The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Sean — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:03:06 -0000

Tim, did you find that in the beginning you were feeling out individual AskSunday responders until you found one that you liked in particular, or a few?

You might not have been doing this personally, but through other assistants. (its like an ant colony after a while I bet).

Thanks

Sean

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Sean — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:57:38 -0000

Thanks. I will evaluate it for a little longer then. My first impressions were mixed. I wasn't getting responses very quickly, and I was not sure if they were acknowledging my requests.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Sean — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:31:32 -0000

Re: Ask Sunday- Tim, What is your experience with Ask Sunday. How does it compare to Get Friday? I just signed up but am not sure I like it. It seems to be a boatload cheaper, and when I think of that I always hear the saying you hear from so many people, which I truly dislike and is definitely not all encompassing "you get what you pay for". Have you used this yourself, or know anyone directly who has?

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Hi Sean,

I"ve been using AskSunday for about 6 months and love it. I've been very happy with results thus far, and their response time is excellent in my experience. Good English from Manila as well :)

Tim

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Hannah — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:57:43 -0000

Hey Tim!

I like that you use economic concepts but 'pareto optimality' refers to something completely different: it means that a given equilibrium in the market could not be changed without making one or more persons worse of. In other words: both producers and consumers are benefitting from the situation.

The 80-20% rule is a well-known management concept, but it isn't used in economics!

Love your work,
many greetings!

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Manan — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:56:06 -0000

Saw the interview. Loved the part where you discussed about the book's cover (going to a bookshop & seeing which one was picked up the most).

My personal views on the cover - loved the hardcover book. BUT dint like the softcover as much. The softcover design did not give the impression that it would have such serious and amazing information/techniques inside.

Anyway... by any chance, is it possible to upload images of all the bookcovers you had considered before deciding on one? Curious to know.

Take care

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Mark — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:52:27 -0000

I'll probably show just how much of a non-techie I am with this question, but I want to download the audio of your interviews and listen to them on my ipod. Is that possible?

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Hi Mark,

I'm sure there is a YouTube scraper someone can recommend, but I don't know. Can anyone help on this?

Tim

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Luke — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:18:34 -0000

Thanks for writing a very informative book. You are the man! I've finally found someone who I can look up and aspire to be like one day! I definitely want to own businesses but not run them in the 20th century way. I'm hoping you post more video interviews. I'd like to see video of your insight in how you automated BrainQuicken or just the topic of automation itself. You still own this business? Thanks again!

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

etavitom — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:37:37 -0000

Thanks for the words of wisdom Tim. Your book was phenomenal and I'm happy you shared this video. Most appreciated....

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Denny — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:47:58 -0000

Gmail.

Improvements.

You are a tease.

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Hmmmm... did they edit them out? Seriously, they had joked they might have to. Interesting...

Tim

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Stephen — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:56:09 -0000

Hey Tim

Ridicules Interview

I really like that you are doing all this to help us all out, appreciate it. It would be awesome if you could have more of these. Also if you could do one on starting up an automated business or even have other people who have, give advice about it would be awesome. Do you think you are going to do any talks down in Florida in the near future?

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Raina Gustafson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:09:17 -0000

Just my two cents worth...

Bikram's alright - provides a decent yoga buzz. Ashtanga incorporates whole categories of poses that Bikram eliminates (arm balances, inversions and more). It creates just as good a sweat without relying on the heat of the room to provide the illusion of intensity.

I sent Amy a lead for a swimming coach.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Aaron Daniel Bennett — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:09:46 -0000

Training for what? A marathon?

Also, have you tried Bikram Yoga?

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Zach Even - Esh — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:55:34 -0000

Tim, I know this is a bit off, but, have you used or reviewed the amazon kindle - allowing us to get books wirelessly...or is this too connected for you still?

I guess all technology is about making the move to "get it now"? Kinda scarey, b/c I love books....just wondering what you have heard or your thoughts on the amazon kindle?

best,

--z--

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Hi Zach,

I think the Kindle is great for traveling light, but I enjoy taking notes in books too much to do it when at home. Hope that helps :)

Tim

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Raina Gustafson — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:17:01 -0000

@Christine and @Jennifer

I am embarking on a "Lifestyle Design" experiment in this regard at present. It wouldn't be prudent for me to say too much here right now, but hopefully I'll have some interesting results within a month or so.

For basic relationships, I'm typically more concerned with traits that are absent from men, rather than the ones they possess. For instance, the absence of possessiveness, jealousy, controlling tendencies, etc. is more important to me than almost anything else. I've found that once a relationship is infected with any of those issues, they often spread out of control like viruses, and almost always trigger some sort of self-fulfilling doomsday prophecy.

I guess I'm applying the "low expectations" approach to relationship happiness in this regard. Speaking from my own experiences, I can say that it has definitely worked better for me than a high expectation approach.

I've been working on some articles about relationships. I constantly find myself giving relationship advice to friends, acquaintances and even my own mother - so I'm starting to take what I have to say more seriously. I will try to make my stuff publicly available soon. I'll re-post here when I do, assuming Tim lets me. ; )

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Jennifer Bingham-Heart — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:28:16 -0000

@Christine,

Don't we all have criteria data metrics when we are looking for a mate? Many of us have, height, fitness, intelligence, humor and similar common interests "requirements" to increase the attraction probability? The only thing you can't train outsource personnel is to feel a spark or good vibes. Isn't that the fun in dating?

