Jason Feifer: Going Viral, First-Time Parenting, Multitasking, and Public Speaking

Gamma Project

Jason Feifer is Editor-In-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine, and host of not one, but two podcasts—Pessimists Archive, about the history of unfounded fears of innovation, and Problem Solvers, about how entrepreneurs solve unexpected problems in their business. He is also the creative mind behind viral sites such as Crossing.us, Heat Fan Sounds, Bad NBA Songs, and Selfies at Funerals. And he just co-wrote a novel with his wife, titled Mr. Nice Guy, which comes out this October. Jason has been an editor at Fast Company, Men's Health, Maxim, and Boston, and has written for New York, ESPN, Slate, GQ, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, and others. We begin this wide-ranging interview with the topic of parenting, and I ask Jason how he knew when he was ready to become a father. From there we talk about a skill every new parent (as well as the rest of us) could benefit from picking up—juggling numerous projects at the same time. Jason is a master multitasker. He explains how he finds the energy to keep so many different plates spinning at once, as well as the apps he uses to increase productivity and stay organized. There’s a great part in this interview where Jason talks about knowing your worth and getting what you deserve. Part of that is laying out all of your skills and making sure you’re fully activating them to further your brand or business. Jason recently grew his personal business to include speaking engagements, and one of my favorite tips in this interview comes when Jason explains how he is able to nail a speech without memorizing a single line. Of course, there is a ton of advice for newly minted entrepreneurs, like how to know when your new business or product is ready to take to market. Here, Jason talks about putting yourself to the test before you put your business to the test. And no Feifer interview would be complete without talking about selfies. Jason is widely regarded, by media around the world including the New York Times, as the international authority on selfies. He tells the story of how a simple Tumblr page became an overnight viral sensation, and how he parlayed that opportunity into a whirlwind of media attention. In that same vein, we cover strategies for growing your audience, as well as what to do with that megaphone once you get it, to maximize your resources for the greatest return. Also, today’s episode is a special one, for me personally. Not only is Jason one of the people who encouraged me to create this podcast, this conversation is the first interview I recorded for the show. And there’s evidence of that. As it turns out, some microphones have a front and a back. And if you speak into the back, instead of the front, your voice sounds distant. Fortunately, Jason sounds great, because it was in fact my mic that was flipped the wrong way around for this interview. Thankfully, this show is about the guests—not me. And few people out there can impart as much practical knowledge, and in as accessible and relatable a manner, as Jason Feifer. ______________________ This episode is brought to you by Altra. I was introduced to Altra a couple of years ago, and their running shoes—known for their signature Footshape toe box and Zero Drop platform—have since become a sort of secret weapon for me. I break them out for especially punishing runs, and when it’s time to go off-road, their trail shoes are the only ones I’ll wear. (The Lone Peak is my personal favorite.) This spring, Altra wants you to #EmbraceTheSpace and get fired up for taking your runs outside with their lineup of fast and light road shoes. One model to check out, for sure, is the Altra Duo, which features 31mm cushioning beneath both the forefoot and the heel, and weighs in at a crazy-light 7.5 ounces. If you’re interested in checking out the Altra Duo, you can head to fleetfeetsports.com. They’ll be available there through March. AltraRunning.com