E68: Tyler Cowen on Talent, the Importance of Stamina, and Predicting Success

"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a fascinating discussion with economist, professor, and bestselling author Tyler Cowen about how to find talented people. This was recorded in 2022 around the launch of his book 'Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World' co-authored with Daniel Gross. Tyler and Erik discuss strategies for assessing raw talent, recognizing late bloomers, and fostering an environment conducive to high achievers. They also cover the importance of understanding founder compatibility, building strong peer groups, and the role of mentorship in talent development.

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LINKS:

Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World - https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Identify-Energizers-Creatives-Winners/dp/1250275814

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(02:07) The Genesis of Tyler Cowen's Book 'Talent'

(06:33) The Role of Peer Endorsement

(11:01) Super Fans and High Achievers

(13:19) Impact of Public Fame and Risk Aversion Among Young People

(15:12) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv

(17:40) Choosing the Right Hierarchies

(20:12) Scaling Apprenticeships

(29:33) Commercial Break: Babbel Language Learning

(30:58) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave

(31:57) Wishlist Topics for Future Research

(40:42) Organizing the World's Ambition

(47:56) The Future of Emergent Ventures

(51:14) Closing Thoughts and Future Projects