University deadlines are notoriously daunting, but for Ryan Marrinan, a Princeton student from Los Angeles, procrastination took on a new form.
Instead of completing his paper, he reached out to Randy Komisar, a prominent Venture Capitalist, and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, to ask them a profound question. Marrinan's approach may have been unorthodox, but it worked.
Here's how he did it using the "Tim Ferriss Technique."
The "Tim Ferriss Technique" is a strategy that encourages individuals to contact high-profile celebrities and CEOs and ask them intriguing questions they have always wanted to ask.
The technique is named after Tim Ferriss, the best-selling author of "The 4-Hour Work Week."Ferriss offers a guest lecture at Princeton's "High-Tech Entrepreneurship" class, where he challenges students to contact prominent individuals and get their answers to their most profound questions.
Ferriss believes that success can be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations one is willing to have. It's an approach that encourages students to challenge their self-set limitations and push themselves outside their comfort zones.
Marrinan may have described himself as a "naturally shy kind," but he rose to the challenge of the "Tim Ferriss Technique" to ask Komisar and Schmidt his questions.
He contacted Komisar after reading one of his Harvard Business Review articles and feeling inspired to ask him, "When were you happiest in your life?"Komisar's response included references to Tibetan Buddhism, which inspired Marrinan to send a personal translation of a French poem by Taisen Deshimaru, the former European head of Soto Zen.
The two developed a rapport, and Komisar even sent Marrinan a link to a New York Times article on happiness.Connecting with Schmidt was a more significant challenge for Marrinan. He had to obtain Schmidt's personal email address, which he did by emailing a Princeton dean asking for it.Despite receiving no response, Marrinan persisted and emailed the same dean two weeks later, reminding her that he had previously met Schmidt.
The dean still refused to provide Schmidt's email, but Marrinan persisted and emailed her a third time, asking if she had ever made an exception. Finally, the dean gave in, and Marrinan was able to reach out to Schmidt directly.Schmidt's response to Marrinan's question, "When were you happiest in your life?" was simple but profound. "Tomorrow," he replied.
Marrinan's success in connecting with Komisar and Schmidt highlights the power of persistence and the "Tim Ferriss Technique."
By pushing himself outside his comfort zone, Marrinan was able to establish relationships with prominent individuals in the tech industry. The experience is a reminder that success is often achieved by taking risks and embracing discomfort.
The "Tim Ferriss Technique" may be unorthodox, but it can be a powerful tool for individuals looking to make connections with high-profile individuals. As Marrinan demonstrated, persistence and a willingness to embrace discomfort can lead to success, even in the most daunting of circumstances.
