Well, it's really interesting to think about how a guy like Rick Rubin operates, you know? From what I gleaned from these conversations, Rick's got this unique ability to zone in on the essence of a project. We're talking about a guy who has his hands in multiple areas of the music industry, right? But it seems like his key strategy is to let the artists do their thing while he manages the bigger picture. With Billy Corgan, he steps in when Billy's at a low point and allows him to just focus on the music, relieving him of the stress of controlling everything.

It appears that Rick doesn't get bothered easily either. You look at the instance with 'Dice Rules', he just nonchalantly says "I suppose" when asked about the posters. So, he seems to have a knack to not sweat the small stuff, which could otherwise be distractions.

All in all, Rick's strategy from what I can see is to stay cool, focus on the big picture and let the artists drive their creativity. He maintains a sense of calm, he doesn't get ruffled, and I think that's really the key to his ability to cut off distractions.

One of the biggest insights I've gathered from talking to so many different people is that the key to delaying gratification boils down to focus and self-awareness. You have to become aware of what's truly important to you, what you really desire, and then just laser-focus on it. Train your mind to not get distracted by the quick wins, the instant gratifications. That's a trap many fall into.

Like I mentioned in one of our discussions, "Desire is suffering. Every desire you have is an axis where you will suffer." So, if you're spreading yourself thin, chasing a whole bunch of things at once, you're signing up for a whole lot of suffering. It's like the universe rewards you when you're zeroed in on one thing. I'm not saying it's easy. It takes continuous effort, every day, but the goal is to become so focused on that one thing that everything else becomes secondary.

Another critical part of delaying gratification is building a solid self-image and self-worth. You need to observe yourself, understand how you handle situations, and build on it. The stronger your self-worth, the better equipped you are to resist instant gratification.

Think of it this way, if you'd earned a million dollars after years of dedicated effort, you'd treat it differently than if someone just handed you a winning lottery ticket. The first scenario builds character, the second doesn't.

In the end, I believe it's about finding the right balance. You don't want to completely disregard instant gratification, but at the same time, you don't want to get pulled into it and lose sight of your long-term goals. It's a dance that you've got to learn to navigate.

Man, I gotta tell you, my conversation with Naval was a real eye-opener. It was kinda like getting a punch to the gut but in a good way, you know? He's whip-smart and his thoughts on happiness, that stuff just blows my mind. It's not like I haven't heard that happiness is a choice before, right? But Naval, he goes a step further and says it's not just a choice, it's something you can learn. You can teach yourself to be happy, and then you gotta live up to it. It's like walking into a fight and telling yourself you're going to win, and then you just gotta do it, you've got no other choice. It's crazy, but it makes a lot of sense.

Then there's his way of reading books. I mean, I always felt like I was doing something wrong by not reading books from cover to cover, you know? But here's this guy, mega-successful by the way, who says it's okay to read based on your whims. It's not just about finishing a book, it's about learning and absorbing information from everywhere. It's like he's just a sponge soaking up knowledge from wherever he can get it. Makes me feel a lot better about my own reading habits.

And finally, his take on getting rich first, and then finding peace. Now, that's not a perspective you hear a lot. Most people are all about finding inner peace and then everything else will follow, but Naval says get rich first, get yourself out of that job you hate, that life you can't stand, and then go find peace. 'Cause let's face it, it's a helluva lot easier to meditate on a full stomach in a nice house than on an empty one in a cardboard box, right?

So yeah, my conversation with Naval was pretty enlightening. Made me think about stuff from angles I never really considered before. But that's the beauty of these conversations, isn't it? Always learning, always growing.