Do Something Difficult Every Day | AMA #1 - Ask Me Anything with Lex Fridman

New Ask Me Anything (AMA) video every week. Ask me a question on Patreon or as a comment here (Patreon takes priority): / lexfridman
I've been getting a lot of great questions on Patreon, so I'm trying a new thing (this video) where I answer one or a few questions on a particular topic in a 5-20 minute AMA. The aim is to do one a week. Let me know what you think. I apologize for the slow pace of talking. I'm learning how to communicate better without getting lost in my thoughts. My brain seems to work much faster than I speak, so I go down mental tangents which counter-intuitively slows the speaking. The brain is fascinating ;-)
Let me know if this kind of thing is interesting or of value to you. The aim is to do one a week. Let me know what you think. I apologize for the slow pace of talking. I'm learning how to communicate better without getting lost in my thoughts. My brain seems to work much faster than I speak, so I go down mental tangents which counter-intuitively slows the speaking. The brain is fascinating ;-)
This video is from an AMA I did on Patreon a while ago. I'll post a few of those and then start doing new ones. Let me know if once a week is too frequent, not frequent enough or just right.

[@lexfridman]

I've been getting a lot of great questions on Patreon, so I'm trying a new thing (this video) where I answer one or a few questions on a particular topic in a 5-20 minute AMA. The aim is to do one a week. Let me know what you think. I apologize for the slow pace of talking. I'm learning how to communicate better without getting lost in my thoughts. My brain seems to work much faster than I speak, so I go down mental tangents which counter-intuitively slows the speaking. The brain is fascinating ;-) If you'd like to ask a question ask it on Patreon or here. The Patreon ones take priority: patreon.com/lexfridman This video is from an AMA I did on Patreon a while ago. I'll post a few of those and then start doing new ones. Let me know if once a week is too frequent, not frequent enough or just right.

[@wizardstein3153]

I'll take 1 Tolerable Cold Shower per Lex Fridman AMA Video

[@anujchoubey2453]

Hi lex, I'm iOS developer and wanted to learn AI and implement in mobility. Can you please guide me how should I start. If you can suggest me to follow blog, course or toturial.

[@AjaySharma-xd5mh]

Lex, I regularly watch your videos. This is an awesome channel and very educative. The way you conduct these talks is quite unique and excellent. This advice of yours is wisdom in the pure form but at the same time it is too painful to practice. To do things when you don't feel like doing it. I try it every day and hardly succeeds. But seeing that it is the case with most of the people, I need to work at those brain muscles you referred to. I also liked the thing that doing something one minute a day (as a ritual) without exception is far better than doing it once in a month. Truly 5 minutes of pure wisdom. Thank you

[@albert1387]

Wow I really feel like my brain works in the same way. Im a 16 year old Hungarian dudydude. I found you not too long ago, but hey, even though i have no idea who you actually are, you seem like a great person. Currently im questioning basically everything in my life, but yeah, thank you for existing!

[@MyMrRoboto]

This video got my ass right back on the books and programming my small businesses application. Lex you beast... thank you for existing

[@malikwilliams9275]

“It’s better to do something one minute a day, everyday without exception than doing it once a month for an entire day” ~Lex Fridman

[@manassricharanvarri]

Do something difficult everyday. Lex you are more than a AI expert. This is the best advice I ever heard.

[@TrillionaireStudioX0]

Me too

[@warsin8641]

Manas varri does it count if simply existing is difficult?

[@manassricharanvarri]

@Warsin I think it completely depends on mindset as a matter of fact it is perception. If we set limit to 2 miles, we find 2 miles is the hardest one, once we reach there we settle, if set Target for 10 miles, we find 2 miles is easy one. Yeah I think it does count, but life is variable , difficulty depends on the threshold we set.

[@chinbold]

Yes

[@pascaladomako588]

@@warsin8641 You lazy as hell..

[@basicallyeveryone]

Sometimes I talk to humans, even though I don't feel like doing it.

[@yt-sh]

LEGEND

[@good4gaby]

me too...not easy

[@fabiodeorbegoso9851]

hardest shit to do sometimes , but funnest too sometimes@@good4gaby

[@bitfinesse]

I think you have lots of very real and hard advice to dispense. Dispense it. You do this very well - even though we all know you’re holding back and aren’t giving us “all the goods.” At the end of the day, all we really NEED is to watch you read that poem by Bukowski, Roll the Dice. That was really beautiful man. Hearing those words and sounds, emphasized where you did, that was powerful. Your podcast is a true gem to the world. Thank you. Life is hard. Endurance is the greatest weapon known to man. Consistency is king. Do it. All the way.

