Alex Hutchinson is the New York Times bestselling author of Endure and a National Magazine Award-winning journalist who has contributed to the New York Times, The New Yorker, and other publications. A former long-distance runner for the Canadian national team, he holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia and a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge, and he did his post-doctoral research with the National Security Agency.

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The Learning Leader Show

  • Be optimistic in the face of uncertainty. We discover who we are by doing it. We learn who we are in practice, not in theory. The only way to fully know if you can do it, is to do the thing. Take action. Fail sometimes. Then keep going.
  • The explore-exploit dilemma. Do we keep on the same path and stick to what we know works or do we go out into the unknown? Do we invest in R&D with no guarantee that it will pay off? This reminds me of Scott Galloway on episode #578, In order to do anything of significance in your life, you must take an uncomfortable risk.”
  • The Hard is what makes it good. From Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) in A League of Their Own. The HARD stuff adds texture to time. The effort needed is a source of meaning. Similar to the Ikea paradox. There is more meaning in the piece of furniture if you assemble it. We shouldn’t run away from the hard things (like Dottie Hinson was doing in A League of Their Own)> We should run towards them. The effort is where find a source of meaning.
  • Opened with gratitude for him helping me with my first book, Welcome to Management. 
  • The beginnings of chapters/stories. What’s most important and what’s interesting? Use the best story you have. The beginning is super important.
  • Time with Friction – “I don’t want it to be easier.” Challenge and complexity make it more meaningful. It’s less meaningful if it’s not challenging.
  • Effort is a source of meaning.
  • The Ikea Effect. A piece of furniture is worth more to you if you put it together.
  • Why do you keep pushing your limits? What am I getting out of this? Is there some intrinsic pleasure?
  • We are wired to explore, push our limits
    • We are also wired to be lazy, to rest in between hunts. Dichotomy there.
    • Some are nomadic and some settle. It’s useful to have both.
  • Alex and his wife take their daughters with them on adventures. They earn a feeling like, “I can do anything.” Adding voluntary hardship to a child’s life can be helpful.
  • If it’s a foregone conclusion, it’s not interesting. This is why people love live sports. We don’t know how it’s going to end. Uncertainty makes it interesting. The same is true for life.
  • Uncertainty – We’re willing to pay a lot to not know the ending. The arc is important.
  • “Bold beginning of uncertain outcomes.”
  • Alex was shy and didn’t introduce himself to girls. “I would have had a better time if I wasn’t scared to ask someone out.”
  • My first job getting rejected 60 times a day. Useful.
  • His job as a newspaper intern having to go to people’s houses after their family member died in a car accident and talk with them. Made everything else seem easier.
  • Quote to open the book: “To say that we should not change wines is heresy; the tongue becomes saturated, and after the third glass even the best bottle yields but an obtuse sensation.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
  • Waffles – They are great. But if you have them every day, you lose the magic. A metaphor for life.
  • Life/Career Advice: Be optimistic in the face of uncertainty. Have both the exploring and exploiting mindset. Explore widely. We discover who we are by doing it. Have to do the thing.
  • Apply to be part of my Learning Leader Circle
Resources:

More Learning:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 216: Jim Collins — How To Go From Good To Great

Episode #300: AJ & Keith Hawk – How To Instill Work Ethic & Curiosity In Your Children

Episode #303: General Stanley McChrystal – The New Definition Of Leadership

Time Stamps