Optimal StartUp Daily

Cal Newport talks about running an office like a factory

Episode 393: On Running an Office Like a Factory by Cal Newport on Workforce Management & Business Leadership Lessons

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, who specializes in the theory of distributed algorithms. He previously earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004.
In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work.
His most recent book, Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy, and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive.

Christine Comaford shares the proven brain-based method to empower and emotionally engage your team

Episode 392: The Proven Brain-Based Method To Empower And Emotionally Engage Your Team by Christine Comaford

Christine Comaford is a Leadership and Culture Coach who specializes in applied neuroscience, which helps her clients achieve tremendous results in record time. She is a human behavior expert, a leadership columnist for Forbes.com, and the New York Times bestselling author of Power Your Tribe, SmartTribes and Rules for Renegades.

Steve Pavlina tells you how NOT to build a successful online business

Episode 391: How NOT to Build a Successful Online Business by Steve Pavlina on Online Marketing & Entrepreneurship Success

Margo Aaron of That Seems Important shares the secret marketing tactics that every successful brand knows

Episode 390: The Secret Marketing Tactics That Every Successful Brand Knows by Margo Aaron of That Seems Important

Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker.

Derek Sivers shares two short posts about whether it helps to be desperate and if you should learn programming

Episode 389: Does It Help to be Desperate AND Should You Learn Programming - Yes by Derek Sivers on Entrepreneurial Lessons

Originally a professional musician and circus clown, Derek Sivers created CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100M in sales for 150,000 musicians. In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22M, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education.
He is a frequent speaker at the TED Conference, with over 5 million views of his talks.
Since 2011 he has published 34 books, including “Anything You Want” which shot to #1 on all of its Amazon categories.

Neal Samudre of Goins Writer tells you how to write a viral article in 30 minutes or less

Episode 388: How to Write Your First Viral Article in 30 Minutes or Less by Neal Samudre with GoinsWriter on Blogging Tips

Jeff Goins is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don't Starve. On his blog, he shares his thoughts on writing, life, and creative work.

Brian Tracy shares 3 shocking reasons why you keep losing sales

Episode 387: 3 Shocking Reasons You Keep Losing Sales by Brian Tracy on Selling Techniques

Brian Tracy's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 70 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year. He has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of over 70 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.

Ryan Hoover talks about how to hook users using one snapchat at a time

Episode 386: Hooking Users One Snapchat at a Time by Ryan Hoover on Creating Addictive Products

Ryan Hoover, the founder of Product Hunt, is a product guy with a passion for startups, product design, and personal growth. He also created Startup Edition, worked as an EIR at Tradecraft, and was the Director of Product at PlayHaven. He's a contributing writer to Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal. Additionally, he has written over 150 essays, many of which are featured in TechCrunch, Forbes, Pando, Fast Company, and The Next Web.

Michael Levitt of Breakfast Leadership shares two short posts covering four reasons why your business needs freelancers and tips on how to ensure your employees are fit for your organization

Episode 385: Four Reasons Why Your Business Needs Freelancers AND Tips on How To Ensure Your Employees Are Fit for Your Organization

Michael Levitt is the founder & Chief Burnout Officer of The Breakfast Leadership Network, a San Diego and Toronto-based burnout media firm. He is a Certified NLP and CBT Therapist, and is one of the world's leading authorities in burnout recovery and prevention.  He is also a Fortune 500 consultant, #1 bestselling author, and host of the Breakfast Leadership Show, a top 200 podcast on iTunes. He is a 2x Top 20 Global Thought Leader on Culture with Thinkers360. He is a former Healthcare executive, CIO, and CFO overseeing $ 2 Billion budgets, so he’s seen and done it all.

Chalene Johnson of The Chalene Show talks about how to promote your blog

Episode 384: How To Promote Your Blog by Chalene Johnson on How To Build An Online Business

Chalene Johnson is a world-renowned motivational speaker with more than 30 years as a health expert. She is a New York Times best-selling author, health and lifestyle expert, and top health podcaster with over 20 million downloads of The Chalene Show. Tens of millions of people around the globe have transformed their bodies and their lives with her help, and her fitness programs have been featured in gyms and on TV for more than 12 years. She and Bret, her husband of over twenty years, are the founders of the SmartLife movement. Together, they have built and sold several multimillion-dollar lifestyle companies and helped countless people to do the same.

