The Derek Loudermilk Show

"The output of Deep Work is uniquely human"- Cal Newport

I'm excited to have Cal Newport back on the show today! He was a guest in episode 42 talking about his book -So Good They Canâ€t Ignore You.

Today we are talking about Calâ€s newest book and his theory of Deep Work - highly concentrated uninterrupted work that is becoming more rare and more valuable - providing those that can do this work with a prized economic commodity.

Cal takes us through how Deep Work increases productivity and learning, puts you in flow, and makes your more productive.

Throughout the episode, Cal gives us practical advice on how to structure our life to do more Deep Work, and how to learn the skills needed to do better Deep Work.

As usual, Cal has some surprising insights that go against conventional wisdom - see if you can spot things that you are doing that can disrupt deep work.

So if you want to maximize your work output, feel more satisfied, be more productive and more valuable, this is the episode for you!



 

What you will learn:

-What is Deep Work

-Why Deep work is so rare and valuable

-How to keep your work life meaningful

-How to train yourself to concentrate better

-WHy you should embrace boredom

-Why social media kills deep work

-Why you should have a work shutdown routine

-How to structure you life to do more Deep Work

-Why Deep Work is a skill and not a habit



Quotes:

"Deep Work is intimately connected to deliberate practice" - Cal Newport

"Learning complicated thing quickly is extremely valuable"- Cal Newport

"If no Deep Work is required of you, you should be nervous"- Cal Newport

"The output of Deep Work is uniquely human"- Cal Newport

"Deep Work can often push you into a flow state"- Cal Newport

"You have to be worried about cognitive junk food"- Cal Newport

"What are the small number of things that can make the most difference in your career?"- Cal Newport

 
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):
CalNewport.com





 
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I first met Garrison Cohen in Bali last year. We did Improv, played frisbee, and had many a deep conversation.

He has an amazing ability to make people feel special and important. I first realized this during Thanksgiving last year:

Garrison hosted an American thanksgiving celebration in Bali for 30-40 people from around the world. Before we started the meal, he gave a speech about the history and importance of the holiday. The result was that people felt privileged to be a part of our group and the celebration.

Garrison has been studying relationships his whole life, and is one of Americaâ€s top dating and relationship coaches for men and women. He was former co-founder of AuthenticWorld Media, and hosts the new podcast Looking for You. He is an award winning filmmaker, speaker, writer and honorary member of the Society of Leadership & Success.

His mission (as I understand it) is to help people move past the adolescent phase into their full adulthood so they can have authentic, sexy, enlightened, and drama free relationships.

So listen to this episode to find out what it means to have and amazing, fulfilling relationship by understanding yourself and having a clear sense of integrity. Find out the most brave and bold steps you can take in a relationship, and soak up all of Garrisonâ€s amazing stories and parables about adventurous relationships he has seen or been part of.



 

What you will learn in this episode:

-Turning breakdowns into breakthroughs

-The story about the man who thought love didnâ€t exist

-What it means that we are in a pre-arranged marriage with ourselves

-How to get out of your head and start understanding your feelings

-How to be brave and bold in the face of risk and rejection

-What it means to have integrity

-All about polyamory compared to monogamy in terms of self knowledge



Quotes:

“Relationships are one of the greatest adventures you can go on†– Garrison Cohen

“Until someone feels heard in their pain, the often have no place for yoursâ€- Garrison Cohen

“Curiosity is a form of appreciationâ€- Garrison Cohen

“Monogamy is more advanced than polyamory, but less naturalâ€- Garrison Cohen

“There is no set model of relationshipsâ€- Garrison Cohen

“I realized the reason I was in my head is because I didnâ€t want to feel my feelingsâ€- Garrison Cohen

“Very few people realize they have been born into a pre-arranged marriage with themselvesâ€- Garrison Cohen

“The greatest transformations happen just past the point of no returnâ€- Garrison Cohen
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):
GarrisonCohen.com

Looking For You Podcast

Garrison Cohen speaks on Authentic Attraction from Garrison Cohen on Vimeo.

Thanks Garrison Cohen!

If you enjoyed this session of The Art of Adventure Podcast, let Garrison know by clicking on the link below and sending him a quick shout out on Twitter:

Click here to thank Garrison on Twitter!

