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How to Live an Asymmetric Life

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Summary

Graham Weaver, a professional investor and former Stanford Graduate School of Business student, discusses the power of asymmetry, which he has applied to his life and career. He encourages people to do hard things, do their thing, do it for decades, and write their story, in order to live an asymmetric life. He also explains the importance of getting comfortable being uncomfortable and taking risks, despite potential suffering, in order to achieve success. He advises people to ask for what they want and to not play small.

Q&As

What is the main topic of Graham Weaver's Last Lecture for the Stanford Graduate School of Business Class of 2023?
The main topic of Graham Weaver's Last Lecture for the Stanford Graduate School of Business Class of 2023 is how to live an asymmetric life.

What is the principle of asymmetry and where can it be applied?
The principle of asymmetry can be applied to investing and other areas of life. It involves seeking opportunities where the possibility of gains wildly outweighs what you can lose, which is typically capped at 1x your investment.

What are the four principles of living an asymmetric life according to Graham Weaver?
The four principles of living an asymmetric life according to Graham Weaver are: Do hard things, Do your thing, Do it for decades, and Write your story.

What role does fear play in achieving success in life according to Graham Weaver?
Fear is a master manipulator according to Graham Weaver and it will hold you back in life. The four principles of an asymmetric life are the antidote to fear.

What is the outcome of embracing the four principles of an asymmetric life?
The outcome of embracing the four principles of an asymmetric life is living a life with joy, energy, and meaning that can be sustained for decades.

AI Comments

👍 I really appreciate the wisdom Graham Weaver shares in this article. It is inspiring to read about how he overcame his fear and achieved success.

👎 The article is a bit long and can be hard to follow at times.

AI Discussion

Me: It's an article about how to live an Asymmetric Life by Graham Weaver. He talks about investing principles, but also how the same principles can be applied to other aspects of life. He talks about four principles of an asymmetric life: Do Hard Things, Do Your Thing, Do It For Decades, and Write Your Story.

Friend: That sounds really interesting. What do you think the implications of this article are?

Me: I think the main implication is that if we want to live an asymmetrical life, we need to be willing to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and be willing to take risks. Doing hard things is necessary to make progress. We also need to be true to ourselves and focus on doing something we are passionate about, rather than something we think is "safe". Doing it for decades is also important – it takes time to become an expert and build up skill and knowledge. Finally, we need to write our own story – focus on what we want, rather than letting fear dictate our choices.

Action items

Take the time to write your own story. Think about what you want your life to look like in five years and write it down.
Identify something that you fear and make a plan to face it head-on.
Commit to doing something for the long-term. Pick a goal and make a plan to work on it for at least a decade.

Technical terms

Stanford Graduate School of Business: The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, California.
Last Lecture: A lecture given by a professor or other academic at the end of their career, in which they share their life lessons and advice.
Asymmetric Life: A life lived with the goal of seeking opportunities where the possibility of gains wildly outweighs what you can lose.
Graham Weaver: The speaker of the Last Lecture, a professional investor and CEO of Alpine Investors.