Mark Manson

It's funny. Early in my career... So I struggled a lot with social anxiety when I was younger. And it's funny because... for the people who've read my writing for a long time, like it's pretty incendiary, a little controversial, you know, like it definitely pokes at people's buttons to get pretty angry response sometimes. And early in my career, I kind of relish that.

It's funny. Early in my career... So I struggled a lot with social anxiety when I was younger. And it's funny because... for the people who've read my writing for a long time, like it's pretty incendiary, a little controversial, you know, like it definitely pokes at people's buttons to get pretty angry response sometimes. And early in my career, I kind of relish that.

That's kind of how I made a name for myself is I would, I would like, I would poke people's buttons and kill sacred cows and say controversial things and try to get a lot of attention that way. And it's funny because I've spoken to so many writers and aspiring writers who are terrified of publishing something and making people upset. And it never bothered me. Why didn't it bother you?

That's kind of how I made a name for myself is I would, I would like, I would poke people's buttons and kill sacred cows and say controversial things and try to get a lot of attention that way. And it's funny because I've spoken to so many writers and aspiring writers who are terrified of publishing something and making people upset. And it never bothered me. Why didn't it bother you?

I don't know. I was just like, I'm right, whatever.

I don't know. I was just like, I'm right, whatever.

So this is the whole point. I would write an article that I knew very well. I'm like, this is going to piss off thousands of people. I'm going to wake up tomorrow. I'm going to have 200 angry emails in my inbox. But it's fine because I think it's worth writing it. And I would do it. And then I would go to a party that night. And I'd be nervous to talk to the girl next to me.

So this is the whole point. I would write an article that I knew very well. I'm like, this is going to piss off thousands of people. I'm going to wake up tomorrow. I'm going to have 200 angry emails in my inbox. But it's fine because I think it's worth writing it. And I would do it. And then I would go to a party that night. And I'd be nervous to talk to the girl next to me.

Because I'm like, well, what if she doesn't like me? Really? Yeah.

Because I'm like, well, what if she doesn't like me? Really? Yeah.

What do you think that... I... The only thing I can come back to is it's like that evidence thing, right? Like, I... In my writing, I'm very aware that my writing is a better portrayal of me and my ideas than I guess my physical form is.

What do you think that... I... The only thing I can come back to is it's like that evidence thing, right? Like, I... In my writing, I'm very aware that my writing is a better portrayal of me and my ideas than I guess my physical form is.

But also, it's like I had accumulated a lot of evidence over many, many years that when I really put thought into something, whether it's blogging or posting on forums or posting on social media, when I put a lot of thought into something, it really lands for a lot of people. And I'm really good at this. Mm-hmm.

But also, it's like I had accumulated a lot of evidence over many, many years that when I really put thought into something, whether it's blogging or posting on forums or posting on social media, when I put a lot of thought into something, it really lands for a lot of people. And I'm really good at this. Mm-hmm.

Whereas in my personal life, like you, I grew up, didn't have a ton of friends, got rejected by all the girls in high school, was kind of bullied a little bit. So there was still that scar tissue there that was hard to work through.

Whereas in my personal life, like you, I grew up, didn't have a ton of friends, got rejected by all the girls in high school, was kind of bullied a little bit. So there was still that scar tissue there that was hard to work through.

Yeah. So that's another skill, right? It's like knowing when to take feedback and when to ignore it. Because sometimes people don't get what you're about. Sometimes people don't understand what you're doing. Sometimes people project what they would do and try to get you to do what they would do, right? So it's, there's a certain amount of,

Yeah. So that's another skill, right? It's like knowing when to take feedback and when to ignore it. Because sometimes people don't get what you're about. Sometimes people don't understand what you're doing. Sometimes people project what they would do and try to get you to do what they would do, right? So it's, there's a certain amount of,

wisdom and consideration that I think is required to notice those moments of like, okay, I know this person has my best interests at heart, but they also don't really get what I'm trying to do. They're doing what they would try to do. They're telling me to do what they would try to do. So it's tricky. I have this... I had an Instagram post that went viral.

wisdom and consideration that I think is required to notice those moments of like, okay, I know this person has my best interests at heart, but they also don't really get what I'm trying to do. They're doing what they would try to do. They're telling me to do what they would try to do. So it's tricky. I have this... I had an Instagram post that went viral.