Ali Abdaal - Sahil Bloom

1) Sahil Bloom talks about how systemizing relationships can be beneficial but it also depends on an individual's preference. Some people might think that it is unnatural and automated to manage human beings in this way, while others would find it helpful to remind themselves of important occasions and people they want to stay in touch with. Sahil provides examples such as having a list of friends to stay in touch with and making deliberate efforts to see them when traveling. The idea is not to become robotic but to find little heuristics, shortcuts, and ways to save time and energy that make life easier and better. The same concept can apply to systemizing workouts or daily tasks to be more disciplined and avoid being too sporadic.

2) Sahil discusses the benefits of systemizing relationships in both personal and professional life. By setting non-negotiables for various aspects of life, such as physical activity and deep work, individuals can create a system that allows for both structure and spontaneity. This system not only increases productivity and creativity, but also enables individuals to show up as the best version of themselves in their relationships. Sahil recommends writing down non-negotiables and checking them off daily to ensure progress.

3) Sahil discusses the importance of keeping in touch with friends and family in order to maintain strong relationships. He explains that even though life can take over, it's important to have a system to remind yourself to reach out to those who matter the most. Sahil stresses the importance of in-person interactions in building and fostering relationships. He shares a personal experience of moving back to the east coast from California in order to be closer to his parents and explains that there is no replacement for those face-to-face moments with loved ones.

4) Sahil discusses the importance of understanding that friends have seasons in our lives, and that it is okay to let some friendships go. He explains that it's essential to be around people who push us to be better, whether that be at having fun or buckling down in certain areas of our lives. However, he emphasizes that development doesn't mean winning; developing in a holistic sense is building a fulfilling life spent with people who enrich our lives. Additionally, Bloom shares his strategy for dealing with hate on the internet by avoiding reading comments and defaulting to empathy. He believes that happy people do not write mean comments about others they do not know, and he encourages people not to take negative comments personally.

5) Sahil says they are not too worried because their content is positive and uncontroversial. However, the topic has come up due to how recognizable they have become on social media platforms. They reference Tim Ferriss' blog post about reasons not to become famous because it can lead to privacy and safety concerns. Sahil is reassessing their approach to sharing personal information online, especially when it involves their family. Despite the concerns, Sahil finds human interaction and connection with their audience to be essential in an increasingly automated world.

6) Sahil talks about his commitment to being transparent and human, providing responses to his followers' inquiries and concerns. He mentions receiving a message from someone who was worried about their physical health, and he encouraged them to walk for 15 minutes a day. He also expounds on his concept of "comprehensive wealth," which accounts for other factors aside from money, such as physical health, mental health, time, and relationships. He believes that expanding what's on our scoreboard is necessary to live a fulfilled life.

7) Sahil shares how he caught himself thinking of deferring things until the future. He explains that people tend to assume they will have more time in the future, and so they say yes to things only to regret it later. He calls it the "yes damn effect" and advises people to say no instead of saying yes under the assumption of having more time in the future. Sahil points out that there's always going to be something else that's going to fill up the time, especially for ambitious people. Finally, Sahil alludes to the idea that many people work hard throughout their youth, hoping to enjoy their retirement, but end up not being able to do so. He cites a Wall Street Journal study showing how people spend their time in retirement, indicating that people need to live their lives to the fullest right now.

8) Sahil discusses the balance between enjoying the present and building a financial foundation for the future. He believes that hustling in your 20s to build a foundation is important, but it's essential to enjoy the present moment and not wait until you hit some arbitrary financial milestone. Sahil points out that many people who plan to work hard in their 20s to spend time with their kids in their 30s end up continuing to hustle, getting stuck in a career path, and falling into the trap of the golden handcuffs.

9) Sahil talks about the importance of hard work and why it is necessary to work hard first in order to work smart later. He explains that the hard work is crucial because it allows you to uncover the map and find the high leverage opportunities for you. Without working hard, you won't know what you're good at, what you're bad at, or where the gold is on the map. Sahil believes that hard work and saying yes to opportunities that come your way are what allow you to see the map and build great things. He also emphasizes that this applies to content creators who grind in the early days to build something big.

10) Sahil Bloom talks about his motivations and goals in life. He explains that he wants to keep on living his infinite game, where he is able to wake up every morning and do the things that bring him intrinsic joy, such as teaching and sharing. He witnessed many doctors who hated their lives due to being shackled to their job for the sake of the money and never wants to be in that position. He believes that people in entertainment, like lifestyle vloggers, have a steeper rise and decline because they are so based on their personality or vibe, while people in education like GaryVee have natural churn in their audience as people eventually get the message and stop consuming their content. Lastly, he believes that tech YouTubers have more longevity because technology is constantly changing, and the audience is always interested in learning about the latest technology.

11) Sahil discusses three strategies for time management and emphasizes the importance of deploying finite energy into areas that create the most leverage. He also discusses comprehensive wealth and mental well-being, breaking it down into three categories: working on things that are meaningful, mental fitness, and mental health. Sahil stresses the significance of mental health, which has traditionally been a neglected area, particularly among men, and emphasizes its relevance to overall well-being.

12) Sahil discusses the impact of loneliness on mental health and the importance of having people to open up to. He shares that the cold plunge and daily walks have helped him with his mental health. For Sahil, the cold plunge is not just a physical activity, but a mental one that he uses to exert mind control and discipline himself to do things he says he would. By doing so, he creates a positive momentum of evidence that he is a disciplined person who does the things he says he would. This momentum then bleeds into other areas of his life, helping him prepare for the involuntary struggles of life. The cold plunge is also a peaceful gratitude practice where he practices mindfulness by listing things that he is grateful for.

13) Sahil describes the mental challenge of doing difficult things such as taking a cold shower or making YouTube videos, even when you don't initially want to. He indicates that doing hard things is important for creating a meaningful life, and that the reduction of friction and challenges in modern life may lead to a lack of interesting stories and experiences. He reflects on how much more interesting and adventurous his parents' and grandparents' lives seemed to be due to the greater amount of friction and challenges they faced in their everyday lives.

14) Sahil discusses the impact of social media on his mood and how he manages to stay disconnected from the numbers. As a creator, Sahil has learned not to let the numbers impact his emotions and mood, which he admits can be a challenge. However, he has learned to cope with the ups and downs of being a creator, as he is in a phase where his channel is growing faster than ever. He mentions that financial security can play a role in this dynamic and that it can be scary for creators who heavily rely on brand deals. Sahil's way of navigating this uncertainty is by hedging against it and creating a story for himself that enables him to stay calm and not let the numbers affect him too much.

15) Sahil discusses the concept of "default alive" versus "default dead" in the context of personal finance and life planning. He and Ali both express the importance of being able to live a lean and low-cost life and having a clear picture of what their ideal day or week entails. By focusing on the core elements of what makes a day or week fulfilling, they are able to remove complexity and noise and optimize for progressing in the direction they want. Both Sahil and Ali use their Google calendars to schedule their ideal week and find that they stick to it about 90% of the time.