July 21, 2024 • 59min
#357 Haruki Murakami
Founders
Key Takeaways
- Find work that suits your authentic self - Murakami discovered writing and running were perfectly suited to his introverted, disciplined personality
- Consistency over intensity - Murakami focused on writing and running every single day rather than sporadic bursts of intense effort
- Design your lifestyle around your work - Murakami structured his entire daily routine to optimize his writing and running
- Autotellic activities - Do work for its own sake, not external rewards. Murakami wrote his first novel with no expectation of publication
- Power of routine - A consistent daily routine allows you to focus your energy on what's most important
- Bet on yourself - Murakami quit his successful bar business to become a full-time novelist despite others' objections
- Focus on serving your core audience - Murakami writes for the small percentage who deeply connect with his work, not trying to please everyone
- Physical activity fuels creativity - Running gives Murakami mental clarity and stamina for writing
- Do the work regardless of mood - Professionals push through on days they don't feel like working
- Avoid burnout - Pushing too hard (like Murakami's ultramarathon) can lead to losing passion for your work
Introduction
This episode explores Haruki Murakami's memoir "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running", which details his dual obsessions of writing and long-distance running. The book provides insights into Murakami's creative process, work ethic, and philosophy on life. Host David Senra analyzes key passages from the book and connects Murakami's approach to broader lessons for entrepreneurs and creators.
Topics Discussed
Murakami's Background and Path to Writing (22:03)
Murakami initially owned a jazz club in his 20s before having a sudden inspiration to write a novel at age 29. He wrote his first 200-page novel by hand in a few months and submitted it to a literary contest without even making a copy.
- This demonstrates Murakami's autotellic approach - doing the work for its own sake without concern for the outcome
- His first novel won the contest and launched his writing career
- At age 30, Murakami made the risky decision to sell his bar and become a full-time novelist
"I'm the kind of person who has to totally commit to whatever I do. I had to give it everything I had. If I failed, I could accept that. But I knew that if I did things half-heartedly and they didn't work out, I'd always have regrets."
Finding Work That Suits Your Personality (26:04)
Murakami discovered that writing and running were perfectly suited to his introverted, disciplined personality.
- He prefers solitary activities that don't require relying on others
- Writing and running require minimal equipment - just a pen/paper or running shoes
- Both allow him to work at his own pace and on his own schedule
"I'm the kind of person who likes to be by himself. To put a finer point on it, I'm the type of person who doesn't find it painful to be alone."
Designing an Optimal Lifestyle (32:05)
Murakami completely redesigned his lifestyle to optimize his writing and running:
- Wakes up at 4am and writes for 5-6 hours uninterrupted
- Runs 10km every afternoon
- Goes to bed by 9pm
- Maintains this routine 7 days a week
"I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind. The repetition itself becomes the important thing."
Consistency Over Intensity (40:06)
Murakami emphasizes the power of doing a little bit every single day rather than sporadic bursts of intense effort:
- Writes every morning without fail
- Runs every afternoon without fail
- Slowly builds up endurance and skill over time
- Avoids burnout by not pushing too hard on any given day
"The main thing was not the speed or distance so much as running every day without taking a break."
Focus on Serving Your Core Audience (36:05)
Murakami writes for the small percentage of readers who deeply connect with his work, rather than trying to please everyone:
- Doesn't worry if 90% of people don't like his writing
- Focuses on making sure the 10% who do like it really love it
- Maintains a clear philosophy and stance in his work
- Slowly builds a loyal readership over time
"If one out of ten enjoyed the place and said he'd come again, that was enough. If one out of ten was a repeat customer, then the business would survive."
Physical Activity Fuels Creativity (14:01)
Murakami finds that running gives him mental clarity and stamina for writing:
- Running creates a meditative state where ideas can emerge
- Physical stamina translates to mental stamina for long writing sessions
- Running helps process emotions and stress from writing
"I run in order to acquire a void...Running gives me a calm and empty mind."
Do the Work Regardless of Mood (46:06)
Murakami emphasizes the importance of working consistently even when you don't feel like it:
- There will always be days you don't want to write or run
- Professionals push through and do the work anyway
- Mood and feelings are irrelevant - focus on the commitment
"What's mood got to do with it?" (Quote from Dune that Senra references)
Avoiding Burnout (54:08)
Murakami describes how pushing himself too hard in an ultramarathon led to losing his passion for running for several years:
- Became obsessed with always increasing distance/difficulty
- Ultramarathon pushed him past his limits physically and mentally
- Took years to rediscover his love of running
- Learned to balance challenging himself with sustainability
"After this ultramarathon, I lost the enthusiasm I'd always had for the act of running itself. I no longer had the simple, positive stance I used to have of wanting to run no matter what."
Committing Fully to Your Path (56:08)
Murakami emphasizes the importance of fully committing to your chosen path:
- Don't constantly question if you're on the right path
- Cut away other options and focus entirely on your work
- Wake up each day and simply do the work without overthinking
"I didn't start running because somebody asked me to become a runner, just like I didn't become a novelist because someone asked me to. One day, out of the blue, I wanted to write a novel. And one day, out of the blue, I started to run simply because I wanted to."
Conclusion
Haruki Murakami's memoir provides a window into the mind and habits of a disciplined, committed artist. His dual obsessions of writing and running reinforce each other, giving him the physical stamina, mental clarity, and consistency needed to sustain a long and prolific writing career. The key lessons revolve around finding work that authentically suits you, designing your entire lifestyle around that work, maintaining ironclad consistency, and fully committing to your path. While Murakami's specific approach may not work for everyone, his underlying principles of self-knowledge, discipline, and unwavering commitment are broadly applicable to entrepreneurs and creators in any field.