Support the Art of Adventure!

I first met David Quammen in Bozeman, Montana where we were both living, after reading his book Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic for my graduate studies.

In 2013 I was considering pursuing a career in science communication and I sat down with David over coffee to ask about the craft. Three years on and Iâ€m excited to be able to bring him on the Art of Adventure to share his wisdom and stories about many things.

In the past thirty years he has published a few hundred pieces of short nonfiction—feature articles, essays, columns—in magazines such as Harperâ€s, National Geographic, Outside, Esquire, The Atlantic, Powder, and Rolling Stone.  He writes occasional Op Eds for The New York Times and reviews for The New York Times Book Review.  

Quammen has been honored with an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and is a three-time recipient of the National Magazine Award.  He is a Contributing Writer for National Geographic, in whose service he travels often, usually to wild and remote places.

Todayâ€s episode is an exciting romp through a variety of topics – We cover viruses including Zika virus that might effect the Olympic Games in Rio, the craft of writing, expeditionary science, and Yellowstone and the American National Parks – why they are such an amazing idea.

So if you like adventure, science, writing, are curious about public health or love the wilderness and National Parks, this is the episode for you!



What you will learn in this episode:

-The latest dangerous emerging viruses including Zika

-The History of Yellowstone National Park

-Expedition Science Writing

-Using the tools of fiction in non fiction writing

-The story of trekking across the jungles of Africa



Quotes:

"Anybody who writes long books has to be patient and methodical" - David Quammen

"I care a lot about the architecture of books"- David Quammen

"One of my key principles is GO THERE"- David Quammen

"It hugely important for writing to be entertaining and beautiful"- David Quammen

"Non lethal disasters are the friend of the adventurer"- David Quammen

"By going on an expedition you get a full texture of what the scientist and work is like"- David Quammen

"Adventure is something that doesn't kill you when you are ambitious in wild and remote places"- David Quammen
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):
DavidQuammen.com



Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

Why Zika Is This Yearâ€s Scary Virus (Nat Geo)

Thanks David Quammen!

If you enjoyed this session of The Art of Adventure Podcast,

Chris Guillebeau has long been a hero and mentor of mine since I first received The Art of Non-Conformity for Christmas in 2011 and started learning how to Travel Hack. I also stole the first two words of that book for my own brand!

During a lifetime of self-employment that included a four-year commitment as a volunteer executive in West Africa, Chris visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday. Since then he has modeled the proven definition of an entrepreneur: “Someone who will work 24 hours a day for themselves to avoid working one hour a day for someone else.â€

Chrisâ€s first book, The Art of Non-Conformity, was translated into more than twenty languages. His second book, The $100 Startup, was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, selling more than 300,000 copies worldwide. His latest book, The Happiness of Pursuit, was published in September 2014 and was also a New York Times bestseller.

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.

In this episode, Chris is talking about finding the work you were meant to do.  He takes us through his own career and loads of other examples from how to find mentors to working with the renaissance mindset.

If you are thinking about your career options and want to get insight into your best pathway, this is the episode for you!

 



What you will learn in this episode:

– How to find the right mentors in your career and on your quests

-How to have the renaissance mindset in your career

-The Joy – Money – Flow model

-How to identify your career values

-How to run your own 100 person project

-How to expand, then limit your options



Quotes:

“Put forth a message or agenda†– Chris Guillebeau

“Competence is your best security†– Chris Guillebeau

“I didnâ€t expect the hybrid nature of peopleâ€s work life†– Chris Guillebeau

“How can I download information from anyone?†– Chris Guillebeau

“I pay attention to what is on peopleâ€s minds†– Chris Guillebeau
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):
ChrisGuillebeau.com

Derek on The Art of Non-Conformity: LEARNING, CONNECTING, AND ASKING : ON THE ROAD WITH DEREK LOUDERMILK

World Domination Summit

Chris†Books:

Here are 5 books for endurance athletes I have read recently that will help motivate you, help you train better, and get insight into what type of athlete you are. Enjoy!

