How to Find Your Path in Life with David Epstein

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Content provided by Being Well, Rick Hanson, and Forrest Hanson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Being Well, Rick Hanson, and Forrest Hanson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

3M ago 1:25:18

MP3•Episode home

In one of my favorite conversations, bestselling author David Epstein joins the podcast to explore how to find your path in life, the problem with 10,000 hours, and why generalists triumph in a specialized world. David and I discuss why sampling different paths before specializing tends to lead to more fulfillment. David explains why feeling "behind" is actually normal for successful people who take non-linear paths, and how "fit looks like grit" when you find something that genuinely connects with your strengths and interests. We then detail how to identify good fits, a practical process for getting good at almost anything, and what helps create a breakthrough moment.

About our Guest: David Epstein is a bestselling author, science writer, and investigative reporter known for challenging conventional wisdom about peak performance. His books include Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World and The Sports Gene.

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction and summary of David’s work

1:25: The benefits of generalism and an unusual background

4:15: Feeling behind, and David vs. Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours

11:40: Curiosity, transferable skills, and comfort with failure

21:40: Problems with specialization, and the value of consistent learning

27:10: Beginner’s mind and the eight lane highway

31:35: Finding what you want to do, and the value of constraint

41:35: Doing what’s in front of you, and Frances Hesselbein

45:55: How to actually get good at something

54:20: More on getting comfortable with failure

1:00:10: Autonomy, flow, and just picking something

1:04:00: What creates the “breakthrough moment”?

1:11:30: Recap

Rumination Course: Rick’s 5-week online course Breaking Out of Rumination starts on March 29th. Rumination is a big pain point for many people, and this course will help you learn how to break repetitive patterns of thought. Learn more at RickHanson.com/ruminating, and use coupon code BeingWell25 to receive a 25% discount.

Support the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.

Sponsors

Zocdoc helps you find expert doctors and medical professionals that specialize in the care you need. Head to zocdoc.com/being and download the Zocdoc app for FREE.

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEINGWELL at https://www.oneskin.co/

Go to ZOE.com and find out what ZOE Membership could do for you. Use code WELL10 to get 10% off membership.

Field of Greens from Brickhouse Nutrition is a superfood powder packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Use the code BEINGWELL at fieldofgreens.com for 20% off your first order.

Connect with the show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

428 episodes