Episode 262

Polina Pompliano, author "HIDDEN GENIUS"

Published on: 11th September, 2023

Today's guest is Polina Pompliano, author of "Hidden Genius"We are exploring the creative thinking and mental frameworks of exceptional individuals

Polina's Book "Hidden Genius":

  • Polina's book is "Hidden Genius," a collection of stories that demystify the thinking processes of exceptional individuals.
  • The book sheds light on how smart and exceptional people think, breaking down their methods for practical takeaways.

Approaching Exceptional Thinkers:

  • Polina discusses her approach to understanding how exceptional thinkers approach creativity and other aspects.
  • Every chapter focuses on a different theme, offering practical takeaways that readers can implement in their own lives.

Creativity as a Skill:

  • Polina emphasizes that creativity is a skill that can be learned and mastered through practice and discipline.
  • Exceptional individuals recognize creativity as a skill and work to develop it.

Mental Frameworks and Creativity:

  • Polina explores the concept of mental frameworks and how they affect creativity.
  • Creative people often look at the world through specific lenses, generating fresh ideas even from unrelated experiences.

Connecting the Unconnected:

  • Polina discusses the importance of connecting seemingly unrelated concepts for enhanced creativity.
  • Examples include Chef Grant Akitz finding inspiration in unconventional places and Da Vinci's practice of connecting unconnected concepts.

Generating Ideas through Rote Activities:

  • Polina explains how rote activities like showering or running can promote creativity by allowing the brain to wander.
  • These activities create space for new ideas to form and develop in the background.

Aim to Fail the Elevator Test:

  • Polina introduces the concept of aiming to fail the elevator test, where the goal is to explain complex, original ideas in 30 seconds or less.
  • Truly original ideas may not be easily explained in a short time, indicating their uniqueness and potential for success.

Resilience and Consistency:

  • Polina highlights the importance of resilience in creative pursuits, drawing from her own experience of consistently writing her newsletter.
  • Consistency over time builds trust with readers and audiences, leading to successful engagement.

Defining Success:

  • Polina redefines success as a life well lived, encompassing both achievements and failures, and the lessons learned from them.
  • The book aims to learn from exceptional people rather than idolizing them.

Craftsmanship and Creativity:

  • Polina discusses how she maintained her consistency in writing despite challenges, acknowledging readers' expectations.
  • Maintaining a backup plan and being prepared helps overcome challenges and maintain a consistent creative output.

Finding Smallest Pieces of Hope:

  • Polina advises creators to find the smallest pieces of hope during challenging times to keep the momentum going.
  • The smallest ideas or inspiration can lead to breakthroughs in creativity and productivity.

Lessons from Exceptional Thinkers:

  • Polina emphasizes the uniqueness of the book's content and the diverse nature of the exceptional thinkers profiled.
  • Success doesn't exist in a vacuum, and the book aims to provide readers with diverse ideas to apply in their lives.

Connecting with Polina:

  • Polina invites listeners to connect with her through "The Profile," her weekly newsletter that inspired the book.

Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of 'HIDDEN GENIUS: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World's Most Successful People.' She is also the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she wrote more than 1,300 articles and earned the trust of prominent investors and entrepreneurs. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Case, Chamath Palihapitiya, and more.

Polina's Website

Polina on YouTube

@polinampompliano on Instagram

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About the Podcast

Your World of Creativity
Catalyst of Inspiration, Stories, and Tools to Get Your Work Out Into the World
On YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, best-selling author and global brand innovator, Mark Stinson introduces you to some of the world’s leading creative talent from publishing, film, animation, music, restaurants, medical research, and more.

In every episode, you'll discover:
- How to tap into your most original thinking.
- Inspiration from the experts’ own experience.
- Specific tools, exercises, and formulas to organize your ideas.
- And most of all, you’ll learn how to make connections

 and create opportunities to publish, post, record, display, sell, market, and promote
 your creative work.

Listen for the latest insights for creative people who want to stop questioning themselves and overcome obstacles to launch their creative endeavors out into the world.

Connect with Mark at www.Mark-Stinson.com

About your host

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Mark Stinson

Mark Stinson has earned the reputation as a “brand innovator” -- an experienced marketer, persuasive writer, dynamic presenter, and skilled facilitator. His work includes brand strategy and creative workshops. He has contributed to the launches of more than 150 brands, with a focus on health, science, and technology companies. Mark has worked with clients ranging from global corporations to entrepreneurial start-ups. He is a recipient of the Brand Leadership Award from the Asia Brand Congress and was included in the PharmaVoice 100 Most Inspiring People in the Life-Sciences Industry.