Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko — The Tim Ferriss Show

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• Tim Ferriss introduces the episode's sponsors: Shopify and Eight Sleep.
• Shopify is an all-in-one commerce platform that powers millions of businesses worldwide.
• Eight Sleep is a company that produces the Pod, a mattress cover that can automatically cool or warm each side of the bed.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, a former bodybuilder, actor, and politician, and Ann Miura-Ko, a venture capitalist and co-founder of Floodgate, are the guests on this episode.
• Tim Ferriss asks Arnold Schwarzenegger about his early life and career.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about his childhood in Austria, his bodybuilding career, and his transition to acting.
• Ann Miura-Ko talks about her background in finance and her decision to co-found Floodgate.
• Floodgate is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies.
• Ann Miura-Ko discusses the importance of investing in startups.
• She believes that startups are the key to economic growth and innovation.
• She also talks about the challenges of investing in startups, such as the high risk of failure.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about his experience investing in startups.
• He says that he is attracted to startups that have a strong team, a clear vision, and a scalable business model.
• He also talks about the importance of being patient when investing in startups.

Notes about this supercombo format. (4m24s)

• This episode is a two-for-one special celebrating the podcast's 10th anniversary and surpassing 1 billion downloads.
• Curated selection of the best and favorite episodes from over 700 episodes in the last decade.
• Aim to introduce lesser-known individuals who have had a transformative impact, alongside famous guests.
• Discover hidden gems that may have been missed due to busy news cycles or overlooked episodes.
• Carefully paired guests for these super combo episodes.
• Bios of all guests can be found at tim.blog/combo.

Enter Arnold Schwarzenegger. (5m27s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-born bodybuilder, actor, businessman, philanthropist, and former 38th Governor of California.
• Notable film roles include Total Recall, True Lies, Twins, and the Terminator franchise.
• Also a best-selling author of "Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life."
• Find Arnold on Twitter and Instagram @Schwarzenegger.
• Join over half a million subscribers to his newsletter, Pump Club, at arnoldspumpclub.com.

Where did Arnold develop his cast iron confidence? (6m1s)

• Arnold's confidence came from his clear vision of winning the Mr. Universe competition.
• He visualized himself on stage, winning the trophy, and being idolized by bodybuilders and spectators.
• This vision inspired him to push himself during training and go all out in competitions.
• Arnold traveled to Stuttgart, Germany, for the Junior Mr. Europe competition by taking a slow train, as he didn't have much money.
• He didn't have a passport because it was surrendered during his military service, but he managed to get through customs.
• Arnold was determined to win the competition and saw it as an opportunity to make his first entry into an international competition.
• He believed he could win and exuded confidence during the pose-off, making his competitors feel inferior.

Mastering the psychological warfare of bodybuilding. (9m31s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger believes that bodybuilding and life involve psychological warfare.
• While working as a gym trainer in Munich, he discovered people's vulnerabilities and used them to his advantage during competitions.
• Schwarzenegger would point out perceived flaws in his competitors' physiques, causing them to doubt themselves.
• He believed that mental strength and psychology are more important than physical attributes in sports.
• Schwarzenegger developed an arsenal of mental strategies to overcome challenges and achieve success.

Transferring this skill set to Hollywood. (14m14s)

• Never auditioned for regular parts due to his unique appearance.
• Envisioned carving out a unique niche for himself in the movie industry.
• Faced skepticism from producers, agents, and managers who believed his muscular physique was outdated for the time.
• Stayed persistent and believed in his vision.
• Gained recognition through talk show appearances, leading to opportunities in movies.
• Landed the role in Conan the Barbarian, a $20 million movie, and later in Terminator, where his unique qualities became assets.
• His distinct appearance and voice were crucial to the success of these roles.

On making millions before becoming a movie star. (17m29s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger became a millionaire through real estate investments before his acting career took off.
• He saved money from bodybuilding, seminars, and mail-order courses to invest in real estate.
• He took advantage of the high inflation rate in the 70s to make significant profits on his investments.
• He traded up his buildings in Baltimore and Santa Monica, making 300% returns on his investments.
• Schwarzenegger attributes his success to a combination of smart investments and favorable market conditions.
• Schwarzenegger's acting career took off after the success of Conan the Barbarian in 1982.
• He signed contracts for Conan II, Terminator I, and Commando, which led to a successful action movie career.
• His salary increased significantly, from $1 million for Terminator II to $20 million by the end of the decade.

Playing good bricklayer/bad bricklayer with Franco Columbu. (20m4s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbo started a bricklaying and masonry business in Los Angeles called "Europe in Brick Layers and Masonry Experts" due to financial difficulties in the bodybuilding industry.
• The 1971 Los Angeles earthquake increased demand for their services, and they employed other bodybuilders interested in outdoor work and getting a tan for their competitions.
• Schwarzenegger played the "good guy" during negotiations, providing estimates and calculations, while Columbo acted as the "bad guy," arguing in German to give the impression of a tough negotiation.
• Schwarzenegger also started a successful mail-order business as a new source of extra income, which allowed him to afford everything he needed and save money.
• He has been inspired by Ann Miura-Ko's approach to business.

How Twins came together. (24m57s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger felt he had a humorous side that could be brought out in a movie.
• He approached Ivan Reitman, director of Ghostbusters, who agreed to work with him.
• Schwarzenegger and Reitman developed several ideas, with the best one being called "The Experiment", later renamed "Twins".
• Danny DeVito was chosen as Schwarzenegger's co-star, and they agreed to make the movie for free in exchange for a large back-end percentage.
• The studio, Universal Studios, agreed to the deal and the movie was made for $18 million.
• "Twins" was a huge success, grossing $129 million domestically and $260 million worldwide.
• Schwarzenegger made more money from "Twins" than any other movie.

Meditation as one of many answers. (29m30s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger used Transcendental Meditation in the 1970s to manage his anxieties and pressures, finding it effective in disconnecting his mind and rejuvenating himself.
• Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of focusing on one challenge at a time and discovered that different forms of meditation, such as intense study followed by a jazz break or concentrating on his muscles during workouts, can provide renewed energy and focus.
• Meditation helps Schwarzenegger stay calm, organized, and tranquil.
• AG1 is a science-driven nutritional supplement that supports whole-body health, including the brain, gut, and immune system.
• AG1 is a convenient daily supplement that can be taken on the go, and with a subscription purchase, customers receive a free one-year supply of vitamin D and five free AG1 travel packs.

Enter Ann-Miura Ko. (36m3s)

• Ann Miura-Ko is a partner at Floodgate Venture Capital firm.
• She is a repeat member of both the Forbes Midas list and the New York Times top 20 Venture capitalists worldwide.
• She is one of Forbes most powerful women in startups.
• She is a Stanford lecturer and a member of the Board of Trustees of Yale University.
• Her Twitter handle is @annmiurako.

Ann's childhood shyness. (36m30s)

• Ann was painfully shy as a child.
• She would refuse to speak on stage when performing on the piano.
• Her brother would help announce her performances.
• She felt fine playing the piano but petrified speaking in front of people.

The Japanese phrase Ann used as a hostile kid in Michigan. (38m30s)

• Ann was a hostile child who spoke only Japanese when she was young.
• She would walk by people speaking English and say "I wish you would leave" in Japanese.
• She still speaks Japanese to her parents.
• The Japanese phrase she used was "uru" which means "shut up".

How Ann overcame introversion. (40m36s)

• Ann was introverted and shy as a child.
• She took a negotiations class at a community college when she was 10 years old and had a positive experience speaking up in that environment.
• She joined the speech and debate team in high school and continued to participate despite not winning any tournaments in her first two years.

Ann's first solo stage speech. (43m29s)

• Ann joined the speech and debate team in high school.
• She was terrible at it at first and didn't win any tournaments in her freshman or sophomore year.

Why Ann continued with speech and debate. (44m38s)

• Ann enjoyed the people she met in speech and debate.
• She found the topics they discussed interesting.
• She wanted to improve her public speaking skills.

Ann's love for competition. (45m33s)

• Ann enjoyed competition and always wanted to win.
• She was motivated by rewards like pizza for making someone cry during cross-examination in debate competitions.
• Ann's tenacity in cross-examination often resulted in opponents crying and leaving the room.

Ann's extreme efforts for pizza. (47m10s)

• Ann recalls multiple instances where opponents cried and left the room during cross-examination, earning her pizza from her coaches.
• She was known for her persistence in cross-examination, even when opponents were clearly defeated.
• Ann's son once proudly told her that he could make people cry with his words, which she had to correct.

The catalyst for Ann's debate improvement. (49m13s)

• Ann Miura-Ko had two years of unsuccessful debate performances in high school.
• Despite her parents' support, they expressed concern about her losing record and suggested she switch to fencing to improve her chances of getting into a good college.
• Ann decided to dedicate the summer before her junior year to improving her debate skills.
• Without the internet, she studied philosophy books and researched potential debate topics at the Stanford Green Library.
• Ann's hard work paid off when she started winning debate tournaments in her junior year.
• Ann realized that success in debate was not about luck but about preparation and hard work.
• She made a deal with her parents that if she didn't win one of her first two tournaments, she would quit debating.
• Ann felt confident in her preparation and believed she could out-argue her opponents.
• She placed in her first tournament and continued to succeed in subsequent tournaments.

Debate competition format. (53m17s)

• Lincoln Douglas style of debate:
  • One-on-one debate.
  • Value-based, focusing on philosophical underpinnings.
• Example debate topics:
  • Principle of majority rule vs. minority rights.
  • Education as a privilege or a right.
• Debaters must prepare arguments for both affirmative and negative sides.
• Format:
  • Affirmative presents arguments and undergoes cross-examination.
  • Negative presents arguments and refutes affirmative's arguments.
  • Cross-examination of negative by affirmative.
  • Rebuttals from both sides.
  • Closing arguments.
• Outcome determination:
  • Varies based on tournament.
  • Parent judges consider style and humor.
  • College student or experienced coaches as judges focus on logical arguments.
  • Single judge or panel of judges vote individually.
• Parent judges:
  • Consider style, humor, and overall presentation.
• College student or experienced coach judges:
  • Focus on logical arguments and refutations.

Ann's recommended resources for improving debate skills. (57m12s)

• Ann recommends the book "Getting to Yes" for learning about negotiation and conflict resolution.
• She also suggests reading philosophical texts that use the Socratic method, such as works by Aristotle and Socrates.
• Ann finds presidential debates to be ineffective because they lack real conflict and engagement.
• She recommends observing debates in the British parliamentary system as an example of a more productive debate format.
• Ann suggests taking a controversial topic and reading literature from both sides of the argument to understand the nuances and conflicts.

Observations on modern debate in politics and family. (1h0m12s)

• Ann discusses various tactics used in heated arguments, including:
  • Using phrases like "check your facts" to create doubt and imbalance in the opponent's argument.
  • Lawyers' technique of restating an argument in a slightly distorted way to lead the opponent to contradict themselves.
• Ann finds these tactics interesting and effective, despite their potential drawbacks.

The most important lesson from Ann's debating years. (1h2m17s)

• Life is not a debate and it's not about winning the argument or being right.
• People tend to have an inner dialogue where they're right and come up with arguments to prove others wrong instead of listening.
• Debate helps develop the ability to see both sides of an argument and understand why the opposing side might be valid.
• Empathy for people with different views is lacking in today's world, leading to a focus on winning arguments rather than seeking truth.
• Shouting down people and trying to convince them of being right doesn't work. Developing empathy creates bridges, commonality, and opportunities for collaboration.

Differences between debate and negotiation. (1h5m6s)

• Negotiation is not about proving you're right, but about achieving outcomes and arriving at desired results.
• Negotiation involves considering factors like the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA), walkway power, and options.
• In the real world, the goal is to get someone to concede and agree to terms, not just to prove you're right.
• Negotiation is about manifesting outcomes or damage control, rather than being a "truth winner."

Ann's father's journey to America and favorite phrase. (1h7m9s)

• Ann's father grew up in Tokyo during World War II and witnessed the firebombing of the city.
• He escaped to the countryside and returned to Tokyo for high school.
• After his father passed away, he tutored kids to support his family and siblings.
• He excelled academically and attended Tokyo University and Toshiba.
• A friend who had gone to Princeton and worked at IBM encouraged him to come to the US.
• Despite being the eldest son with responsibilities, he eventually went to the US with his mother's support.
• He learned English, earned a PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and became a postdoc and associate professor in California.
• He was dedicated to his work and would often bring work home and continue working late into the night.
• He constantly pushed Ann to strive for excellence and asked if her efforts were truly the best she could do.

Ann's world-class effort in menial job tasks. (1h10m45s)

• Ann had a work-study job in the office of the dean of engineering during college.
• Her father advised her to do a "world-class job" even though the tasks were menial.
• Ann took pride in her work and strived to do everything as well as possible.
• She paid attention to details such as making crisp copies, using a label writer, and getting fresh donuts.
• Ann felt a sense of ownership and took pride in her work, even though it was a "grunt job."
• Ann believes that luck can be created by setting the right conditions.
• She views her attention to detail and ownership of her work as precursors to luck.
• By taking pride in her work, Ann increased the likelihood of positive outcomes.

How a Yale tour led to shadowing a CEO. (1h13m31s)

• Ann Miura-Ko was a junior at Yale, working in the office of the Dean of Engineering, Alan Bromley.
• One day, Bromley asked Miura-Ko to give a tour of the engineering facilities to a friend of his.
• The friend turned out to be Lou Platt, the CEO of Hewlett Packard.
• Miura-Ko spent two weeks shadowing Platt during spring break, gaining valuable insights into the life of a CEO.
• She met Ann Livermore, an executive at Hewlett Packard, and was inspired by her as a female role model.
• Miura-Ko credits Bromley for recognizing her potential and opening up opportunities for her.
• Miura-Ko describes mentorship as having many different forms and examples.
• She highlights Lou Platt's mentorship as an incredible example, as he never asked for her resume or GPA but saw something in her and provided her with an opportunity.
• Miura-Ko emphasizes the importance of mentorship in helping individuals realize their potential, as no one had ever described anything to her before this experience.
• She credits this mentorship with changing her life and inspiring her to pursue a career in business.

Ann's first job experience. (1h18m52s)

• Ann's first job was helping her uncle and grandmother sell office supplies in Kanazawa, Japan.
• Kanazawa is a beautiful city that was protected by historians in World War II and has a historic Japanese garden called Kenrokuen.
• Ann used to man the cashier register at the office supply store and became knowledgeable about pens, notebooks, and stamps.

Ann's favorite office supplies. (1h20m36s)

• Ann's favorite pen is the Juice Up 0.4, which is a super thin pen available on Amazon.
• Her favorite notebook is the Nuuna, a European brand with dot matrix paper.
• Ann is particular about her office supplies and is willing to pay more for European-sounding brands with repeating vowels.

Ann's cherished personal artifacts. (1h21m48s)

• Ann has the original Lyft pink mustache that used to go in the front of the cars.
• She also has a picture and a set of laser-etched metal plates that students gave her from the class of 2013 Mayfield Fellows group at Stanford.
• The metal plates have words like "thunder lizard," "badass," "inspiring," and "mother" etched on them.

Ann's experience teaching Mayfield Fellows at Stanford. (1h23m22s)

• Ann Miura-Ko taught Mayfield Fellows at Stanford for nine months each year since 2008.
• The program introduces juniors and seniors to entrepreneurship and leadership concepts within the startup ecosystem.
• Ann enjoys mentoring students and witnessing their career growth over the years.

A reading list and plans for Ann's Stanford startup class. (1h24m58s)

• Ann is starting a new class at Stanford called "Intelligent Growth."
• The class aims to identify and understand "fake growth" within startups.
• Case studies of companies like Qualtrics and Lyft will be used to illustrate intelligent growth.
• Ann emphasizes the importance of capital efficiency and product-market fit before seeking venture capital.
• She encourages hunting for "Thunder lizards," companies outside Silicon Valley that demonstrate intelligent growth.

Spotting artificial inflation in startup valuations. (1h28m21s)

• Harvard Business School case studies are used to teach students about business growth.
• Floodgate and Qualtrix are two case studies that are particularly valuable.
• People who have successfully grown businesses from zero to one and one to x are invited to speak about their experiences.
• It is important to be able to spot artificial inflation in startup valuations, such as when companies use paid acquisition to raise funding.
• Vanity metrics can also be misleading.
• Before making investment decisions, it is important to do research and read case studies to learn from the experiences of others.

Why Ann changed her career path from medicine. (1h31m45s)

• Ann initially wanted to be a doctor but realized she didn't enjoy being around sick people or dealing with constant complaints.
• She had a sudden realization while studying for the MCATs that she might not enjoy the actual job of being a doctor.
• Ann felt that the path to becoming a doctor was predictable but the work itself was not something she would love or enjoy.
• She decided to change her career path despite having taken all the required courses, except for biology.
• Ann's brother knew from a young age that he wanted to work with cars or airplanes and is now working with race cars in Germany.
• Ann took a different path and had multiple interests, including wanting to be a farmer at one point.
• She was on the premed track in college but realized during her sophomore year summer that she didn't enjoy hospitals or being around sick people.
• Ann discussed her concerns with her friend who was also studying to be a doctor, but her friend didn't understand why she was having doubts so close to the MCATs.
• Ann ultimately decided to change her major to electrical engineering, even though it required taking extra classes since the premed requirements didn't overlap much.

What Ann knew about herself that her parents and test scores didn't. (1h35m1s)

• Ann realized that her parents loved her but didn't truly know her capabilities and potential.
• Despite failing IQ tests and being placed in special education, Ann's mother believed in her giftedness and supported her.
• Ann understood that there's no external test for human potential and that she had to discover it within herself.
• She questioned whether she could be a great doctor like her friend Kathy and realized her strengths lay elsewhere.

Ann's entry into venture capital and startup investing. (1h39m11s)

• Growing up in Palo Alto, Ann was exposed to startups and entrepreneurship from a young age.
• She babysat for a serial entrepreneur and observed his work, which sparked an interest in working for herself.

An encounter with Steve Jobs. (1h39m45s)

• Lisa Brennan Jobs, a member of Arnold's debate team, was Steve Jobs' daughter.
• A friend introduced Arnold to Venture Capital while he was struggling to choose a career path.
• Arnold learned about the extensive work experience required for Venture Capital and spoke with former Yale venture capitalists.

A job offer based on shared interests. (1h40m56s)

• Arnold met venture capitalist Ted Dershowitz during his job search.
• In their interview, they discussed books, music, and other shared interests rather than technology or work experience.
• After two hours of conversation, Ted offered Arnold a job in Boston, which Arnold accepted due to his desire to work with Ted.
• Ted's unique networking style involved a deep curiosity about the individuals he met, allowing him to understand their interests and provide tailored advice.
• Arnold learned from Ted that networking is about genuine curiosity and understanding rather than superficial interactions.

Ann's experience at CRV during 9/11. (1h44m56s)

• Ann Miura-Ko started working at CRV on 9/11, during a time of economic downturn.
• Despite raising a $1.4 billion fund, CRV decided to reduce its fund size to $450 million due to the economic crisis.
• By shrinking the fund size, CRV also reduced its management fees, which demonstrated their commitment to entrepreneurs during difficult times.
• Ann learned how to guide companies through challenging economic periods and be a true partner to entrepreneurs.
• She believes that many people haven't experienced real economic cycles and may not be prepared for downturns.

The most expensive words in investing. (1h48m11s)

• Ann mentions a quote attributed to Sir John Templeton: "The most expensive words in investing are This Time It's Different."
• This quote highlights the tendency for investors to believe that current market conditions are unique and different from past experiences.
• Ann emphasizes the importance of understanding economic cycles and being prepared for downturns.

First principles thinking and common leadership decisions. (1h48m32s)

• The most difficult thing for a startup founder or CEO is witnessing multiple phase changes in a business.
• The fundamental job of a VP of marketing changes dramatically from the 0 to 1 phase to the 1 to X phase.
• A company is a multi-dimensional thing that includes product, organization, category, business model, and team.
• The skill set required to balance all these things and know when to change out talent or let go of a product is challenging for startup founders.

Winning strategy vs. strategy not to lose. (1h51m8s)

• A strategy not to lose is driven by fears of losing to competitors, losing talent, or losing revenue.
• A winning strategy focuses on doubling down, capturing ground, and playing offense rather than defense.
• Hedging, which is a manifestation of a defensive strategy, involves pursuing two very different customer segments or markets without fully committing to either.

Manifestations of hedging as a defensive strategy. (1h52m15s)

• Hedging can manifest itself in pursuing two very different customer segments, such as large enterprises and small medium businesses, without fully committing to either.
• This split focus leads to inefficiencies in sales, business model, product optimization, customer service, and team alignment.
• Hedging contributes to wasting resources and hinders the company's ability to win in the market.

The importance of focusing on your own race. (1h54m2s)

• Oprah's advice to her team: "race your own race" and focus on your own goals rather than competitors.
• Dan Gable, legendary wrestling coach, emphasizes the importance of aggression to win.
• Leaning forward while skiing is counterintuitive but gives more control and requires aggressiveness.

A need for aggressiveness to win. (1h56m3s)

• Aggressiveness is necessary for winning.
• Leaning forward while skiing is an example of how aggressiveness can lead to better results.

How Ann met Mike Maples, Jr. (1h56m54s)

• Ann met Mike Maples Jr. when he was a mentor for a class she was teaching at Stamford.
• Mike was mentoring a team of students who were creating business plans for their own version of a startup company.
• The team was having issues and one of the members started crying during Ann's office hours.
• Ann emailed Mike about the team's struggles, but he was dismissive and said they would get an A+.
• The team ended up turning it around and getting an A+ in the class.

Ann's PhD plans and shift to working with Mike. (1h59m42s)

• Ann was pursuing a PhD in computer security from 2003 to 2007.
• She realized the growing importance of computer security as it transitioned from vandalism to real crime and nation-state warfare.
• Ann's research focused on risk management in computer security.
• She considered starting her own company and sought advice from her advisors.
• Mike was one of the first angel investors Ann approached to learn about deal flow.
• In March 2008, Mike called Ann to offer her a position at his newly formed $35 million venture-backed startup, which she accepted.

Ann's reaction to Mike's unusual proposition. (2h2m28s)

• Ann was initially skeptical about Mike's proposition due to her lack of experience and the rarity of micro-cap venture capital firms at the time.
• She recognized the potential for change in the financing environment due to the emergence of open-source software, cloud computing, and shared resources.
• Ann was impressed by Mike's unique skill set in marketing, storytelling, positioning, and strategy, which she saw as complementary to her own engineering background.
• She was drawn to Mike's values and his genuine nature, which aligned with her own vision for building a firm and treating entrepreneurs.
• After a few months of consideration, Ann decided to join Mike's venture capital firm.

Ann's hectic first year at Floodgate. (2h6m56s)

• Ann joined Floodgate while having an 18-month-old child and became pregnant with her second child a few months later.
• She promised her mother to finish her Ph.D. and managed to do research, work at Floodgate, take care of her children, and complete her Ph.D. all between 2008 and 2009.
• Despite the challenges, Ann considers this period to be the most creative and productive time of her life.

Ann's real first name. (2h8m57s)

• Ann's real first name is not Ann, but she did not disclose her real name in the podcast.
• Her mother refers to her as "o i," which means "awesome" or "impressive" in Chinese.

Ann's struggles and coping mechanisms. (2h9m37s)

• Ann Miura-Ko shares her struggles and difficult times.
• She questions her abilities as a mother and worries about not being able to fulfill all her responsibilities.
• She recalls an incident with her nosy Japanese neighbor who criticized her for not doing the dishes.
• Ann describes her struggles with standardized tests and feeling average or below average in many areas.
• She learned to tune out the naysayers and focus on the things she could be great at.
• Ann shares her experience pursuing a PhD in math at Stanford.
• She felt overwhelmed by the material and the brilliance of her classmates.
• She had moments of self-doubt and questioned her abilities as an academic.
• Attending conferences and comparing herself to other PhD students helped boost her confidence.
• Ann realized that she could excel in areas that utilized her unique skill sets.
• She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and doubling down on one's strengths.
• Ann's career path reflects her journey of self-discovery rather than a predetermined plan.

Ann's superpowers. (2h15m12s)

• Ann's technical capabilities allow her to understand math-related concepts better than most investors.
• She can identify companies with promising technology and assess their potential for growth.
• Ann has a good sense of the people dynamics within an organization and can identify potential issues.
• She enjoys analyzing fundamental data and cohort analysis to gain insights into a business.

Thunder lizards and Ann's pursuit of them. (2h19m0s)

• "Thunder lizards" are entrepreneurs who are like Godzilla, born from something fundamentally different and causing disruption in their industries.
• Ann is interested in finding new "thunder lizards" in the areas of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and biotech.
• She believes that these areas have the potential for significant disruption and growth.

Ann's view on AI and machine learning's impact. (2h20m36s)

• AI and machine learning will disrupt enterprise software by making it more intelligent and providing insights that were previously unavailable.
• Traditional financial planning methods may become obsolete as AI can automatically generate budgets based on historical data and external factors.
• The scientific method may be outdated as there is now an abundance of data, leading to a shift from hypothesis-driven research to data-driven analysis.
• There is a debate between centralized systems (e.g., AI, cloud computing) and decentralized software (e.g., cryptocurrency).
• Exciting developments are expected in autonomous vehicles and the technology required for their operation.

Philosophy exercises and real-world applications. (2h23m27s)

• Philosophical thought exercises, such as the trolley problem, become directly applicable in programming for autonomous vehicles, with real-world consequences.
• There is a need for transparency and auditability of AI algorithms, especially in high-stakes situations involving lives or significant financial risks.
• New technologies are emerging to enable auditing and understanding of AI decision-making processes.
• Careful consideration and regulation are required to address the challenges and opportunities presented by these advancements.

Aligning collective and self-interests in problem-solving. (2h25m6s)

• Private sector is capable of solving societal problems like energy, health, and waste management.
• Entrepreneurship can address significant societal issues while building successful businesses.
• Collective and self-interests can be aligned, with a history of private sector technologies and companies solving public problems.

Books Ann has gifted or reread most. (2h27m24s)

• What School Could Be by Ted Dent Smith:
  • Explores education as a critical societal issue and highlights successful teaching methods from schools across the US.
  • Inspires hope and encourages change in the public school education system.
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini:
  • A beautifully written fiction book set in Afghanistan.
  • Provides insight into the country's history and the role of women within it.
  • Offers a unique and eye-opening perspective.

A recent, game-changing purchase under $100. (2h29m25s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger recently purchased a foldable chair for under $100 that has greatly improved his experience at his daughter's soccer tournaments.
• The chair has a flip-over sunshade that provides shade and protection from the sun.
• He highly recommends the chair and suggests that Tim Ferriss include a link to it in the show notes.

Ann's billboard. (2h30m44s)

• If Ann Miura-Ko had a giant billboard, she would use it to display the message "Find your world-class life."
• She believes that everyone is capable of achieving a world-class life, but often forgets this potential.
• She emphasizes that the definition of a world-class life is unique to each individual and celebrates the diversity of human potential.

The meaning of Ann's Japanese name characters. (2h31m35s)

• Ann Miura-Ko's Japanese name characters mean "small round bell."
• Her parents originally intended to give her a name that meant "beautiful child" or "genius child," but upon seeing her round face at birth, they decided on the name that reflected her appearance.
• Ann contrasts her name with the more ambitious names of her friends, such as "super intelligent world-class dominating dictator for life CEO child."

Ann's online presence and Floodgate's name origin. (2h32m35s)

• Ann Miura-Ko's Twitter handle is @Animaniac.
• Her Instagram handle is @amimura.
• Floodgate's website is floodgate.com.
• Floodgate's name symbolizes being at the forefront of innovation.
• Floodgate's name represents being at the forefront of innovation.
• It was chosen because it sounded big and audacious.

Parting thoughts. (2h35m14s)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of effort and preparation for success, even without natural talent.
• Tim Ferriss shares his "Five Bullet Friday" newsletter, providing interesting articles, books, gadgets, and discoveries every Friday.
• Tim Ferriss promotes the Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra, a mattress cover that can automatically adjust temperature and an adjustable base for comfort.
• Tim Ferriss recommends Shopify, an all-in-one e-commerce platform used by millions of businesses worldwide, including his own coffee brand, Cockpunch Coffee.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko were guests on The Tim Ferriss Show.