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The Definition of Success with author Neil Strauss | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

In 2005, Neil Strauss published The Game, a book about his years living in the pickup artist community. The Game sold millions of copies, stirred up huge controversy, and made Neil a bestselling author.

Simon SinekhostGreat Minds Neil Straussguest

May 8, 202435mWatch on YouTube

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EPISODE INFO

Released: May 8, 2024
Duration: 35m
Channel: Simon Sinek
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In 2005, Neil Strauss published The Game, a book about his years living in the pickup artist community. The Game sold millions of copies, stirred up huge controversy, and made Neil a bestselling author. Neil has totally reinvented himself since writing The Game, and I wanted to talk with him about walking away from that identity of success. This led to a much deeper conversation about what success even is. Is meaning tied to outcomes, or is intention enough? Neil and I don’t see eye-to-eye on everything in this conversation, but I love talking with him because he challenges my ideas. I hope this episode challenges you as well, to continue questioning what the definition of success should be. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Neil and his work, check out: https://www.neilstrauss.com/ https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-game-neil-strauss?variant=32206397767714 ⏰ Timestamps 0:00 Public reception for "The Game" 5:45 Simon's struggles with dating 8:00 Neil's biggest Lesson from writing The Game 10:55 Sex addiction rehab and Neil's transformation 15:29 Healthy shame vs. vulnerability 18:25 Is Mark Zuckerberg a sex symbol? 20:22 What is success? 22:42 Parable of the Farmer and Horse 24:50 Contribution debate 32:40 Simon's world vs. Neil's story + + + Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game. + + + Website: http://simonsinek.com/ Live Online Classes: https://simonsinek.com/classes/ Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/ Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek Simon’s books: The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/ Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/ Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/ Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/ Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together-is-better/ + + + #SimonSinek

SPEAKERS

Simon Sinek
hostGreat Minds guide
Author and leadership thinker; host of the A Bit of Optimism podcast.
Neil Strauss
guest
Author and journalist, known for writing The Game and for work as a New York Times music critic and Rolling Stone writer.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Simon Sinek, featuring Simon Sinek and Neil Strauss, The Definition of Success with author Neil Strauss | A Bit of Optimism Podcast explores Neil Strauss and Simon Sinek Debate Connection, Responsibility, and Defining Success Neil Strauss explains that he wrote The Game after going undercover among pickup artists, and he says it was meant as a book about male insecurity and neurodivergence that ended with its subjects becoming toxic and robotic.

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