The NeuroGym Team tells you 4 things you need to know before deciding on the right program to help you grow your business

Episode 383: 4 Things You Need To Know Before Deciding On The Right Program To Help You Grow Your Business by NeuroGym Team

NeuroGym applies scientifically-proven methods and technologies for helping people expand their mental and emotional power to reach their fullest potential. Their Mission is to be the leading provider of life transforming technology, products and services to help individuals and corporations maximize their performance and potential.

Nick Loper provides 10 questions to choose your best side-hustle idea. This is part 2 of 2.

Episode 382: [Part 2] Too Many Side Hustle Ideas - Here Are 10 Questions to Help You Choose Your Best Option by Nick Loper

Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation is an entrepreneur involved in a variety of projects. He started the website because he believes in the hustle. After all, what’s riskier: starting a business, or relying on your job as your only source of income? He used to work full-time for a giant corporation, but built his business during the night and weekends... and you can do it too.

Nick Loper provides 10 questions to choose your best side-hustle idea

Episode 381: [Part 1] Too Many Side Hustle Ideas - Here Are 10 Questions to Help You Choose Your Best Option by Nick Loper

Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation is an entrepreneur involved in a variety of projects. He started the website because he believes in the hustle. After all, what’s riskier: starting a business, or relying on your job as your only source of income? He used to work full-time for a giant corporation, but built his business during the night and weekends... and you can do it too.

Chris Guillebeau talks about how one woman started a location-independent company right out of college

Episode 380: How One Woman Started a Location-Independent Company Right Out of College by Chris Guillebeau

Chris Guillebeau is a New York Times bestselling author and modern-day explorer. He is the author of 5 books and his daily podcast, Side Hustle School, is downloaded more than 2 million times a month. Every summer in Portland, Oregon, Chris hosts the World Domination Summit, a gathering of creative, remarkable people with thousands in attendance. Chris is also the founder of Pioneer Nation, Unconventional Guides, the Travel Hacking Cartel, and numerous other projects. During a lifetime of self-employment that included a four-year commitment as a volunteer executive in West Africa, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday.

Jodi Flynn of EOFire encourages you to use your talents on yourself

Episode 379: First And Foremost Your Talents Should Be Used On You by Jodi Flynn with EOFire on Business Owner Advice

John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs every Monday and drops value bombs every Thursday. His goal with Entrepreneurs On Fire is to deliver the inspiration and strategies you need to FIRE UP your entrepreneurial journey and create the life you've always dreamed of.

Laura Stack of The Productivity Pro shares six signs that it's time to hire a personal assistant

Episode 378: Simple Delegation: Six Signs It’s Time to Hire a Personal Assistant by Laura Stack of The Productivity Pro

Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on employee and team productivity. She is the president of The Productivity Pro, Inc., a company dedicated to helping leaders increase workplace performance in high-stress environments. Stack has authored eight books, including FASTER TOGETHER: Accelerating Your Team's Productivity (Berrett-Koehler 2018). She is a past president of the National Speakers Association, and a member of its exclusive Speaker Hall of Fame (with fewer than 175 members worldwide.) Stack's clients include Cisco Systems, Wal-Mart, and Bank of America, and she has been featured on the CBS Early Show and CNN, and in the New York Times.

Cal Newport shares the calculus of remarkability

Episode 377: The Calculus of Remarkability by Cal Newport on How To Pursue Greatness & Maximize Accomplishments

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, who specializes in the theory of distributed algorithms. He previously earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004.
In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work.
His most recent book, Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy, and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive.

Karl Staib talks about why American leaders don't care about happiness at work

Episode 376: Why American Leaders Don’t Care About Happiness at Work by Karl Staib of Dig to Fly on Retaining Your Employees

Helene Massicotte of Free To Pursue talks about why "networking" is not a useful verb

Episode 375: Relating Over Investing - Why "Networking" Is NOT a Useful Verb by Helene Massicotte of Free To Pursue

Helene Massicotte blogs about living life on your terms and experiencing true personal freedom. She describes herself as a person in search of all that life has to offer and who has built a life that enables her to do just that. No more, no less. She chose to retire from corporate life in her mid-thirties because it wasn't in line with what she wanted anymore.

