Read This Next #1: The Third Door by Alex Banayan
The Third Door mindset is simply phenomenal. Allow me to inspire you to take up this incredible book. Truly, a joy to read.
Hey there! Hope you’re having a wonderful Winter.
I recently picked this book up and have been absolutely entranced.
I think this book is the most precise depiction of what entrepreneurial discipline and hustle look like.
As the self-proclaimed CEO of reliability, I certify reading this book as being one of the most relatable journeys. An incredible page-turner you do not wanna miss!
Even if this post makes me look like a complete fanboy of the book: seriously, read it.
About Alex
ALEX BANAYAN is the youngest bestselling business author in American history. He has been named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and Business Insider’s “Most Powerful People Under 30”.
He is a fantastic writer, author, and human being. He truly has inspired me to find and create my journey for success in life!
What is The Third Door analogy?
In Alex’s own words:
While on the surface you know Maya Angelou and Steve Wozniak might be completely different, but at the core of their stories, they are the exact same and there's almost this common melody to it.
The analogy that came to me is that they treat life, business and success just like a nightclub.
There are always three ways in.
There's the first door where 99% of people wait in line hoping to get in.
Then there's the second door, the VIP entrance where the billionaires and the celebrities go through. The school has this way of making you feel like those are the only two ways in; you either wait your turn or you're born into it.
What I've learnt is that there's always, always a third door. It's the entrance where you jump out of line, run down the alley bang on the door a 100 times, crack open the window and go through the kitchen.
There's always a way in and it doesn't matter if that's how bill gates sold his first piece of software or how Lady Gaga got her first record deal, they all took the third door.
The Third Door is when people decide to take a different path in life and try multiple methods to get inside. The book is filled with people who took the Third Door.
The Journey, The Story
How many of us face a “What do I wanna do with my life?” crisis on a regular basis?
Alex’s journey starts exactly there. Imagine young Alex, in a college dorm room, looking at the ceiling, wondering how to achieve success.
Alex hacked his way onto the show “Price is Right”, used the earnings to travel the world trying to interview some of the most successful people, including Warren Buffet, Larry Page, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Steve Wozniak, Maya Angelou and Bill Gates.
As a teenager, Alex wanted to create a university where Bill Gates would teach Business, Lady Gaga would teach Music, Larry Page would teach Broadcasting and Warren Buffet would teach Investing. Alex wanted all of them to come together just to share their wisdom with the next generation. Imagine how much young people could do with those mentors. One generation’s hindsight could be another generation’s foresight.
So he set out on a long journey to interview some of the most successful people in the world…and that’s exactly what this book contains.
Without giving away too much, here are some things which makes this book totally worth it.
Tim Ferris
How Alex met Tim Ferris is a brilliant story. A story of persistence.
Alex was introduced to the method of cold calling and cold emailing. Here’s an example of Tim Ferris’s template:
Dear So-and-So,
I know you’re really busy and that you get a lot of emails, so this will only take sixty seconds to read.
[Here is where you say who you are: add one or two lines that establish your credibility.]
[Here is where you ask your very specific question.]
I totally understand if you’re too busy to respond, but even a one- or two-line reply would really make my day.
All the best,
Tim
Warren Buffet
Alex once sent a shoe to Warren Buffet’s assistant alongside a note which said: “just trying to get my foot in the door”.
The incredible tale of how Alex hacked is way into Berkshire Hathway Shareholders meeting and interviewed Warren Buffet in front of 30,000 people is extraordinary.
Chapter 22: The Shareholders Meeting, by the way.
A LOT MORE
There’s a lot more to this book. Some of my favourite chapters include Alex’s interactions with Quincy Jones, Pitbull, Steve Wozniak, and Jessica Alba.
Actionable insights from each chapter are priceless.
Conclusion: Thank you, Alex!
I love all that this book represents and will definitely keep an eye on Alex Banayan.
I can relate to this book so much: from the parental expectations in early life to stepping in the void of an unknown industry and then having self-doubt at times. This book depicts the specific struggles people like me have which you normally don’t encounter in other books. This book touched my heart and that’s a very high bar.
Thank you, Alex, for sharing this masterpiece journey. I believe your book is a wonderful gift that proves that anything is possible as long as you believe.
ENDNOTE: Creating & Sharing
Many best selling books are authors writing the book they wish they had access to.
Many writers are just reminding themselves of what they learnt.
Many top-rated podcasters are seeking answers to their own questions.
This method of creation is called: note to self
What have you observed? What have you learned? What are you curious about?
Write/record/create/capture
Share it generously with those you think it will resonate
Until next week,
Darshil
👋 The End
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