Born to Run. I loved this book! It got me back into running after may years off to focus on cycling (I also started adding lots os chia seeds to my kombucha after I read this). Collection of great race stories and tales of ultra runners ending with an epic race through Mexico's copper canyons.  This will probably want to make you try barefoot running.

The Science of Running: How to find your limit and train to maximize your performance. From the author of one of the best blogs about running and exercise science (The science of running), comes a book that is essential for any endurance coach and athlete. This book distills down all basic science research in endurance sport and explains it simply. Magness does a good job comparing the research with what coaches see on a daily basis. The second half of the book is practical application to specifics of training athletes.

In Pursuit of Excellence - 4th Edition. It is clear that mental performance is one of the keys to the success of an athlete, yet also a widely under trained aspect at most levels. In this book, Orlick tells you how exactly to use things such as visualization and imagery to improve performance. There are also techniques to help you get a more positive outlook and eliminate distractions. Use this book to supplement all your hard physical training.

Mud, Snow, And Cyclocross: How 'Cross Took Over U.S. Cycling. Basically a collection of stories - an oral history of cyclocross in the US. Great stories from Pros and race promoters.  One big things I was reminded of was the difference between US and European CX - The Euro roadies (in particular belgians and Dutch) needed something to stay fit in the winter and didn't want to leave their country.  In the US, roadies can go south, and don't have the same problem, Therefore - CX in the US grew as it's own type of cycling as a paticipatory/party/family atmosphere, where the courses and community is open and accesible to everyone

The 2014 Ultimate Guide to Cyclocross Resources

August 5, 2014 By derek Leave a Comment

Thinking of doing your first Cyclocross season? Been racing CX for a while and want to delve deeper into the sport?

Each year I publish a list of my favorite cyclocross resources to help you kick butt and enjoy getting muddy! Here is a list of my favorite Cyclocross resources for 2014

Websites:

www.cyclingnews.com Race results, bikes, interviews, etc

http://velonews.competitor.com/ Boulder based, has all the results, but goes a step further with insight and racing analysis.

http://www.cxmagazine.com/ Race, Tech, Skills, etc. Complete resource. This is where I go to find out what tires or disc brakes I should try this season.

http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/cyclocross.  While I always encourage you to build a good relationship and shop at your local bike shop (they are the ones who can rescue your bike after particularly muddy races), Cyclocross world has all the best CX gear, including hard to find stuff.

Books:

Cyclocross: Training and Technique by Simon Burney. The single best book for learning about cyclocross racing. This book gets into training, racing, skill, equipment, you name it.

Behind The Stare by Geoff Proctor. By Longtime director of the Eurocross Camp and Montana English teacher, this book is tell all about the Pro cross scene in and included lots of training and lifestyle info.

Mud, Snow, and Cyclocross by Molly Hurford.  This is a great collection of stories about cyclocross in the US, as told by racers, coaches, hecklers, and event promoters.

The Time-Crunched Cyclist, 2nd Ed. (The Time-Crunched Athlete) by Chris Carmichael. Perfect for Cyclocross racers who work also.  I used adaptations of the training in this book to race the collegiate cycling season while a full time grad student on 8 hours of training/week.

Training Camps:

http://www.fascatcoaching.com/cxcamp.html With Jeremy Powers in Boulder,CO, August 29-31.

http://petewebber.com/cracking-the-code-tim-johnsons-cyclocross-secrets/ With Tim Johnson and coach Pete Webber (who runs the Boulder jr. cross also).  Great one each year,