James Altucher tells you how to be the best public speaker on the planet

Episode 374: How to Be the Best Public Speaker On the Planet by James Altucher on Tips For Delivering a Publich Speech

James Altucher is an American hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and podcaster. He has founded or cofounded more than 20 companies and says he failed at 17 of them. He has published 11 books, and is a regular contributor to The Financial Times, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post. USA Today named his book Choose Yourself one of the 12 Best Business Books of All Time.

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits shares 17 unbeatable ways to create a peaceful, relaxed workday

Episode 373: 17 Unbeatable Ways to Create a Peaceful, Relaxed Workday by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits on How to Work Stress Free

Leo Babauta created Zen Habits, which is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness.

Christine Comaford tells you why change management fails

Episode 372: Why Change Management Fails by Christine Comaford of Smart Tribes Institute on Understanding How People Change

Christine Comaford is a Leadership and Culture Coach who specializes in applied neuroscience, which helps her clients achieve tremendous results in record time. She is a human behavior expert, a leadership columnist for Forbes.com, and the New York Times bestselling author of Power Your Tribe, SmartTribes and Rules for Renegades.

Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job teaches you how to attract customers to your online business or e-commerce store

Episode 371: How To Attract Customers To Your Online Business Or E-Commerce Store by Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job

Seth Godin talks about the difference between business and busyness

Episode 370: Business/Busyness by Seth Godin on Creating Value vs. Staying Busy

Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 19 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His most recent book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world.

Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Micheline Nijmeh with Neil Patel talks about creating efficient content for sales.

Episode 369: Hey Marketing, Are You Giving Sales the Right Content by Micheline Nijmeh with Neil Patel on Efficient Content

Neil Patel is a New York Times Bestselling author. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies. He was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 35 by the United Nations.

Dr. Jeff Cornwall talks about building forecasts from the bottom up

Episode 368: Building Forecasts From the Bottom Up by Dr. Jeff Cornwall on Business Planning Based on Personal Needs

Dr. Cornwall has spent more than forty years as a serial entrepreneur and teacher of entrepreneurs. In the 1970’s he started several small businesses and was involved in various family ventures. In the late 1980’s, following several years in academics, Dr. Cornwall co-founded Atlantic Behavioral Health Systems in Raleigh, NC and spent nearly a decade leading the company as President/CEO. After growing to more than 300 employees, he and his partners sold most of their healthcare holdings. After the sale, Dr. Cornwall decided it was time to return to the classroom to share his experience and knowledge with aspiring entrepreneurs. Dr. Cornwall remains active as an entrepreneur with the digital content venture he co-founded in 2014, Entrepreneurial Mind, LLC.

Dr. Cornwall’s blog, which launched in 2003, is among the most popular blogs focusing on small business and entrepreneurship. It was named One of the 100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs by Forbes magazine. His writing has been quoted in Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Inc, Forbes, and US News and World Report. He is a contributor to Forbes. He has authored nine books and numerous articles on entrepreneurship.

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents shares 4 common mistakes made by the self-employed

Episode 367: 4 Common Mistakes Made By The Self-Employed by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents

Chris Guillebeau talks about how to redefine risk and make ideas happen

Episode 366: Redefining Risk: On Disaster, Pre-Mortems, and Making Ideas Happen by Chris Guillebeau

Chris Guillebeau is a New York Times bestselling author and modern-day explorer. He is the author of 5 books and his daily podcast, Side Hustle School, is downloaded more than 2 million times a month. Every summer in Portland, Oregon, Chris hosts the World Domination Summit, a gathering of creative, remarkable people with thousands in attendance. Chris is also the founder of Pioneer Nation, Unconventional Guides, the Travel Hacking Cartel, and numerous other projects. During a lifetime of self-employment that included a four-year commitment as a volunteer executive in West Africa, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday.

Sydney Jones of I Will Teach You to Be Rich teaches you how to be more creative and hone a creative process

Episode 365: How to Be More Creative by Sydney Jones of I Will Teach You to Be Rich on Honing a Creative Process

Ramit wants to use money to say YES. He knew there was a better way to live a rich life—if we could use psychology to focus on what actually works. Not just for personal finance, but all aspects of life: money, careers, relationships, business, fitness, and more.
Since then, he's been testing and sharing his findings with the world via I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
He's also written a New York Times bestselling book, been profiled in a 6-page Fortune article, and been pictured next to Warren Buffett in Forbes Magazine, as well as been featured by a long list of media, including the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, NPR, Fox Business, PBS, CNBC, and more. He also has tons of documented success stories—more than 20,000.