I do have to say, I now regret not going out with some really good guys due to my personal criteria of my past. My goal this year is to get out of my dating box (he-he) and minus any axe murders, open the playing field even more. I may be missing someone awesome if I stick to certain physical criteria vs personality and compatibility. Besides I am a chick, for me if the guy is smart and funny that trumps physical aspects most times. I have dated guys who by my original physical requirements I would have passed over but won me over by being smart, funny, and interesting. Sometimes the universe knows better than me, so I am open to the possibilities. :)

Hugs,
Jen

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Christine — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:40:29 -0000

Exercise excerpts: 00:04:51 and then again about time under tension metric at the 1:00:00 mark

Tim/Amy/et al: how did you arrive at good date-bad date metrics for your outsource teams? Could you give some examples of your criteria? Trying to reconcile this with your not being "data driven" about relationships and your assertion in the open q&a that character judgement is visceral vs. heavily analytical.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Raina Gustafson — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:20:16 -0000

Like Stephen above, I found the conversation surrounding personal vs. interpersonal happiness and the claim that you do not apply metrics to your social life the most interesting parts of this particular interview.

I really value time spent alone and have probably had most of the peak experiences in my life while alone, but I still believe in the point you've made here regarding interpersonal happiness. Since it remains a tricky balancing act for me, I'd love to hear any additional thoughts on how you keep the peace between your distinct needs for solitude and socializing.

As for the other topic, I don't completely believe you refrain from using metrics in your emotional life. They have certainly come into play while outsourcing your dating or in your post about test driving friends. While I agree that keeping meticulous records of who owes who a beer or coffee is silly and insulting to lasting friendships, I think that metrics in relationships are important. Ephemeral, perhaps, but important.

I remember arguing elsewhere on this blog that human relationships are sacred. I do not think that keeping metrics on them is in conflict with that basic premise. Whether we like it or not, relationships are transaction-oriented. It's just that the currencies are different. Kindness, affection, honesty, sexual expression, compassion, humor are all currencies in their own ways.

We've all had the experience of being emotionally drained by another person. Even if we keep no written record of it but we remember to avoid that person in the future, we've used a metric. If we're already invested in a relationship with said draining person and therefore want to uncover and uproot the specific mechanism through which the emotional hemhorraging is taking place, we might coach the person to act differently or coach ourselves to react differently. Still, most of us will try this tactic a given number of times and no more before dismissing the exercise as effective or ineffective. This, too, is a metric. Perhaps it's a metric more dependent on internal definitions than objective ones, but I still think it's a metric.

I suppose the entire concept is limited primarily by how accurate our internal definitions are in the first place. I think we can structure relationships similarly to the way be structure businesses. Both often seem to be defined by a prior experience of what we realize we don't want. A business on auto-pilot? Cool. A relationship on auto-pilot? Also cool.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

rhondak — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:42:38 -0000

OHHH...totally rude...or ON TOPIC...I was showing the bottom of my bare feet as I typed this. I spent the day at an art show selling and a lot of time PLANNING ( not yacking like tools) about things we were going to do better.
THANK YOU TIM.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Jennifer Bingham-Heart — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:47:17 -0000

Proprietary info? I don't think the masses will know until it is in beta testing :)

Hugs,
Jen

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Andre Kibbe — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:36:51 -0000

What Greg asked. What are your suggestions for Gmail?

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Greg — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:19:52 -0000

So where are these proposed improvements for Gmail? In the video, you only mentioned that you had some suggestions, but you never actually said what any of them were. Just curious.

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Aaron Daniel Bennett — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:28:29 -0000

Tim, quick question. You have an amazing vocabulary that seems to roll off your tongue. It's clear that you're naturally very intellectual, yet I'm wondering if you have "learned" to be smart and use intellectual vocab. I've heard great things about Paul Scheele's work, like Paraliminals. Are you familiar with Paul's work? I haven't seen a blog post about "increasing your IQ or vocab". Any quick tips?

Thanks

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Joseph — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:12:11 -0000

Hi Tim, enjoyed the fireside chat and follow your blog/twitter/book etc. I'm a medical student (in NYC) and find your ideas / approach to things particularly refreshing, given that folks in med school / medicine is often fall on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of their way of thinking. That said, next time you're in NYC, would you consider dropping by a top med school and talking to students / docs / scientists on where your vision fits in with their pursuits? I imagine this would be different from your typical audience, but If you have any interest, shoot me an e-mail and I'll provide more details...

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Paulius — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:03:49 -0000

Hi Tim,

Great interview!
I am from Lithuania ( Baltic State) and I do not believe that we are going to take the ousourcing industry from India like you mentioned :) it is the same comparison as for USA to take over the production industry from China :)
We have much higher cost of living and more expensive work force then India and I do not see how we can be compared with Vietnam in your example. Please, Tim, next time check out the stats before declaring such things.

Thanks

Paulius

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Hi Paulius,

Thanks for the comment. I don't think the Baltic States will be taking 100% of the outsourcing work from India at all, but I do believe that Baltic, former Eastern Block, and South/Central American countries are well poised to become players who compete with India and take some % of the pie. It will take time, but this is what I believe.

There's a good Businessweek article on the "new economics of outsourcing" that shares some of the reasons.

Thanks again for the contribution,

Tim

Re: Fireside Chat: Google and Tim Ferriss

Rory Parle — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:22:29 -0000

Hi Tim, Thanks again for doing this talk. I was the guy in Dublin who organised the viewing there. It was great to have the opportunity to put questions to you directly about the book.

It was a great way to spend one of my few weekly hours of work. ;)

—Rory