, The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life, was published in 2016 and has become something of a bible for people in the financial independence movement.

He joined me today to discuss his new book: Pathfinders: Extraordinary Stories of People Like You on the Quest for Financial Independence.

We talk about financial independence theoretically, but more, we talk about stories of JL’s readers who’ve written to him or called him to tell him their story.

People who’ve shared how his lessons on financial independence have changed their lives and from that, my friends, I hope there are lessons that can change your lives

Timestamps:

[08:46] The Post-College Adventure: JL discusses his decision to travel through Europe after starting a career and how it shaped his financial goals.

[11:37] The Power of a High Savings Rate: The importance of maintaining a high savings rate for achieving financial independence.

[18:59] Financial Independence, Happiness, and Life Purpose: JL explores deeper philosophical questions about the relationship between happiness, purpose, and financial independence.

[21:43] Early Financial Discipline: How early financial discipline translates to long-term financial security.

[27:44] The Rare Advocacy for Financial Independence: Why the pursuit of financial independence remains rare in a society dominated by consumerism.

[39:20] Debt Repayment Strategy: The pros and cons of paying off small debts versus focusing on high-interest debt first.

[57:49] Living Differently: The benefits of living a non-conventional lifestyle to achieve financial independence.

[01:06:24] The Magic of Compounding: The power of compounding and how it can turn small initial investments into substantial wealth.

Connect with JL Collins:

Website – https://jlcollinsnh.com/

Twitter – https://x.com/jlcollinsnh

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553123045028

Books by JL Collins:

Pathfinders: Extraordinary Stories of People Like You on the Quest for Financial Independence―And How to Join Them

The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life