What can the strategies of the chessboard teach us about how to succeed in life? Author, educator, entrepreneur, hedge fund advisor, and US Chess Federation life master Adam Robinson makes a return appearance to The Knowledge Project to discuss some of the best ways to position yourself for success, including how to steer outcomes in your favor and what it takes to become a learning machine. He also weighs in on the potential uses of ChatGPT, investment strategies, and what it means to trust your instincts.
Available now: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript
Pair this episode with Robinson’s first appearance on The Knowledge Project Podcast.
Robinson is the co-founder of The Princeton Review and the author of the only SAT test preparation book to become a New York Times bestseller. He is also a rated chess master with a Life Title who was personally mentored by Bobby Fischer and, as the President of Robinson Global Strategies, a trusted advisor to some of the world’s largest hedge funds. Robinson previously appeared on episodes 47 and 48 of The Knowledge Project.
Here are a few highlights from our conversation:
Our species had many eons of evolution before we ever came up with logic.
So one of my principles is: Never make a decision when I’m confused.
Adjust your bet size to your conviction level.
A good question is one that prompts other questions… Here’s another way to come at it: a good question is one that increases the choices that I have.
If you’re an organization, you want to find ways to increase the number of learning cycles that every one of your employees goes through.
I define “stupidity” as “overlooking or dismissing conspicuously crucial information.”
Human beings always ignore warnings…All advice is a warning. All wisdom is a warning.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:01 – What most people get wrong about Adam
01:28 – How Robinson feels through his decisions
08:59 – How positioning impacts decision-making
28:29 – On AI and ChatGPT
46:50 – How to become a learning machine
01:04:40 – Why Robinson hasn’t published his book, “How Not to be Stupid.”
