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July 12, 2024 • 2hr 41min
#754: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko
The Tim Ferriss Show
This episode features segments from two past episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show - one with Arnold Schwarzenegger and one with Ann Miura-Ko. It was released to celebrate the podcast's 10 year anniversary and passing 1 billion downloads.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Austrian-born bodybuilder turned Hollywood star and former Governor of California. Ann Miura-Ko is a founding partner at Floodgate venture capital firm and is considered one of the most powerful women in startups.
#754: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ann Miura-Ko
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Key Takeaways
- Arnold Schwarzenegger developed his confidence and psychological warfare skills through bodybuilding, then applied those skills to his acting career and business ventures
- Schwarzenegger became a millionaire through real estate investments before his acting career took off, giving him financial independence to be selective about roles
- The movie Twins was a huge financial success for Schwarzenegger due to an innovative deal structure where he, Danny DeVito and Ivan Reitman took no upfront salary in exchange for a large backend percentage
- Schwarzenegger used transcendental meditation in the 1970s to help manage stress and anxiety during a busy period in his life
- Ann Miura-Ko overcame extreme shyness as a child through debate and public speaking, which taught her valuable skills she still uses today
- Miura-Ko's father instilled in her the drive to be "world class" at everything she did, even menial tasks like photocopying
- Miura-Ko became a venture capitalist after realizing she didn't want to be a doctor, despite pressure to follow that path
- Miura-Ko looks for "thunder lizard" companies that have the potential to massively disrupt industries
- Key areas Miura-Ko is excited about include artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and solving major societal problems through entrepreneurship
Introduction
This episode features segments from two past episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show - one with Arnold Schwarzenegger and one with Ann Miura-Ko. It was released to celebrate the podcast's 10 year anniversary and passing 1 billion downloads.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Austrian-born bodybuilder turned Hollywood star and former Governor of California. Ann Miura-Ko is a founding partner at Floodgate venture capital firm and is considered one of the most powerful women in startups.
Topics Discussed
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Confidence and Psychological Warfare (5:45)
Schwarzenegger discusses how he developed his legendary confidence:
- It came from having a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve
- Visualizing himself winning competitions motivated him to train hard
- He learned to use psychological warfare to intimidate competitors
- "I always felt that sports are not just a physical thing. As a matter of fact, I felt that the mentality and the mental strength in sports, the psychology in sports is much more important than the physical thing."
Transferring Skills to Hollywood (13:58)
Schwarzenegger explains how he applied his bodybuilding mindset to acting:
- He never auditioned for roles, instead carving out a niche for himself
- He ignored naysayers who said his physique was too extreme for movies
- His unique look and persona became an asset for roles like Conan and Terminator
- "My whole plan worked, and I was so right. Even John Milius, after he has done the movie, he said, if we wouldn't have had Schwarzenegger, we would have had to build one because of the body."
Financial Independence Through Real Estate (17:13)
Schwarzenegger discusses becoming a millionaire through real estate before his acting career took off:
- He invested money from bodybuilding and seminars into apartment buildings
- High inflation in the 1970s led to rapid appreciation of his properties
- This gave him financial independence to be selective about movie roles
The Making of Twins (24:41)
Schwarzenegger explains how the hit comedy Twins came together:
- He wanted to show his humorous side on screen
- Partnered with director Ivan Reitman to develop the concept
- Suggested Danny DeVito as his co-star for the physical contrast
- They took no upfront salary in exchange for a large backend percentage
- The movie was a huge hit, earning Schwarzenegger more than any previous film
Ann Miura-Ko's Childhood Shyness (36:14)
Miura-Ko discusses overcoming extreme shyness as a child:
- She was so shy her brother had to introduce her before piano recitals
- As a toddler, she only spoke Japanese and was hostile to English speakers
- She failed IQ tests and was initially placed in special education
- "I had sort of an environment around me way before Yale where I knew what I was capable of, even if the test scores showed that I wasn't."
Overcoming Introversion Through Debate (40:20)
Miura-Ko explains how she overcame her shyness through debate:
- She joined her high school debate team despite being terrible at first
- She loved the intellectual challenge and competitive aspect
- After two years of losing, she dedicated a summer to intense preparation
- This led to a dramatic turnaround in her performance
- "I had this distinct impression walking into my very first round of debate that fall and feeling as I looked across at my opponent that there was no way that they could have out prepared me."
Miura-Ko's Father and the "World Class" Mindset (1:06:53)
Miura-Ko discusses her father's influence and drive for excellence:
- Her father came to the US from Japan with little English to get his PhD
- He constantly pushed her to do "world class" work, even on menial tasks
- This mindset led her to excel at tasks like photocopying in college work-study jobs
- "Every step of the way, it was, what can I do to make this experience for the dean or for his executive assistant a delight moment."
Pivoting from Medicine to Venture Capital (1:31:29)
Miura-Ko explains her shift away from pursuing medicine:
- She realized she didn't enjoy being around sick people or hospitals
- Recognized medicine was a "predictable" path but not her passion
- Became interested in venture capital after exposure to startups growing up in Palo Alto
- Got her first VC job after an unconventional interview focused on shared interests in literature and music
Joining Floodgate and the Concept of "Thunder Lizards" (1:56:38)
Miura-Ko discusses partnering with Mike Maples Jr. to start Floodgate:
- Maples recruited her while she was still finishing her PhD
- They look for "thunder lizard" companies with massive disruptive potential
- The term is inspired by Godzilla - born different, swims across the ocean, wreaks havoc
- "We are inspired by entrepreneurs who are like Godzilla. And so what is Godzilla like? He's born from radioactive atomic eggs. So the DNA of that entrepreneur is already fundamentally different."
Current Areas of Interest for Investing (2:18:44)
Miura-Ko outlines areas she's excited about for future investments:
- Artificial intelligence disrupting enterprise software
- Autonomous vehicles and related technologies
- Using technology to solve major societal problems
- Reconciling trends toward both centralization (AI/ML) and decentralization (cryptocurrency)
- "I believe that the private sector is most capable of solving these problems, whether it's energy or health or the fact that we have so much trash."
Conclusion
This episode provides insights from two highly accomplished individuals in very different fields. Arnold Schwarzenegger's story demonstrates the power of vision, confidence, and psychological tactics in achieving success across multiple domains. Ann Miura-Ko's journey shows how early struggles can be overcome through hard work and self-belief, leading to great achievements in business and investing.
Both subjects emphasize the importance of preparation, whether it's Schwarzenegger's intense physical training or Miura-Ko's academic research. They also highlight the value of carving out a unique niche and pursuing unconventional paths rather than following predictable routes to success.
The episode offers valuable lessons on confidence, perseverance, and strategic thinking that can be applied across many areas of life and business. It also provides an intriguing look at the world of venture capital and the types of innovative companies that may shape our future.