6-Month Personal MBA (Book List):

Month 1
• Strategy: Zero to One
• Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup

Month 2
• Accounting: Financial Intelligence
• Per. Finance: I Will Teach You to Be Rich

Month 3
• Marketing: 22 Laws of Marketing
• Operations: The Goal

Month 4
• Systems Thinking: Thinking in Systems
• Public Speaking: Steal the Show

Month 5
• Negotiation: Never Split the Difference
• Networking: Power Connector

Month 6
• Leadership: Teams of Teams
• Effectiveness: Almanack of Naval

That was a 6-month personal MBA.

All it takes to complete? Read 30 mins/day.

If you enjoyed this list, please RT the first tweet and follow me @SystemSunday.

Cheers,
Ben

P.S. If you like productivity, you will love my weekly newsletter (it’s free).

Every Sunday I feature the best tech products for wealth, health, and free time.

Try it

How to work smarter, not harder.

10 insanely useful Apple Mac tips:

1. Picture-in-picture

Watch videos in a small, floating window.

Maybe there's an online class you'd like to keep an eye on...

But you want most of your screen to be something else (like a word doc to take notes).

• Control+Click the video twice
• Select Picture-in-Picture

2. Volume & Brightness Micro Adjustments

Press a volume key, and it will adjust one whole notch.

But what if that's too loud or soft?

Make micro adjustments (0.25 increments):

Shift + Option, then press the volume or brightness control.

Yep—that blew my mind too.

3. Split View

Work in two apps at the same time, side-by-side.

Lock them in place:

• Hover over the full-screen 🟢 button
• Choose the L or R side
• Content will fill that side
• Fill the other side by clicking a window
• Slide the vertical line to adjust the width

4. Screen Sharing

Need to troubleshoot a grandparent's tech issue?

Remotely access + control their screen (built-in Mac feature):

1. Open Spotlight [Command + Space]
2. Search 'Screen Sharing'; open app
3. Type in the Apple ID of the desired screen
4. Owner then grants access

YouTube is free education.

But 99% don’t know the best spots on its virtual campus.

Here are the top channels to accelerate your learning:

Andrew Huberman, Ph.D.

Learn from Professor of Neurobiology at Stanford, @hubermanlab.

Lessons
• Brain health
• How to focus and stay motivated
• Get better at sleeping, learning, and

MIT Open CourseWare

Lessons
• Free and open publication of MIT courses
• Covers the entire MIT curriculum from undergraduate to graduate
• Courses include a syllabus, instructional materials, and assignments
• This is self-paced learning at its

Naval

Lessons
• Listen to episodes from Naval Podcast
• Get a brilliant breakdown of @Naval’s viral tweet “How to Get Rich...” (video link

freeCodeCamp

Learn to code for free.

Lessons
• Web development and programming tutorials
• Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and

How to be 5x more productive.

A best-selling author’s 3-3-3 Method:

Oliver Burkeman is the best-selling author of “Four Thousand Weeks.”

Recently, he shared his 3-3-3 Method for a productive day.

How do YOU define a productive day?

Until you define it, you’ll never feel like you’re doing enough.

Make 3-3-3 your yardstick:

The First 3

Spend 3 hours of deep work on your most important project.

===

3-4 hrs of focused work is our cognitive limit.

For best results, complete during your highest state of energy (flow = 500% more effective).

Define a specific progress goal.

Block out distractions.

The Second 3

Execute 3 shorter tasks.

===

These are urgent to-dos.

Often, they're “sticky note” items you may be avoiding (some take only a few mins).

Examples:
• Managing: delegating, providing feedback
• Calls, meetings
• Smaller work tasks

The Third 3

Complete 3 “maintenance activities.”

===

These are items that make your life go smoothly.

Schedule time for maintenance (don't cram elsewhere).

Examples:
• Cleaning (laundry, dishes, etc.)
• Self-Improvement: exercising, journaling

If you are prone to overthinking, read this:

For years I struggled with overthinking.

It was downright debilitating.

Fortunately, I found some strategies that help.

Here are 7 concepts to limit overthinking (and live your best life):

1. Morning Pages (Julia Child Method)

Empty your mind’s confusing thoughts on paper.

You’ll fill your day with clearer thinking.

The secret? Long-form journaling.

