Building A Life Around Good Work (Paul Interviewed by Abel James)

In this episode, I interview my friend Pranab Saachi, and we get specific about the ideas and influences that have shaped his thinking. We talk about codependent origination from Buddhist philosophy, the concept of “quake books” that have shifted his worldview, and his own approach to “attentional co-piloting” as a practical alternative to traditional coaching (which he then has me try out live on the call).Pranab references teachers like Michael Taft and Robert Burbea, and explains how Internal Family Systems and Joe Hudson’s Art of Accomplishment have factored into his work. We also discuss his abandoned “Non-Success Podcast” idea and why he’s more interested in experiments than achievements.Connect with Pranab here: https://www.pranabsachi.com/Click here to watch a video of this episode. Some topics we talked about include:Codependent Origination (Buddhist philosophy)Quake Books (life-changing reads)Attentional Co-Piloting (Pranab’s coaching approach)Michael Taft (meditation teacher)Rob Burbea (Buddhist teacher)Joe Hudson & Art of AccomplishmentInternal Family Systems (IFS)The Non-Success Podcast (Pranab’s project idea)Tim Ferriss, Wait But Why, Siddhartha, and more(00:00) - Introduction and background (10:13) - Career journey and exploration (16:23) - Building authentic connections (22:38) - Spiritual influences and meditation practice (50:03) - Attentional co-piloting coaching session (01:17:47) - Closing thoughts and contact information 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

In this episode, I'm pumped to welcome back Nick Maggiulli to the podcast (https://youtu.be/deMXbaI-Ir4). We dive into various topics about money and financial independence, with a focus on Nick's endorsement of the 'COAST Fire' strategy, something I accidentally embraced after quitting my job. Nick shares his personal stories of financial challenges growing up and how these experiences shaped his approach to saving and spending. We debate the right time to take financial leaps and discuss how data-driven trends are making more Americans wealthier today. Nick introduces his wealth ladder concept and explains how it can help you live life on your terms. His new book is here: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Ladder-Proven-Strategies-Financial/dp/0593854039I loved his first book too: https://youtu.be/WWXPNK06r-kClick here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Reintroduction (02:11) - Diving into Personal Financial Stories (05:29) - Spending Rules and Financial Philosophies (11:54) - The Wealth Ladder Explained (19:48) - Navigating Career and Financial Growth (30:23) - The Impact of Wealth on Lifestyle (41:14) - Inflation Adjusted Wealth Levels (42:26) - Fears of Going Broke (43:04) - The 4% Rule and Retirement (46:14) - Coast Fire Explained (50:39) - The Emotions of Money (54:33) - Creative Paths and Financial Decisions (01:00:29) - The Future of Writing and Publishing (01:05:35) - The Impact of LLMs on Content Creation (01:08:49) - Reflections on Financial Advice (01:16:56) - Concluding Thoughts and Farewells 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

Lawrence is one of my favorite creators. He shares with passion, vulnerability and care. I chatted with Lawrence Yeo about his new book, 'The Inner Compass,' exploring themes of self-reflection, creativity, and the journey of writing and self-publishing. We discuss the importance of engaging with the world to gain a deeper understanding of oneself, the role of ambition in creative work, and the dynamics of traditional versus self-publishing.Click here to watch a video of this episode. To find his book and support his work: BOOK: https://compass.moretothat.comSITE: https://moretothat.comCHAPTERS00:38 The Journey of Self-Reflection01:12 Creativity and Connection06:38 The Nature of Creativity08:55 Success and Inner Fulfillment16:51 The Risk of Authenticity18:51 Self-Publishing Insights36:51 The Power of Short Books38:06 Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing39:58 Creative Intentions in Writing42:07 Overcoming Fear in Publishing Choices44:17 The Pathless Path: Choosing Your Journey47:48 The Next Book: Exploring Money and Identity52:05 Innovative Approaches to Book Launches 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

