How a single book changed Matthew McConaughey's life forever
(thread) 🧵
[Source: @tferriss podcast with @McConaughey]
(thread) 🧵
[Source: @tferriss podcast with @McConaughey]
Matthew was a stellar student at the University of Texas at Austin with a 3.82 GPA. He was dead set on becoming a defense attorney.
However, near the end of his sophomore year, he was
taking a lot of liberal arts classes to fulfill his degree requirements.
However, near the end of his sophomore year, he was
taking a lot of liberal arts classes to fulfill his degree requirements.
Around that time, Matthew was writing a lot of short stories and became fascinated by storytelling. But, he didn't feel confident in pursuing it further.
Even after a phone call with a close friend who encouraged Matthew to pursue storytelling or acting, he waved it off.
Even after a phone call with a close friend who encouraged Matthew to pursue storytelling or acting, he waved it off.
One day, Matthew had hours to kill before a final exam so he went to his frat house.
He looked at his notes but didn't feel like studying.
He looked at the TV but didn't feel like watching.
He even looked at a Playboy magazine but didn't feel interested.
BUT...he did see a book
He looked at his notes but didn't feel like studying.
He looked at the TV but didn't feel like watching.
He even looked at a Playboy magazine but didn't feel interested.
BUT...he did see a book
"I see this white paperback with this beautiful red cursive writing on it and it says, The Greatest Salesman In The World." –MM
Matthew didn't consider himself a reader, but he was drawn to this book for some reason.
Matthew didn't consider himself a reader, but he was drawn to this book for some reason.
While reading it, Matthew realized that the greatest salesman would be the person who read and followed the advice in the book.
Matthew got so absorbed in it, when he looked up he only had 15 minutes to get to his exam.
Matthew got so absorbed in it, when he looked up he only had 15 minutes to get to his exam.
During the exam, Matthew realized the exam wasn't important. What was important was getting back to the book.
"I ripped through that exam. I didn't care if I failed it. Something in this book had told me...this book is going to give you confidence to go do what you need to do."
"I ripped through that exam. I didn't care if I failed it. Something in this book had told me...this book is going to give you confidence to go do what you need to do."
Upon finishing the exam, Matthew realized he wanted to pursue storytelling & go to film school.
Later that day, Matthew called his dad to get his thoughts on the decision.
His father had 3 words for him:
“Don’t half-ass it.”
Later that day, Matthew called his dad to get his thoughts on the decision.
His father had 3 words for him:
“Don’t half-ass it.”
Matthew decided to go all-in:
“I went down the next day, changed my course schedule and my GPA got me into film school...and I started off behind the camera."
During this time, he continued to read "The Greatest Salesman In The World."
“I went down the next day, changed my course schedule and my GPA got me into film school...and I started off behind the camera."
During this time, he continued to read "The Greatest Salesman In The World."
The book consists of 10 scrolls and according to the author's instructions, each scroll should be read 3x a day (morning, afternoon, evening) every day for 30 days.
In other words, it takes about 10 months to read the entire book if you follow the author’s guidelines.
In other words, it takes about 10 months to read the entire book if you follow the author’s guidelines.
For the next 10 months, Matthew did exactly that.
Even when he came home at 1 AM after a party, he would have some food or coffee to sober up, and make sure he got his reading session in.
“I didn’t miss one single read for ten straight months” – Matthew McConaughey
Even when he came home at 1 AM after a party, he would have some food or coffee to sober up, and make sure he got his reading session in.
“I didn’t miss one single read for ten straight months” – Matthew McConaughey
After that 10 month reading period, Matthew landed a role in the now cult hit film Dazed and Confused (1993).
The rest, as they say, is history.
“That book is the most instrumental piece of literature and motivation I’ve ever read for me in my life.” –MM
The rest, as they say, is history.
“That book is the most instrumental piece of literature and motivation I’ve ever read for me in my life.” –MM
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