The Learner's Corner with Caleb Mason

Episode 068: Melissa Schilling On What Made the World's Greatest Innovators Tick And How You Can Become More Like Them

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In this episode, Caleb and Todd speak with author, professor, and researcher Melissa Schilling about her new book, "Quirky." In this episode, Melissa walks the guys through several famous innovators whom she has studied to find out what makes them tick and how we can begin to think more like them. Ben Franklin, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and others make up this unbelievable list.

Guest Links

Melissa's website

Melissa Schilling on Twitter

Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World

Links Mentioned

Episode 4 with Micah Hasty

Episode 59 with Bryan Caplan

Abundance by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler

Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance

Learner's Corner Recommended Resource

Dead Men Podcast

What We Learned

The Breakthrough Innovators

  • Albert Einstein
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Elon Musk
  • Dean Kamen
  • Nickola Tesla
  • Marie Curie
  • Thomas Edison
  • Steve Jobs

    • Characteristics of Breakthrough Innovators

    • A sense of separateness: they had a sense of social detachment and didn't think the rules applied to them
    • Self-efficacy: task related confidence and a strong belief in their ability to overcome obstacles
    • Extreme intelligence and exceptional memory
    • Idealism: they had a noble goal that was intrinsically important to them
    • Less formal education and more self-education

      • How can we become more like them?

      • People need to spend more time thinking, reading, writing, and learning alone.
      • Cultivate ambitious goals that are intrinsically important.
      • Challenge every assumption around you.

        • How do you learn best?

        • See things graphically.
        • I draw pictures of everything.
          • Quotes to Tweet

          "A sense of separateness, self-efficacy, extreme intelligence, idealism and self-education are some of the things that shaped some of the world's breakthrough innovators." - @mschilli1 @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

          "We need to spend more time thinking, reading, writing and learning alone." - @mschilli1 @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

          "Cultivating ambitious goals will make you think bigger." - @mschilli1 @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

          "Challenge every assumption around you." - @mschilli1 @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

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          The Learner's Corner with Caleb MasonBy Caleb Mason
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