Here’s how:

1. Block out 45 mins
2. Grab a pen and journal
3. Write stream-of-consciousness (unfiltered)

2. 5 Second Rule

“The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal you must 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move or your brain will stop you.” —Mel Robbins.

The 5s Rule improves your ‘locus of control.’

It helps you flip the switch from uncontrolled anxiety to excitement…

According to neuroscientists, 95% of our decisions are based on feelings.

The problem with that:

You must first change your behavior to change how you feel.

In the words of Aristotle, “Do good, feel good.”

Like jumping in a pool: Count down from 5, and take action.

How to beat Imposter Syndrome.

5 steps to have the career you want:

Have you ever felt like a fraud?

Like you haven’t earned your accomplishments?

You’re not alone.

Up to 82% of people suffer from Imposter Syndrome.

It’s the single greatest threat to your career (and reaching your potential).

Today I’ve going to break down WHY Imposter Syndrome happens

And a proven plan to overcome it.

Let’s get started.

So, why does Imposter Syndrome happen?

Credit goes to a quirky cognitive bias:

“Dunning-Kruger Effect”

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Novices experience overconfidence due to quick progression on the learning curve.

While experts’ confidence drops because they realize what they don’t yet know.

Paradoxically, the more you become an expert, the more you may feel like an imposter.

How to give yourself a personal MBA (in 6 months).

Read these books:

Hi, I’m Ben.

I received an MBA from Cornell.

I’ve also read 300+ business books.

Trust me: You can get 90% of the knowledge from reading books

(and without spending $150k).

So, I put together a 6-month personal MBA for you...

The 6-month curriculum is 12 books

(you’ll read 2 books every month).

Subjects:

Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Accounting/Finance
Personal Finance
Marketing
Operations
Systems Thinking
Public Speaking
Negotiation
Networking
Leadership
Productivity/Effectiveness

Here we go...

Zero to One
by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters

Subject: Strategy

Lessons:
• Escape competition
• Contrarian approaches create value
• Go from “0 to 1,” not “from 1 to n”

The Lean Startup
by Eric Ries

Subject: Entrepreneurship

Lessons:
• Build minimum viable products
• When in doubt, simplify
• Win by getting feedback + learning fast

If you want to give yourself a personal MBA (in 6 months), read these books:

Hi, I’m Ben.

I received an MBA from Cornell.

I’ve also read 300+ business books.

Trust me: You can get 90% of the knowledge from reading books

(and without spending $150k).

So, I put together a 6-month personal MBA for you...

The 6-month curriculum is 12 books

(you’ll read 2 books every month).

Subjects:

Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Accounting/Finance
Personal Finance
Marketing
Operations
Systems Thinking
Public Speaking
Negotiation
Networking
Leadership
Productivity/Effectiveness

Here we go...

Zero to One
by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters

Subject: Strategy

Lessons:
• Escape competition
• Contrarian approaches create value
• Go from “0 to 1,” not “from 1 to n”

The Lean Startup
by Eric Ries

Subject: Entrepreneurship

Lessons:
• Build minimum viable products
• When in doubt, simplify
• Win by getting feedback + learning fast

Life hacks I know at 30 I wish I knew at 20:

1. The best productivity app on your phone is called airplane mode (use it).

2. Make 'No' your default. Whether it's new work projects or social gatherings, saying 'Yes' to non-priorities ruins your priorities. In the words of Mark Manson, if it's not a 'fuck yes,' it's a no.

3. Normalize "I don't know anything about that" as a successful answer.

4. You don't have to finish the book or movie if it sucks.

5. Stop regretting past decisions. You made the best choice at the time with the knowledge you had. Be at peace with it.

6. Success comes down to a simple choice: 1. Decide exactly what you want. 2. Determine the price you have to pay. 3. Choose if you're willing to pay it.

7. Write down your 3:3:3 plan: 3 hours on your most important project, 3 shorter tasks, 3 maintenance activities. Defining a "productive day" is crucial. Or else you'll never be at peace (even with excellent output).

You don't get what you deserve.

You get what you negotiate.

9 tips to master negotiation (in life and business):

Negotiation is one of the highest ROI skills.

You will:

• Earn more (job salary, client deals)
• Save more (home or car purchases)
• Win more (controlling the TV remote)

9 powerful tips, here we go...

