By Tim Ferriss
蒂姆·费里斯(Tim Ferriss)著
Dear Reader,
亲爱的读者，
It feels strange for me to write these words, as I committed many years ago to never write forewords.
对我来说，写这些话感觉很奇怪，因为我很多年前就承诺永远不写前言。
I’m making a rare exception in this case for three reasons. First, a free version of this book is being offered to the world in a digital/Kindle/eBook format with no strings attached. Second, I’ve known Naval for more than a decade and have long wanted someone to compile this book. Third, I’m increasing the likelihood of Naval’s next child being named “Tim” (I’ll settle for “Timbo,” if he prefers).
我在这件事上罕见地破例有三个原因。首先，这本书的免费版本以数字/Kindle/电子书的形式提供给世界，没有任何附加条件。其次，我认识Naval已经十多年了，一直希望有人来编写这本书。第三，我增加了纳瓦尔下一个孩子取名为“蒂姆”的可能性(如果他愿意，我可以取名为“提博”)。
Naval is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and he’s also one of the most courageous. Not in the “run into the fire without thinking twice” sense, but in the “think twice and then tell everyone they’re focusing on the wrong fire” sense. He is rarely part of any consensus, and the uniqueness of his life, lifestyle, family dynamics, and startup successes is a reflection of conscious choices he’s made to do things differently.
纳瓦尔是我见过的最聪明的人之一，也是最勇敢的人之一。不是“不假思索地冲进火里”的感觉，而是“三思而后行，然后告诉每个人他们关注的是错误的火”的感觉。他很少是任何共识的一部分，他的生活、生活方式、家庭动态和创业成功的独特性反映了他做出的有意识的选择，以不同的方式做事。
He can be as blunt as a foot to the face, but that’s part of what I love and respect about him: you never have to guess what Naval is thinking. I’ve never had to guess how he’s feeling about me, someone else, or a situation. This is a huge relief in a world of double -talk and ambiguity.
他可以直言不讳，但这是我喜欢和尊重他的一部分：你永远不需要猜测纳瓦尔在想什么。我从来不需要猜测他对我、对其他人或对某个情况的感觉。在一个空谈和模棱两可的世界里，这是一个巨大的解脱。
We’ve shared a lot of meals, shared a lot of deals, and hopped around the world together. That’s all to say that, while I consider myself a good people -watcher , I consider myself an excellent Naval -watcher . He is one of the people I call most for advice, and I’ve watched him in many habitats through many seasons: easy times, hard times, recessions, booms—you name it.
我们分享了很多餐点，分享了很多交易，一起环游了世界。这就是说，虽然我认为自己是一名优秀的人民观察家，但我也认为自己是一名优秀的纳瓦尔观察家。他是我打电话咨询最多的人之一，我观察过他在许多栖息地度过的许多季节：轻松时期，艰难时期，衰退，繁荣-你能想到的都有。
Sure, he’s the CEO and a co -founder of AngelList. Sure, he previously co -founded Vast.com and Epinions, which went public as part of Shopping.com. Sure, he’s an angel investor and has invested in many mega successes, including Twitter, Uber, Yammer, and OpenDNS, to name but a few.
当然，他是AngelList的首席执行官和联合创始人。当然，他之前是Vast.com和Epinions的联合创始人，这两家公司作为Shopping.com的一部分上市。当然，他是一位天使投资人，投资了许多巨大的成功，包括Twitter、Uber、Yammer和OpenDNS，仅举几例。
That’s all great, of course, and it shows Naval is a world -class operator instead of an armchair philosopher.
当然，这一切都很棒，这表明纳瓦尔是一个世界级的操作者，而不是一个纸上谈兵的哲学家。
But I don’t take his perspectives, maxims, and thoughts seriously because of the business stuff. There are lots of miserable “successful” people out there. Be careful about modeling those, as you will get all the bathwater with the baby.
但由于商业方面的原因，我并没有认真对待他的观点、格言和想法。外面有很多悲惨的“成功人士”。做那些模型时要小心，因为你会得到所有的洗澡水和婴儿在一起。
I take Naval seriously because he:
我认真对待纳瓦尔，因为他：
- Questions nearly everything 问几乎所有的问题
- Can think from first principles 能从基本原则出发思考
- Tests things well 测试得很好
- Is good at not fooling himself 善于不自欺欺人
- Changes his mind regularly 他经常改变主意
- Laughs a lot 笑声很大
- Thinks holistically 从整体上思考
- Thinks long -term 着眼长远
- And…doesn’t take himself too goddamn seriously. 和…他妈的不把自己当回事。
That last one is important.
最后一个很重要。
This book will give you a good taste of what that cocktail of bullets looks like in Naval’s head.
这本书会让你很好地领略纳瓦尔头脑中的子弹鸡尾酒是什么样子。
So, pay attention…but don’t simply parrot his words. Follow his advice…but only if it holds up after scrutiny and stress -testing in your own life. Consider everything…but take nothing as gospel. Naval would want you to challenge him, as long as you bring your A -game . 所以，请注意…但不要简单地模仿他的话。听从他的建议…但只有在你自己的生活中经过仔细检查和压力测试之后，它才能站得住脚。把一切都考虑到…但不要把任何事当作福音。纳瓦尔会希望你挑战他，只要你带上你的A级比赛。
Naval has changed my life for the better, and if you approach the following pages like a friendly but highly competent sparring partner, he might just change yours.
纳瓦尔已经让我的生活变得更好了，如果你像一个友好但很有能力的拳击搭档一样接近下面的页面，他可能会改变你的生活。
Keep your hands up and your mind open.
举起你的双手，敞开你的心扉。
Pura Vida,
普拉·维达，
Tim Ferriss
蒂姆·费里斯(Tim Ferriss)
Austin, Texas
奥斯汀，得克萨斯州