[@AbhishekSachans]

So True!

[@petertreit9908]

Praise be

[@imranq9241]

Where is this poem?

[@logical814]

Yep

[@bitfinesse]

Imran Qureshi Oh man. Type into KZbin, “Lex Fridman Roll the Dice” It’s a clip from JRE. Enjoy.

[@asmasarabenmoussa2517]

Don't apologize for your speaking pace, it is one of the reasons I like listening to you. I'm listening to it before bed and it's so relaxing and thought provoking at the same time. It sets the tone for the next day. Thank you for sharing more than just technical espects of your field. Your mind is so multidimensional. Please share everything you got

[@jerrywbrice]

I love a crisp cold shower. I took one every morning for a year when I was too poor to buy a new hot water heater after mine failed. I found the cold water to be highly stimulating, even after I became acclimated to it.

[@georgesokas7511]

The sad thing 'bout me is that cold showers don't work for me. It ain't difficult at all and it certainly doesn't stimulate me...

[@sosasoseante8757]

"I really don't feel like running naked into a walmart" Lex Fridman: say no more

[@trenttagestad5282]

To hear personal content like this from an experienced MIT educator and researcher is truly valuable. Your podcast and all your personal work are unique and inspiring; I really appreciate these projects. What I really mean is that it's awesome that you put out so much stuff.

[@DARKROASTS]

sometimes waking up in the morning is the most difficult part of the day.

[@maratimus]

Absolutely agree, I tried to go to my bed earlier, get rid of sugar and get multivitamins, it helped me so much.

[@2011coolhandluke]

Lex, love your podcast, listen to them as soon as you release them. I travel 2.5 hours every day for my job, so really, consider myself lucky to have that time to do so. Love how honest and open you are becoming with these podcasts / KZbin bits. Just want you to know that I appreciate that you’re doing these and I can’t imagine how muddy the waters become once you bare your soul to the treacherous avenues that lay before you. Just wanted to let you know that there are people who really appreciate what you are trying to do here. Thanks mate, from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

[@mohaktrivedi9591]

One of the most legit advices I've ever recieved. Also, I appreciate the way you convey your messages. 🙌🙏

[@fey4357]

This is exactly what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you for putting into words something I have been seeking.

[@lst1nwndrlnd]

Profound. This has been at the core of my identity. "Aspire to be better than yourself"

[@NeishyBx]

I'm going to go out for a run today for the first time in a while, because of this video. Thankyou for your words Lex, as inspiring and elequent as always.

[@KarlBro]

Lex this is amazing thank you for sharing with us I like the way you take your time to respond and really think about what you are going to say before you express yourself far too many people talk before they think, thinking before you talk is a special thing to witness. Thank you

[@Shirley0850]

I appreciate the pace. You put a lot of thought into your responses and for me, it shows you take the question seriously. Thank you.

[@rubenmorenog7223]

"Persuade difficult things. At least once a day. That will train your mind to follow your passion." Certainly, each of us has something to do that we don't feel like it to do it. Good point of view, Lex

[@revalor8149]

This is probably the best advice I've gotten from KZbin. Thanks, Lex!

[@haydenmacfarlane7194]

This video has gotten me to tackle unwanted tasks over the past few months since I first saw it. It also inspired me to force myself to workout every day with no exception. If I forget to workout and I’m laying in bed and remember, I get out of bed, turn on my lights and work out. Doesn’t have to be much but a couple sets of pushups when I was about to go to sleep is plenty! Now I love doing it every day!

[@avad9300]

Nailed it.. doing difficult things seems counterintuitive but this is where we discover new territory. Thank you once again for your ability to share in such a raw way… “feeling sad but smiling anyway”.

[@jtdtechnologiesllc6435]

Such excellent advice here, thank you Lex. Like any exercise, it gets easier as you practice it and if you stop it will get difficult again. So in those brief moments where you recoil from having to do something, JUST DO IT and do it with all your might. These moments can feel so instinctual that they can be hard to identify, but you will get good at it. It allows you to craft a mindset where you feel in control of your life. The power of this cannot be understated.

[@shanetomlinson561]

This might be my first KZbin comment. I admire that you are willing to go out of your comfort zone and explore the world in front of and for the benefit of all of us. I find you to be a much more human and therefore relatable character than other KZbin channels that I subscribe to.

[@IstvanF]

Hey Lex, Thanks for sharing. It's really motivational.

[@devidsulanovs1431]

This is inspiring. Thank you

[@Loom-works]

I understand the comfort zone exercise. It is a great thing that shows us we are alive. It opens doors that we did not know we had inside. This practice shows us how flexible we are and that we can do anything.

[@travislee9396]

Preach it man! The world needs to hear this. Sharing this!

[@stheday1]

Great advice. I'm going to consciously face what I hate doing and do it any way.

[@Marc_AD]

Keep doing these vids. It helps us know you better through your answers ...

[@costa768]

This video literally chages peoples lives. Thank you.

[@OrochiShaka]

Difficult stuff, just like taking a cold shower, feels uncomfortable at the beginning, but starts to feel not so bad after a while in. That beginning is the hard part, we always want to quit before out body gets used to the difficult stuff.

[@dayone5125]

Well said!

[@rohithdsouza8]

I find these kinds of video will be of great value to me and once a week sounds just about right!

[@PangetKano]

I would prefer more videos like this. The interviews are above my head, this is much more digestible and practical for the average person.

[@Gukslaven]

I love this so much. This is the key to growth and being exceptional.

[@iloveMiley1029384756]

Wow I've been listening to the interview podcasts but this hits different (in a good way). Thanks for the insight.

[@gil-evens]

From now on I'll listen to this as my morning prayer.

[@TheCodingManual]

Had to like it all the way. You are amazing. Thank You for sharing.

[@ReconVette19D]

Definitely needed to hear this, thanks man. I'm missing some of that discipline since getting out of the military

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

“Keep the faculty of effort alive in you by a little gratuitous exercise every day. That is, be systematically ascetic or heroic in little unnecessary points, do every day or two something for no other reason than that you would rather not do it, so that when the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved and untrained to stand the test." -William James

[@MoreYoutube.]

I've been trying to do this for a while and it's honestly so hard not to fall back on your old habits. But you got to remind yourself that this not a sprint, but a marathon and you just have to get back up and keep going.

[@badwolf8112]

thank you. what you say is true and is rarely articulated at this level of precision. its important that people are aware they have a lot of potential to unlock but that its normal to not be able to force yourself to do anything any time you dont feel like it. this is the balanced outlook i think everyone should know and believe is the right one

[@nerdedkyle3515]

Love it. Love this video man and ur other vids. How do u go about dealing with the loss of a loved one?

[@ryz177]

Thanks for the message! I believe Envisioning something that makes you give value to the world, however hard it may be, JUST DO IT!

[@cad3nce]

Great outlook on life.

[@xThirdOpsx]

I think once a week is just right, as long as the question is not trivial, such as "Whats your favourite food?": Deep questions/answers like this is good once a week. Thank you for your content.

[@Nate-zs7rm]

Love this format of video, the slow pace of speaking did not take away from the message at all

[@bernards6115]

i really loved this. thank you

[@user-ck8ei1vt7l]

Lex, you are my mentor since now!

[@dippy9119]

Very glad I discovered your channel Lex

[@ahcat2685]

You speak your heart. True happiness comes from temporary struggle and hardship.

[@ashok.nurture]

You nailed it bro. You converted those inconvertible blossoms into words. You did it. Congrats. Cheers.

[@tekannon7803]

Dear Mr Fridman, You are doing an excellent service for the world, but for someone so young to have an AMA is off-the-charts. Wait, wait, wait until your mind is in time with time. You are Learning!

[@digital666]

I just want to say thanks for the start of my journey

[@narayananms620]

Thanks very valuable, ill try it from now on

[@stefanlionar2335]

I want to keep working. I don’t feel like procrastinating right now, but I’ll do it (by watching your other awesome videos).

[@jayhu6075]

Except the love is this one of the wise advice that I have ever heard. Nobody told my this on a time management course. Many thanks.

[@khhanthology8696]

This is fire thank you, I needed to hear this.

[@khhanthology8696]

Now supporting you on patreon. Please keep up the great work!

[@Grub370]

Great upload, thanks! :)

[@winstonreinhardt9]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@tamassoos5915]

Listened to it at 1.75x speed. Sounds just right :D Great video btw!

[@namdang540]

Great content as always!

[@TheTibbott]

Ah, bigger smiles! I love the podcast Lex, I love this looser Lex. What an altogether extraordinary human...

[@jenishthanki5903]

Love the content !

[@madebyimagine2430]

Keep it up! Great advice man

[@nicolim3946]

Hey Lex, I love your AMAs. Are you discontinuing them?

[@hiepvu5497]

Really enjoy it Lex :)

[@melucinetheindigochild1492]

You brilliant wonderful man thank you💛🙏✨

[@abdelaziz6806]

Thanks for making this Avaible for US, From Morocco

[@honestinsky]

Thanks Lex for this good video, much appreciated. Love your awesome channel bro : )

[@ramchandracheke]

This is the shortest motivational video I have ever seen !

[@gsegse77]

Simple yet awesome. Your a interesting bloke lex👌

[@a.girl.has.no.name_]

The perfect combo of cerebral + emotional

[@ILOVEDDRAGO]

Really cool, Lex! Go on!)

[@yaroslavishchuk]

hallelujah brother!!

[@antonybelkovich7012]

Man, this is the very best motivating speech from Russian mind set(even tho you speak English) I ve heard for the last 8 years, thank you!

[@topspduk]

What I needed to hear.

[@danishkhalid9255]

you the best Lex!

[@antheaoosthuizen6476]

Thanks for this. I know this works. Although I am not able to do something difficult every day (yet).

[@eliudnjai]

with time, i've learned that we become what we force ourselves to learn. if you want something, it will hurt - but you will change to that thing!

[@magalygraterol7630]

Like i get up inmediatly after awekening (laziness OUT!) It gives me a great day. Say, difficulties don't have to be big issues, just little simple things that make your will strobger & don't make you weak :)

[@brainbodybites]

I didn't feel like going out for a walk today. But I moved out and I did it!! After listening to this clip.

[@lythalmind]

Great advice my G

[@seanorourkeartist]

Lex is a Legend 🤘

[@bozoferjan3399]

awesome content as always

[@aaronfrank9649]

Thanks for sharing this Lex. I truly believe what you said is extremely useful, and I passed it along to my kids, niece and nephew. Have you ever read, “Oh the places you’ll go”, by Dr. Seuss? It is relevant. Brilliant book.

[@a.girl.has.no.name_]

Do something you hate until you love it. You’ll find the best ways to execute efficiently and eventually find passion in the process

[@MarissaCarterArtist]

Lex Fridman is a surreal dream. Lex Fridman is beauty.

[@pflintaryan8336]

Nothing is more dangerous than playing it safe and not taking risks

[@sethbracken]

"Where did that come from?" - I'm Russian if you haven't noticed.

[@zdarovakoresh]

I'm Russian and I thought absolutely the same.

[@erlonpb]

thanks for that

[@falcodarkzz]

Great stuff. I might add, if a person has passion, what could be more beautiful than to test that passion with suffering?

[@hideme8638]

I relate 💯%. I know exactly what you mean.

[@dayanandak4667]

Where is the podcast with Andrew ng?

[@Krisztyan]

That was really impressive

[@loukes116]

Do the hard work, ESPECIALLY when you don't feel like it!

[@HeavyTOVids]

You've spoken to a lot of great minds. What is one thing based on all those conversations that you think is a common positive theme to the way these people think and what they represent? And is what is perhaps a common flaw or something not particularly well considered by these people? In general, what are the great minds of our time getting right, and what are they getting wrong? And where most do they all differ?

[@earlyray8495]

This is great

[@zakarylittle6767]

My current boss mentioned a mantra that I think pairs well with your outlook on struggle creating growth. "If it takes less than a minute don't even think; just do it now. If it takes 5 minutes finish what you're doing and do that thing next. If it takes an hour or more plan it out immediately and schedule it." It's a great system for bypassing the anxiety of hard things; the anxiety of failing.

[@joech1065]

I tried the doing what you hate thing, and cold shower in particular, and it was making me depressed and miserable. But I guess the trick is meaning. If suffering is meaningless then it does not give you strenght, it just becomes a form of torture.

[@Brad_Jacob]

Doing a task daily strengthens the synapses.