1. Prepare (‘I FORESAW IT’ Framework)

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” —Ben Franklin

Use this checklist to plan for any big negotiation.

Preparation (like this) will give you confidence and influence.

Credit: Prof. Seth Freeman

2. Hone Your Body Language (7-38-55 Rule)

People will like/dislike your communication based on:

• 7% words
• 38% tonality and face
• 55% body language

Stand up straight, pull your shoulders back, make eye contact, smile, give a firm handshake...

You will be dangerous.

3. Use the Word “Fair”

“The most powerful word in negotiations is ‘Fair.’

Say: ‘I want you to feel like you are being treated fairly at all times. So please stop me at any time if I’m being unfair, and we’ll address it.’” —Chris Voss

Show them respect, set the tone.

Eliud Kipchoge is the first man to ever run a marathon in under 2 hrs.

That’s roughly 4 mins 34 sec per mile—for 26.2 miles straight!

Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) recommends two books for peak performance:

The Practice of Groundedness
by @BStulberg

Lessons:
• Learn the 6 principles of sustainable excellence
• How to perform at a high-level w/o burning out
• How to be consistent

In the words of Kipchoge, “It molds you as a human being.”

9 key themes Groundedness will teach you:

1. Outcomes matter but you've got to enjoy the process if you are to have longevity.

2. Consistency is way more valuable than intensity

3. How you perform on your average days is more important than how you perform on your great ones.

4. After big wins or devastating defeats, the medicine is the same—getting back to doing the work itself.

5. Become a master of showing up.

6. You don't have to like failure, but you've got to be okay with it.

7. Take the work extremely seriously, but yourself not so much.

8. Community is everything. Nobody reaches the top alone. The people around you shape you. Surround yourself wisely.

9. Stress + rest = growth. Figuring out the appropriate dose of each is key, and a moving target.

10 psychological thriller movies that will make you think:

1. Arrival

2. Inception

3. Ex Machina

4. Parasite

5. Snowpiercer

7 evening habits of a Stoic.

The Marcus Aurelius Routine:

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and philosopher—

who believed in practical daily habits.

His journal, Meditations, gives us a fair idea of what his nighttime routine would've been.

Here's the 7-step breakdown:

Step 1: Eliminate external stimuli.

"It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."

Use the nighttime to take a vacation from your busy day:

• Unplug from TV + social
• Take a walk, meditate, or practice 'non-doing'
• Seek inner-stillness

Step 2: Get some physical exercise.

"A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body."

Marcus did not believe in exercise for vanity.

Instead, he saw exercise trained the mind for:

• Consistency
• Self-discipline
• Clear thinking

Take a mind-cleansing walk tonight.

Step 3: Review your day.

"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."

It's been said that we do not learn from experience,

but learn from *reflecting* on experience.

What's the most inspiring documentary you've ever watched?

Recently I rewatched "Jiro Dreams of Sushi."

I want to fill my mind with more stories like this...

Jiro Ono, one of the greatest sushi chefs ever, showcases the Japanese concept of "Shokunin" (master artisan).

True nobility is honing your craft daily.

"Just be creative" is bad advice

(if they don't tell you how).

6 proven methods to boost creativity:

1. 70-20-10 Rule

The #1 factor that influences creative success?

Volume produced.

Change your mindset with the 70-20-10 Rule:

- 70% of your work will be mediocre
- 20% will suck
- 10% will be amazing

If you’re avoiding failure, you’re avoiding success.

(H/T Jonathan Mann)

2. Rapid Ideation

Generate many ideas quickly with this brainstorming method:

1) Select a topic
2) Set a time limit (try 10 mins)
3) Ideate freely on sticky notes w/o filtering
5) Collect & categorize ideas
6) Select the best

Get enough bad ideas, and good ones will appear.

3. Walking Meetings

What do Steve Jobs, Nietzsche, and Aristotle all have in common?

Each used walking as a strategic tool for clear thinking.

In the words of Nietzsche, "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."

4. Dates with Creativity

"In order for art to imitate life, you have to have a life…

For me, art was imitating art because all I was doing was working." —Whitney Cummings

The best remedy for uninspired work?

Dates with creativity (Courtesy of Julia Cameron).

More on that…