In this episode, I have a conversation with my friend Jack Moses. Three years ago, Jack emailed me after reading my book, declaring he was dropping out of college. Over time, I've been amazed by his life's actions, from embracing hustle culture to diving deep into spirituality. Recently, Jack led a retreat in Thailand, inspiring me with his courage and optimistic outlook. Join us as we discuss spiritual journeys, trusting our paths, and taking bold steps early in life.You can check out his podcast too(00:00) - Introduction to Jack Moses (00:54) - Jack's Journey: From Hustle to Spirituality (01:14) - Meeting in Chiang Mai (02:52) - The Impact of Travel (07:34) - Returning to School for Football (08:18) - Navigating the Real World vs. School (16:02) - The Challenges of Hustle Culture (19:20) - Writing and Creativity (23:42) - Spirituality and Personal Growth (31:53) - Human Design and Life Strategies (40:22) - Launching the Hardcover Version (41:23) - Living in Mexico During COVID (43:28) - The Pathless Path and Finding Flow (44:25) - Balancing Work and Family (45:24) - Exploring Synchronicity and Consciousness (46:53) - The Journey of Writing and Creativity (52:11) - Navigating Relationships and Freedom (01:09:22) - The Decision to Move to Asia (01:11:37) - Publishing and Creative Independence (01:13:16) - Final Reflections and Gratitude 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

Personal updates about life, including his recent move back to Asia, reflections on work and career paths, parenting experiences, and insights into education and self-publishing. I share the challenges and joys of parenting, how I think about decisions in regards to kids, and evolving thoughts on publishing and creative projects.Topics00:00 Introduction and Life Updates05:32 Reflections on Career Paths and Work Culture08:43 Family Relocation and Adjustments11:06 Traveling with Children: Tips and Experiences14:40 Advice for New Parents17:34 Approach to Education for Children20:33 Self-Publishing Journey and Future Projects 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

Hello! I'm back! Expect a slow ramp, but there are new episodes coming!I talked with Nat Eliason about his journey as a writer, from early experiments with ideas to fully embracing writing as a career. We discussed the challenges and rewards of moving from nonfiction to fiction, the trade-offs between traditional and self-publishing, and the importance of audience engagement. We also explored how AI is impacting writing, strategies for gathering feedback, and fiction’s role in addressing societal issues. Nat closed by sharing his vision for the future of his writing and the opportunities ahead.Links & book info!Husk Special Direct Sale: Buy here or https://shop.nateliason.com/products/huskHusk on Amazon: Buy here or hereMore of Nat's stuff: His Website and newsletter 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

Links:PodcastBlake BolesDirtbag Rich Site: https://www.blakeboles.com/dbr/Episode DesriptionPaul Millerd is a 39-year-old writer, ex-consultant, and advocate for ditching the default path in favor of what he calls “the pathless path.” (pmillerd.com / @p_millerd)Paul walked away from a promising corporate consulting career—think McKinsey, prestige, and six-figure salaries—to pursue a life of writing, experimenting, and global wandering. He describes how he initially struggled with unlearning his achievement-oriented mindset, why the idea of good work (work that energizes) became his guiding principle, and how his first self-published book, The Pathless Path, briefly and unexpectedly earned six figures.We discuss the philosophical basis of work and money, how to avoid the traps of both scarcity and overachievement, and how the value of exercising your freedom is limited by how others exercise their own freedom. (In other words: if you're free to hike on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, and no one's available to go with you, are you really free?)Paul and his wife have a young daughter, and they struggle to find and live near other, like-minded families. We talk about how online communities help Paul stay connected while living nomadically between Texas and Taiwan and how online self-education was invaluable to his success. We conclude with a discussion of navigating fear and uncertainty on the pathless path.Throughout the conversation, Paul stays refreshingly honest about the tensions between freedom and stability, the allure of easy money, and the ever-present temptation to fall back into old habits of achievement and validation. Energized by this conversation, I ended up talking more than usual about the tricky balance of factors that leads to a Dirtbag Rich existence. 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

This was a fun episode. A friend, Matt Yao, reached out to see if he could interview me about my recent book, Good Work.We first connected when he called me in the summer of 2022. He was in the middle of my book and knew he needed to quit his job. Over the last few years, he's been on a transformational journey, experimenting with writing, coaching, and several other side quests.Hope you enjoy this conversation.You can learn more about Matt here: Matt Yao 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

You can follow Abel's podcast here: Abel James Show 📘 GOOD WORK: LIVE! => Learn More📕 Buy Paul’s Book (50k+ Sold): The Pathless Path😁 Join Hundreds On Unconventional Paths: Pathless Path Community📲Connect + Follow PaulTwitter: @p_millerdInstagram: @pathlesspaulPaul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (23k+ People)Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:Accounting, Taxes, And Payroll For Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): CollectiveLooking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out CrowdhealthI use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours HereI record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here

Check out and purchase Good Work here: https://pmillerd.com/goodwork Or from Amazon directly: https://amzn.to/4gwRSCN