Carl Pullein reminds you that all tasks are created equal

Episode 364: All Tasks Are Created Equal by Carl Pullein on Prioritizing Tasks by Time Instead of Importance

Carl has written three books on productivity and time management and coaches companies and individuals around the world through his Time and Life Mastery and Your Digital Life courses.

His passion and dedication to helping people become better at managing their time so they can focus on what is important to them is legendary and his presentations and workshops are highly interactive, entertaining and educational.

Benjamin Hardy tells you how to quickly blow past the top performers in your industry

Episode 363: How To Quickly Blow-Past The Top 1–3% Of Your Industry by Benjamin Hardy on Getting Ahead of the Competition

Steve Pavlina talks about replacing mission statements with invitation statements

Episode 362: Replacing Mission Statements with Invitation Statements by Steve Pavlina on Making Clients Feel Welcome

Ryan H. Law shares 7 simple steps to get control of your inbox

Episode 361: 7 Simple Steps to Get Control of Your Inbox by Ryan H. Law on Managing and Reducing Email Clutter

Ryan’s goal is to teach financial planners, coaches, and counselors how to use simple, evidence-based action steps to provide outstanding client care.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in Family Finance. After he graduated he worked in the financial planning field for several years then decided to return to school.

He received my master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University.

He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and an Accredited Financial Counselor

He currently teaches at Utah Valley University in the Financial Planning program where he teaches financial counseling courses and runs their on-campus Money Management Resource Center.

He serves on the AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education) Board of Directors where he has served as Treasurer and President.

Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel shares 10 lies you will hear before you pursue your dreams

Episode 360: 10 Lies You Will Hear Before You Pursue Your Dreams by Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel

Mike Smerklo offers five reasons why you should not become an entrepreneur

Episode 359: Just DON’T Do It: Five Reasons NOT to Become an Entrepreneur by Mike Smerklo on Downsides of Entrepreneurship

Mike Smerklo is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and business leader driven by the desire to turn ideas into reality. Having bought and scaled a small business into a publicly traded company worth nearly a billion dollars in value, he has a deep understanding of the hard work, dedication and grit that truly powers successful entrepreneurship. Today, as the co-founder and managing director of Next Coast Ventures, Smerklo is a champion for a new generation of entrepreneurs building disruptive companies in big markets. His new book, Mr. Monkey and Me (Scribe Media, Nov. 17 2020), is a “real talk” guide for entrepreneurs who want to cut through the noise to cultivate a mindset that supports greatness.

Stephen Warley of Life Skills That Matter tells you how to get paid for being you.

Episode 358: How To Get Paid For Being You by Stephen Warley of Life Skills That Matter on Integrating Work With Your Values

Stephen is a solopreneur business coach and founder of Life Skills That Matter. He is an advocate for your inner voice to help you finally create work that works for you! He’s frequently referred to by LSTM Accelerator Members as a “professional nudger” because he’s so passionate about seeing aspiring solopreneurs succeed.

Scott Young with Cal Newport warns us of a subtle mistake about how to acquire useful career skills

Episode 357: A Subtle Mistake About How to Acquire Useful Career Skills by Scott Young with Cal Newport

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, who specializes in the theory of distributed algorithms. He previously earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004.
In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work.
His most recent book, Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy, and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive.

Max Ogles of Nir and Far talks about the lessons that tech companies can learn from rehab

Episode 356: What Tech Companies Can Learn from Rehab by Max Ogles of Nir and Far on Behavior Change to Bring Users Together

Martyn Chamberlin of Goins Writer tells you the secret to building a popular blog

Episode 355: The Secret to Building a Popular Blog by Martyn Chamberlin of Goins Writer on Getting People to Read Your Blog

Jeff Goins is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don't Starve. On his blog, he shares his thoughts on writing, life, and creative work.