This is a solo round of the Art of Adventure podcast!  Two year ago, I wrote my own "I have a dream" manifesto for Martin Luther King day.  It has been one of my most popular pieces, so I want to share it with you now in audio format. Below is the full text of the manifesto I have a dream. A dream that we will not be afraid - not afraid to show our good qualities, to be weird, unique, and different.  Not afraid speak out against injustice. Not afraid to make the tough decisions in our life.  Not afraid to begin the journey, because then we will succeed.  
I have a dream. That one day, we will have a education system in which all children will love to learn, and that we will all be lifelong learners and curious explorers. That we will all be passionate about what we do and do what we are passionate about. That we will all be able to fulfill the purpose that the universe has placed us here to do. That even under the pressure the outside world places upon us we may find our true selves. 
I have a dream that we will find courage and love and gratitude and honor and truth and morality and we will get the goosebumps. That we are wide awake and approach the world with a sense of newness, and wonder. I have a dream that we can be honest with ourselves about who we are and how we want to feel. I have a dream that we are able to put our minds to use and let loose a cascade of ideas and that we will learn and grow together and solve our problems.
I have a dream. That we will notice the strength in our muscles, the air in our lungs, the food in our belly, and be grateful.  That we will experience the world with all our senses. That even as we age, we stay physically sound and appreciate the gift of a working body.
I have a dream that we will always give others the benefit of the doubt, knowing that their actions are based in love, even if we don't understand how or why.  That we will have patience and try to understand things from other's point of view. That we will listen to our parents and children and grandparents. I have a dream that we remember and maintain the beauty of past traditions - families, storytelling, growing plants, observing the changes in the land, and sitting around a campfire, to name a few.
I have a dream. A dream that we will feel our connection to the whole world and see that we are part of something amazing.  That the beauty of the earth will continue to awe us and to nurture us as our one and only home. The we will feel love for every rock and every river, every tree and every animal, every mountain and valley, every piece of this planet. I have a dream that we will see the beauty of all things, and we will be grateful each and every day for a life full of wonder and miracles.
I have a dream that every person has enough support from the rest of us that they are able to achieve greatness and not be stifled under a lack of opportunity. That we will all have enough love and energy overflowing within ourselves that we will then be able to give unlimited love to each other. I have a dream that you are loved and that you know it. I dream of resilience and improvement, that even when you feel fear or anger or hurt, that you know it will pass, and you can conquer hardship. That even in the face of hard times we will not lose heart.
I have a dream. That we all will have the audacity to dream big. That we will be free from monotony. I have a dream that we all never let off the accelerator and we will keep plowing ahead in the attempt to find truth and meaning and get closer and closer to the nature of the universe.
I have a dream that we wake up with energy each day knowing that we are fighting the good fight.  


Support the Art of Adventure!
This podcast is supported by listeners like you!

Over the last year I've had many people say that I needed to get today's guest on the show, so I finally caught up with him for this episode!

Sean Ogle is one of the Original Gangsters of the digital nomad movement. He has been location independent for seven years and is going to share his three step formula for "starting a cool business the boring way." These step are what Sean sees as the logical progression for growing a digital nomad business.

We talk about freelance writing and how to get clients, building a digital membership site, mistakes digital nomads make, finding the right people to collaborate with on projects, and teaching with different forms - audio vs video.

So if you are an aspiring digital nomad, blogger, video blogger, or want to start freelancing your skills, this is the episode for you!



 

What you will learn:

-How to leverage in person meet ups to drive your freelance business

-The skills progression of a digital nomad: Copywriting, Wordpress, social media, SEO

-Common mistakes digital nomads make

-Why you should freelance your skills while you build your brand

-Where to market your freelance work virtually

-The importance of marketing in the digital space

-Travel with a home base and lots of small trips



Quotes:

"Collaborations have to be a good fit for both people"- Sean Ogle

"I've experienced slow and steady growth"- Sean Ogle

"Adventure is doing something that is exciting, makes you happy, and you get a story out of"- Sean Ogle

"To run a membership site you need to prove you are trustworthy and have a differentiator"- Sean Ogle
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):

SeanOgle.com

Location Rebel

TropicalMBA



Thanks Sean Ogle!

If you enjoyed this session of The Art of Adventure Podcast, let Sean know by clicking on the link below and sending him a quick shout out on Twitter:

Click here to thank Sean on Twitter
Support the Art of Adventure!
This podcast is supported by listeners like you! Become a patron of the Art of Adventure on Patreon



Subscribe to The Art of Adventure Podcast for free in iTunes or Stitcher. If you enjoyed the show, please help us by leaving a 5-star rating and review!

