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The James Altucher Show

432 - Will Shortz: Proof that You Can Create Your Own Career Path & Keep Your Brain in Shape

The James Altucher Show

James Altucher

Education, Business

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2019

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

"You're the most disappointing guest ever," I said. "You've done everything you've ever wanted to do, you rose to the top..." Will Shortz is the crossword puzzle editor for "The New York Times." And he took probably the strangest path I've ever heard to get there... he figured out how to be in control of his career, do what he loves and make it all up as he goes along. This episode is going to give you tips to keep your brain young, smart and it'll also give you ideas about out the box careers.    I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.    Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify   Follow me on Social Media: YouTube Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This isn't your average business podcast and he's not your average host.

0:06.4

This is the James Altiger Show.

0:09.4

Today on the James Altiger Show.

0:15.5

So I want to ask you more about the dynamics of Crossword puzzles, but just a lot of people

0:21.8

when they're in eighth grade or seventh grade like games and like puzzles and things.

0:27.7

Boy, this would be great if I could just play games for rest of my life.

0:31.4

And then somehow society takes over and says, no, you need to be a lawyer.

0:35.9

You need to be an accountant.

0:37.3

You need to be an engineer.

0:38.3

Somebody has to do those things.

0:39.7

Right, but how did you say, nah, I even went to college.

0:44.2

You studied enigma, you made up your degree.

0:48.3

You convinced the school to create a degree about puzzles.

0:53.8

And then you're the only person who got a bachelor's degree in enigma, etology.

0:58.1

And you were smart for not calling it puzzles.

1:00.7

You made up like a more academic name for it.

1:03.4

I don't know how you found the name enigma, etology, but let's say someone's listening to this

1:08.0

and they're 50 and they're thinking themselves, man, I've been going to work at this job.

1:13.2

I really don't like for the past 25 years.

1:16.7

And I want to do what I think is really fun.

1:19.6

Maybe I want to write comic books where I want to make music or I want to solve puzzles

1:23.8

and do cross-rules.

...

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