Karl Staib shares 5 ways to make meetings more fun and useful

Episode 354: 5 Ways to Make Meetings More Fun and Useful by Karl Staib of Dig To Fly on Running Meetings as an Entrepreneur

Kate Erickson of EOFire shares two short posts covering why you should make it about your customer instead of your business, and why you shouldn't let frustration get the best of you

Episode 353: Make It About Your Customer, Not Your Business AND Don’t Let Frustration Get The Best Of You by Kate Erickson

John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs every Monday and drops value bombs every Thursday. His goal with Entrepreneurs On Fire is to deliver the inspiration and strategies you need to FIRE UP your entrepreneurial journey and create the life you've always dreamed of.

James Altucher tells you the qualifications for being an entrepreneur

Episode 352: You Can Call Yourself an Entrepreneur When… by James Altucher on the Struggles of Entrepreneurs

James Altucher is an American hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and podcaster. He has founded or cofounded more than 20 companies and says he failed at 17 of them. He has published 11 books, and is a regular contributor to The Financial Times, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post. USA Today named his book Choose Yourself one of the 12 Best Business Books of All Time.

Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog shares 8 ways you can turn your passion into profit

Episode 351: 8 Ways You Can Turn Your Passion Into Profit by Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog on Doing Meaningful Work

Kalen Bruce is the founder of MoneyMiniBlog. His story is simple… he and his wife were $24,000 in debt and became a student of finances to get out. They are now debt-free and building wealth. Kalen shares everything he has learned on his blog, writing informative, entertaining, mini blogs to help you with your finances. Finances can be intimidating, so he keeps his posts short, sweet, and simple.

Margo Aaron of That Seems Important offers SEO advice for beginners

Episode 350: SEO Is Simpler Than You Think. 5 Things Every Beginner Needs to Know to Get It Right by Margo Aaron

Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker.

Christine Comaford tells you how to create a killer business plan

Episode 349: How to Create a Killer Business Plan by Christine Comaford of Smart Tribes Institute on Marketing Your Business

Christine Comaford is a Leadership and Culture Coach who specializes in applied neuroscience, which helps her clients achieve tremendous results in record time. She is a human behavior expert, a leadership columnist for Forbes.com, and the New York Times bestselling author of Power Your Tribe, SmartTribes and Rules for Renegades.

Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist talks about our love/hate relationship with work

Episode 348: Our Love/Hate Relationship With Work by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist on Appreciation for Life

Chalene Johnson of The Chalene Show talks about how to create a unique brand and make it stand out

Episode 347: How To Make Your Brand Stand Out by Chalene Johnson on Creating a Unique Brand and Using Your Story

Chalene Johnson is a world-renowned motivational speaker with more than 30 years as a health expert. She is a New York Times best-selling author, health and lifestyle expert, and top health podcaster with over 20 million downloads of The Chalene Show. Tens of millions of people around the globe have transformed their bodies and their lives with her help, and her fitness programs have been featured in gyms and on TV for more than 12 years. She and Bret, her husband of over twenty years, are the founders of the SmartLife movement. Together, they have built and sold several multimillion-dollar lifestyle companies and helped countless people to do the same.

Philip Taylor of PT Money talks about 7 types of office space for the upstart entrepreneur

Episode 346: 7 Types of Office Space for the Upstart Entrepreneur by Philip Taylor of PT Money on Entrepreneurship Tips

Michael Levitt of Breakfast Leadership shares two short posts covering strategies to implement in your business and 5 ways to impress your B2B clients

Episode 345: 4 Strategies to Implement in Your Business AND 5 Ways To Impress Your B2B Clients by Michael Levitt

Michael Levitt is the founder & Chief Burnout Officer of The Breakfast Leadership Network, a San Diego and Toronto-based burnout media firm. He is a Certified NLP and CBT Therapist, and is one of the world's leading authorities in burnout recovery and prevention.  He is also a Fortune 500 consultant, #1 bestselling author, and host of the Breakfast Leadership Show, a top 200 podcast on iTunes. He is a 2x Top 20 Global Thought Leader on Culture with Thinkers360. He is a former Healthcare executive, CIO, and CFO overseeing $ 2 Billion budgets, so he’s seen and done it all.

Cal Newport of the Study Hacks blog asks if passions are serendipitously discovered or painstakingly constructed

Episode 344: Are Passions Serendipitously Discovered or Painstakingly Constructed by Cal Newport on Deep Work

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, who specializes in the theory of distributed algorithms. He previously earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004.
In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work.
His most recent book, Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy, and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive.