Arianna Huffington: I Was Lying In A Little Pool Of Blood! The Huffington Post, A $1 Billion 'Flop'!

Aug 22, 2024 1h 49m 29 insights
Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and Thrive Global, shares her journey from burnout to advocating for well-being as a key to success. She discusses overcoming fear, the importance of self-care, and building a fulfilling life.
Actionable Insights

1. Founders: Prioritize Self-Care

As a founder or leader, prioritize your own well-being and avoid depletion, as scientific evidence shows that being exhausted leads to poor decision-making.

2. Focus on Five Daily Behaviors

Prioritize five daily behaviors—sleep, healthy food, movement/exercise, stress management, and connection (to self and others)—as they are more critical to health and longevity than genes or medical care.

3. Implement Micro-Steps for Change

Achieve behavior change by breaking down goals into “micro-steps” that are too small to fail, building a sense of success and avoiding the shame of abandoned resolutions.

4. Utilize 60-Second Resets

Implement 60-90 second “resets” (e.g., conscious breathing, gratitude, favorite images/music) throughout the day to quickly shift from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system, avoiding cumulative stress.

5. Sleep for Decision Quality

Aim for adequate sleep (e.g., 8 hours) to ensure high-quality decision-making, understanding that quality trumps quantity of work.

6. Practice Forgiveness

Actively work to give up grudges and resentments, as the science of forgiveness shows it significantly lowers stress and cholesterol levels, improving physical and mental health.

7. Master Delegation

Learn to delegate tasks, even if others only perform them 60% as well initially, because it frees you to focus on higher-order tasks and allows others to learn and grow.

8. Avoid Tired Hiring & Trust Gut

When hiring, never interview when tired to avoid making hasty decisions, and always trust your instincts if something feels wrong, even if the resume looks good.

9. Integrate Recovery into Workload

Understand that intense work periods are sometimes necessary, but always follow them with dedicated “Thrive time” for immediate recharging to prevent burnout and maintain performance.

10. Overcome Fear of Failure

Take bold moves by overcoming the fear of rejection and failure, recognizing that anything ambitious involves risk.

11. View Failure as Stepping Stone

Don’t be afraid of failing because it’s not the opposite of success, but rather a stepping stone towards it.

12. Process Negative Emotions Fully

Instead of developing a “thick skin” or spiritual bypassing, allow yourself to fully experience and feel negative emotions when upsetting things happen, then move on.

13. Manage Negative Self-Talk & Ruminating

Learn to manage negative self-talk and rumination by acknowledging mistakes, learning from them, and moving on quickly to stay present for the next opportunity.

14. Prioritize Joy in Achievement

Make joy a barometer for your work; if you’re productive but lack joy, it signals something is off and needs recalibration.

15. Embrace Daily New Beginnings

Start each morning with a sense of fresh beginnings, letting go of the burdens of the previous day to approach new challenges with renewed perspective and joy.

16. Disconnect to Reconnect

Intentionally disconnect from work to fully connect with yourself and loved ones, as this practice provides perspective and ultimately enhances job performance.

17. Cultivate Self-Knowledge

Build a strong connection to your inner self and wisdom, as “knowing thyself” prevents being swayed by external fads and strengthens trust in your own decisions.

18. Commit Fully to Plan A

Dedicate yourself entirely to your primary plan (Plan A) rather than keeping a Plan B open, which can dilute focus and commitment.

19. Embrace Emerging Technologies

Lean into new technologies and trends, even when others are skeptical or critical, to innovate and adapt to changing landscapes.

20. Leverage Strategic Partnerships

Prioritize strategic partnerships to achieve speed and first-mover advantage, especially when expanding, as it’s difficult to do everything alone.

21. Conduct Entry Interviews

On an employee’s first day, have managers conduct a brief “entry interview” asking what’s important to them outside of work and how the company can support it, fostering intimacy and connection.

22. Embrace Compassionate Directness

Foster a culture of “compassionate directness” where employees are encouraged to speak up about problems or dissatisfaction, preventing issues from festering and enabling quicker solutions.

23. Celebrate Small Victories

Don’t wait only for major breakthroughs; celebrate small victories along the way to maintain momentum and morale.

24. Trust a Benevolent Universe

Cultivate a deep trust that you live in a benevolent universe where life is on your side, and everything that happens, even difficult events, has a reason and purpose.

25. Practice Fearlessness as Muscle

Understand that fearlessness isn’t the absence of fear, but the act of proceeding with what you believe is right despite being afraid, like exercising a muscle.

26. Embrace Lifelong Creation

It’s never too late to launch new ventures or achieve significant goals, as demonstrated by launching companies at 55, 66, and 74.

27. Avoid External Validation & Fantasies

Don’t seek constant external approval or indulge in “negative fantasies” (imagining the worst future outcomes), as these are depleting and often unfounded.

28. Foster a Giving Culture

Encourage employees to give back to society (e.g., through volunteering) as it contributes to their fulfillment and can increase job retention.

29. Sell Too Soon, Not Too Late

When making business decisions like selling a company, err on the side of selling “too soon” rather than waiting too long.