Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals

Great read and very good 👍

When I was a kid Ions ago, there was this popular TV show - James at 15. Hmm, I wonder what happened to that actor? Probably 70 and with a walker. Anyway, every week the main protagonist would find himself in a sticky (not literally amazingly enough) adolescent dilemma - most he created in his head because the boy just never fit in. Then magically, 10 minutes before the program ended, James was a better, more mature iteration of himself.Ostensibly, this is James Altucher at 50-something. He never really 'fits' in and it makes him the success he is today. A friend and mentor for over a decade who after boom and bust in his life, financial and otherwise, is now deeply entrenched in the lessons that accelerate the booms and minimize the busts.In other words, he's on a life's highway finally paved, and possesses the map of experience to help all of us reach our next destinations with maturity, wisdom, and armed with rules of the road. This book showcases a maturity of James I haven't witnessed in past writings.I've been fortunate to learn firsthand from James. From the time we witnessed the genesis of Occupy Wall Street from a restaurant window, to Thanksgiving together, to watching him perform in comedy clubs. Whether we communicate often or once a year, my bond with him is strong and unbreakable.In his latest, James takes his 10-Ideas-A-Day wisdom (I'll admit I come up with 10 ideas a day and almost all of them stink but it gets my brain revved - If you're a writer at heart, consider them prompts to get the blood flowing to your head), to the next level. There's math to it now - idea addition, multiplication, division. He helps the reader get excited about these exercises as the sum of them over time can lead to more brilliance, empathy,money.He expounds on the 1% Rule where he assists a reader to break down major milestones into daily millstones. I guess you can call it GRIT and a way to LOVE THE PROCESS - pave the way to flourish of your passion one small step, every day.My favorite chapter is 11 - Frame Control. In every high-stakes situation, one person has the frame and the rest in room don't. Are you in somebody else's frame? Are you comfortable being in their frame? Understanding 'frames' will make you far more difficult to manipulate, allow you to create stronger boundaries. In some way, I have been doing this for a long time in part due to my conversations with James.I've also learned and this book helps to clarify what really goes on in our heads when rejection sets in. From all James' writings, I've learned never to internalize rejection and keep moving forward.Overall, next to Choose Yourself, this tome of James' I believe, opens up a new world of advice from inside his head. From Jedi to Jedi Master (ok with curlier hair), this is James "all growed up!"I look forward to continuing on this ride with him. I hope you enjoy the trip, too.

Enjoyable. There were several highlight-able excerpts in the book. Perfect for the person that doesn't give themselves enough credit or the entrepreneur that needs a kick in the butt and reality check.

I consider this book just a good as James' Choose Yourself.There's too much to take in with just one read.I'm sure I will be reading it again a third time eventually.It's still inspiring and educational to me, so I consider that a very good value.

I have been following James for some time now, I read his books and listen to his podcasts and get so much out of all of them. With this book he has surpassed himself as a writer, I am blown away by the quality of his writing and the invaluable advice contained herein. James is a compassionate, funny, wise and sharing human being, and we are so lucky to have his voice help us navigate this world. This book is worthy of reading again and again. I lost my 'job' two weeks ago but thanks to applying his advice since 2013, it's a mere blip on my life's radar screen as I have numerous fulfilling side hustles. Thanks, James! You are the utter bomb!

Skip The Line is the shot in the arm that embraces the best of what it is to be human … how can we leverage the best of our desires to grow and learn? There are about a gazillion ways in this book. Practical, implementable strategies with lots of examples on how to execute.I’m scared to try some (most … maybe all) of them. But I think that’s the point.And even if you don’t want to practice any of the strategies given in the book … you can read it to learn how to write.It’s witty, fun, funny, vulnerable, direct, heartfelt, inspired, inspiring … and even when I get to something that makes me scoff or disagree, Altucher just has a way of making me ask, “why am I fighting this?” He forces the expansion of brains everywhere.We’re so busy accumulating knowledge and reading a book a day! / week! / month!What’s the point of shoving our brains full of stuff we don’t use?This book is the antithesis to the rest of the crowd’s same-old hokey leadership / self help / how to be an entrepreneur! advice that most often stays firmly planted in the theoretical (and generally useless).Not Skip The Line. I feel this is a book I can't not use. And if only in the smallest way ever, that small bit will be guaranteed to make me 1% better ...

Loved this book, got the audio version. I found this book to be informative, motivational, and uplifting. Lots of positive advice for improving your present circumstances. James Altucher packs the book with lots of methods and suggestions, and examples demonstrating perhaps a different perspective to approaching problems. He does it in a brilliant and self-depreciating style to encourage the listener or reader to be bold and act on their ideas. There's no shortage of humor, and often at the author's expense. Mr Altucher tries to build people up in their own minds, by saying: …" if I can do it you can do it". So he comes across as that friend in high school or college that you always could rely on for friendly helpful advice. He leaves you upbeat and feeling positive, your day goes better just by having listened to his ideas. To sum it up I would say it's brisk and brilliant like a nice cold Martinelli's apple cider. Great read and perhaps an even better audiobook like an extended podcast. If you don't buy the book you should listen to his podcasts, you'll have a virtual friend and advisor. Good stuff!

James Altucher has done it again. ‘Skip the Line’ is just as good as ‘Choose Yourself’.Ive been following James’ work since 2014 and it has helped me immensely. I spent several years (2014 - 2019) fire fighting (struggling and paying off huge debts) and James’ advice — writing down ideas etc — really helped me stay positive and since 2014 I’ve accumulated many new micro skills.This book is jammed full of actionable advice and I would recommend at his anyone who wants to better themselves.Whether we like it or not we have to navigate our way through the ebb and flow of the long and winding river of life and the journey is always more enjoyable when we have some control over the direction of travel and the reassurance that if we do find ourselves shipwrecked we have the skills not only to to survive but to build a new and more seaworthy vessel.James’ books will help you develop the courage to be your true self and develop the skill-set to embrace your creativity and start earning a living from doing what you love.If you haven’t read ‘Choose Yourself’ by James Altucher and ‘How to Get Rich’ by Felix Dennis, do yourself a favour and read/listen to them ASAP.Thanks James!

James' latest book is the perfect distillation of his life experiences into a concise guide to getting ahead in life that challenges commonplace advice.Most non-fiction books are a rumination of the same core idea over and over again. Reading one chapter is usually all you need to grasp the essential idea. "Skip the Line" is the exact opposite. The 23 chapters which make up the book are well connected and build upon each other. The resulting narrative becomes so compelling that the content is very easy to retain.What I like most about the book is how pragmatic it is. In a world where people rely more and more on what experts have to say, we often forget that the ultimate proof of whether anything works is to test it ourselves in our own life.That's why the "10,000 Experiments" idea is so important: the quickest way to improve at anything is to keep making experiments with limited downside but unlimited upside, a very Taleb-like idea.I could go over all the chapters and mention how I have applied James' ideas in my life and how I plan to apply them in the future, but it's definitely best to get them from the man himself and read the actual book.I totally recommend it!

I love James Altucher. I follow his podcast and binge read his books. I do find him extremely inspiring and more or less follow a similair daily practice to his. I did enjoy the book but If you have read his previous books you will find that he repeats the same content a lot! I think its time that he moves away from his origin story. It makes him interesting yes, inspiring yes, but one book too many.

I’ve read a few of James’ books & his blog over the years. Always insightful & thought provoking, Skip The Line is by far his best in my opinion.You should always invest in yourself in any case, in his latest book James’ goes much further in outlining strategies & possibilities you can identify and take advantage of.Thoroughly enjoyed this, please buy it and build a future for yourself independent of the State, corporate & social norms.Cheers James.

I've been a long time reader of James Altucher's work and was certainly not disappointed in his latest book Skip The Line. I feel like there's so much material out there geared more towards the millennial market, and this book offers advice and tips to people of every age and gives those of us aged over 35 (and way beyond!) hope that you can change careers, start a business or passion at any age - and make it a success, whatever that looks like for you.What I loved most about the book was the numerous examples to demonstrate James' tips. Right from people like Walt Disney to every day people. Fantastic advice on networking (not in the 'network event' type of way thank goodness!) , the importance of building micro-skills, how to monetize and the 'spoke and wheel' method. There's something in here for anyone to put into action - even if you only want to take the parts that resonate with you most.Thanks so much James - I'm re-reading already and highlighting and will recommend to everyone!