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Today's episode is a solo round featuring this essay I wrote about Heroism:
Be Your Own Hero
Have we lost sight of what it means to be a hero in the modern age? Do we even need heroes anymore? The native american culture portrayed in the book 'Black Elk Speaks' was heavily focused on bravery. We are as removed from that culture as from the culture of chivalry that the knights of the round table were known for. What we do have instead an inventive spirit and the belief that we can become what we set out to become (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!) Heroes are now innovators, entertainers, teachers, creators, and healers among others. Because we as modern humans have climbed to the top Maslovâ€s hierarchy of needs, our battle is no longer physical, but rather who we can be for ourselves and others.

We have the opportunity re-invent the definition of the hero for the modern human. The experience of becoming a hero is the essence of our humanity. Joseph Campbell saw that the same mythological tales are found in every culture - the story of an adventurer who answers the call to a great challenge, faces down his demons and comes back to society as a changed individual. So, how can you be a hero?

***

Find your Cause
The hero is called into action for many reasons - to defend their country, to save his family, to provide some service to a group of people. The greatest athletes have been found to be driven by a belief in something greater - it is usually either god or their own abilities. Stephanie Burns of ChicCEO once told me in an interview about ‘Unreasonable Requests' that she found it easy to ask for huge things such as $10,000 of free event space when she was doing it in service of her favorite charity. My own cause that allows me to put for a great effort is to enable people to unlock their fullest human potential by changing the story about themselves (Hero-ification), so that they may contribute to the world in a way that fulfills them and gives them purpose.

Determine your Noble Principles
Ben Franklin was known for his 10 virtues which he attempted to embody every day. He would track this by putting an X each night next to the ones he was able to fulfill for the day. While many religions give us a series of commandments or qualities to live up to, it is up to us to come up with our own virtues and code of conduct based on what is most important to us.

What do you admire in other people? How do you want to feel? What way of being would make you proud of yourself? These are some questions to guide you in making your list. As an example, I have declared the theme for 2016 as ‘the year of living boldlyâ€, so in addition to my other values, I will filter action through the lens “is this action big and bold enough?"

Take Courageous Action
What are you not satisfied with in your life? What problems do you see in the world? What do people need from you? What do you find yourself thinking about over and over? You Epic Adventure will keep calling and calling, and it is up to you to answer the call and embark on your quest. Heroes are know for their actions and feats, which are impossible to achieve without taking the first step.

In the middle of your journey, you will face challenge that is much greater than you anticipated (10 times harder, according to my calculations) and will take all your effort or concentration. In addition, it takes courage to start a new quest, especially when one has little or no experience. Bravery in the face of the unknown defines the hero. Paolo Coelho tells us that making decisions is our god given right as humans and we must embrace this power. Taking action is heroic because by saying yes you are also closing the door on other options because you believe you are fighting the good fight.

"If change is the only constant, then letâ€s get better at it." - Jenny Blake

I first met Jenny Blake in Bali in a yoga class taught by Les Leventhal (who appeared in AOA 038), and right away I was struck by her enthusiasm for life and helping people.

Jenny is a highly sought after public speaker, author, coach, and business strategist.

She is known for helping smart people “organize their brain," and move beyond burnout and create sustainable careers they love.

In this episode we dig into the big ideas from her upcoming book - The Pivot Method.  These ideas include: Identifying existing strengths, interests and experiences; how to look for new opportunities, skills, and people; running career experiments and collecting feedback; And launching in your next direction.

So if you are thinking about a change in your career, or just starting out and planning your career trajectory, this is the episode for you!

 



What you will learn in this episode:

-The Pivot method for changing careers

-How to calculate your pivot runway

-How systems intersect between mind, body, and business

-How to brand yourself as a superstar

-How to be a 'relationship worker'

-How to look for people, skills, and opportunity that fits you

Quotes:

"I felt like I was going through a quarter life crisis every few years"- Jenny Blake

"It's critical to connect to you underlying strengths and interests"- Jenny Blake

"Take a stand on something"- Jenny Blake

"Double down on what is already working"- Jenny Blake

"I did not expect people to change careers so much"- Jenny Blake

"Adventure is letting myself be surprised"- Jenny Blake

"Adventure is optimizing for fun"- Jenny Blake

"Adventure is having freedom in time and space"- Jenny Blake
Continue the Adventure (Resources from this episode):
JennyBlake.me

PivotMethod.com

Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want



Jenny's Book Recommendations:

StrengthsFinder 2.0

The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder