The Power of Mimetic Desire | Luke Burgis | Knowledge Project 138

Is there really a straight line between you and the things you want in life? Entrepreneur and educator Luke Burgis goes deep on how understanding mimetic desire can help you better connect the dots between where you are now, and where you want to go. Burgis breaks down the theories behind mimetic desire and the teachings of René Girard, why all of our behaviors are imative, why we desire things we don’t need, and why this all leads to missing out on aspects of life that are far more meaningful and valuable.
Burgis has co-created and led four companies in wellness, consumer products, and technology. He’s currently Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Programs at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship, where he also teaches business at The Catholic University of America. He is also the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life.
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00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Luke's big career change
08:37 - On making money and being miserable
16:03 - On building trust for solid relationships
20:47 - Why we lost (and gained) relationships during COVID
24:14 - Tacit knowledge with trusting others
29:35 - Borrowed vs. earned knowledge
31:48 - Literature to experience human nature
35:09 - Identifying mediators of desire
38:00 - René Girard and Mimetic Desire
41:08 - Accurate vs useful
46:38 - Non-obvious examples of mimetic desire
52:56 - How to create a luxury brand using mimetic desire
58:33 - Social media's impact on mimetic desire
01:01:41 - Is identity mimetic?
01:07:03 - Mimetic desire on attractiveness
01:12:42 - Positive sides of mimetic desire
01:15:23 - Born vs. nurtured desires
01:19:22 - On changing your desires
01:31:30 - The Flywheel of Desire
01:40:12 - On the power of rituals
01:46:02 - On happiness and satisfaction
01:57:53 - How social hierarchies affect human nature
02:02:24 - Why we seek out obstacles for accomplishment
02:05:48 - On happiness and marriage
02:14:38 - The Whole Body Yes and Tacit knowledge
02:16:03 - What success looks like for Luke Burgis
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Like the mentor you’ve always dreamed of having, The Knowledge Project shares timely yet timeless lessons for work and life. Past guests include Naval Ravikant, Daniel Kahneman, Jim Collins, Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Melanie Mitchell, & Esther Perel.

[@tkppodcast]

Here are the timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - Luke's big career change 08:37 - On making money and being miserable 16:03 - On building trust for solid relationships 20:47 - Why we lost (and gained) relationships during COVID 24:14 - Tacit knowledge with trusting others 29:35 - Borrowed vs. earned knowledge 31:48 - Literature to experience human nature 35:09 - Identifying mediators of desire 38:00 - René Girard and Mimetic Desire 41:08 - Accurate vs useful 46:38 - Non-obvious examples of mimetic desire 52:56 - How to create a luxury brand using mimetic desire 58:33 - Social media's impact on mimetic desire 01:01:41 - Is identity mimetic? 01:07:03 - Mimetic desire on attractiveness 01:12:42 - Positive sides of mimetic desire 01:15:23 - Born vs. nurtured desires 01:19:22 - On changing your desires 01:31:30 - The Flywheel of Desire 01:40:12 - On the power of rituals 01:46:02 - On happiness and satisfaction 01:57:53 - How social hierarchies affect human nature 02:02:24 - Why we seek out obstacles for accomplishment 02:05:48 - On happiness and marriage 02:14:38 - The Whole Body Yes and Tacit knowledge 02:16:03 - What success looks like for Luke Burgis

[@xanderhoskinson5020]

"happy with what you have, but not happy with who you are". Brilliant!

[@humanistastv]

Thanks for this video interview so interesting!

[@jenniferarnold-delgado3489]

In this talk , Luke spoke of the bridge , the bridge between the external and internal mediation of desire . In a way , imagine healing ( Darning ) a hole in a sock . First you circle around it with the thread , then you bridge it once the circle at the edge is stabilized . The BRIDGERS are the HEALERS , and that is why ANY bridging , be it Kanye West , or for some , Donald Trump , or for some , Taylor Swift , are celebrated at a mass level , because they DO have a foot hold on either side of the fence . For me , personally , Sha"Carrie Richardson was both a great athelete , and an artist , filled with creative self expression . For me, the moment when she crossed the finish line AND at that very moment , made a gesture of wiping sweat off of her forehead with four inch nails perfectly manicured , was actually unbelievable . She Bridged It . PS , thank you SO much for these thoughts and this sharing . -J

[@glynnisfrench793]

Absolutely fascinating episode. Thank you Luke and Shane for this insightful conversation.

[@vishnu439]

Leap of faith sometimes leads to Emergent knowledge Evidence cannot be always there

[@jenniferarnold-delgado3489]

I have been watching the performance of Sha'Carrie Richardson and studying her alot , then on facebook I was invited to join her page and "Greet" her and it really was a feeling that was amazing . This is what you are describing about that BRIDGE beween the external and internal . Amazing . This is fascinating , as well as all work of Rene Girard , whom I am studying now . -J

[@christianacker3543]

Fantastic episode. Guys Kudos to you both for having one of the best conversations of the day!👏👏👏

[@riosurfsurvive]

Very nice! I will watch again, tks to both the host and Luke, for inspiring others and for taking the time to talk about your lessons learned.

[@stevedesantolo6794]

OK; so many thoughts and .... emotions... tied to this TKP post... I'll just state "Thank you, Shane" So many valuable lessons shared

[@WalshStrategy]

This is fantastic. I knew OF Luke but had no idea the depth

[@patricksantry5635]

Great discussion and insights on everyday desires

[@d0veta1l0]

Pro tip: whenever you are making long form videos or any video, please ensure sound quality is good and it is loud. I listen to your video's on speaker and it is difficult to hear. This is specifically true when i am multitasking. Check JRE clips and compare your sound quality and volume. Having said that thank you for video and introducing the speaker.

[@dothex4919]

Sound quality sounds perfect to me, same as every episode 🤔

[@jessicabsable]

Awesome talk, thank you both so much.

[@prayaanshmehta3200]

25:20 tacit knowledge

[@brandonb4559]

It’s the main principle of Think and Grow Rich.

[@christianacker3543]

PMA

[@AkshayKumar-uv7ef]

Waiting for kunal shah' s podcast ..!