Hello, Geo-FIRE Fam!
Welcome to the first 60 Seconds to FIRE Newsletter of 2025! What are your goals for this year? I’m excited to continue striving for “better” every year, and 2025 will be no exception. There’s a lot of projects in the works this year and i’m excited for them.
Speaking of projects, I’m always looking to improve what I do, and this newsletter is no different. If you have any feedback, please leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts and make this experience even better for you.
Cheers!
Let’s start the year off with a bang! This month, I’m reviewing a book I consider a massive toolbox: Tools for Titans by Tim Ferriss. The book is based on a series of podcasts featuring world leaders in the realms of health, wealth, and wisdom. From medical doctors and ultra-long-distance athletes to scientists and business moguls, Tools for Titans is a concentrated distillation of the best insights from these conversations.
This month’s review will focus on my favorite takeaways from the book and how I plan to incorporate them into my life. Let’s dive in!
Insights from Dr. Peter Attia – Health
Dr. Peter Attia focuses on extending healthspan—the years spent in good health—through fasting, exercise, and personalised strategies. As I get older, I’ve become increasingly conscious of maintaining my physical health to live a high-quality life with as few limitations as possible. For this reason, Dr. Attia’s advice really resonates with me.
He advocates for intermittent fasting or periodic extended fasts to improve insulin sensitivity and promote cellular repair. A ketogenic diet, cycled in and out periodically, enhances cognitive function and metabolic flexibility. I’ve tried this in the past, and while it wasn’t quite for me, I appreciate its scientifically proven benefits.
Exercise is crucial, with a focus on Zone 2 training (low-intensity aerobic) for mitochondrial health and strength training to maintain muscle and prevent frailty. Self-monitoring with wearables or blood tests helps tailor health strategies. Personally, I love using my Garmin watch to track steps, calories, and distances during my runs. I find this incredibly motivating, leading to both physical and mental improvements.
Actionable Steps
- Exercise: Incorporate Zone 2 aerobic and weekly strength training.
- Self-Monitoring: Use wearables to track glucose, ketones, and heart rate.
- Lifestyle: Eat earlier, avoid overeating, and skip excessive endurance exercise.
These practices optimise health and longevity. Does this sort of advice resonate with you? Are you focused on your health over the long term?
Approaches to Life from Derek Sivers – Wealth/Life
If Geo-arbitrage or FIRE needed a human mascot, it would be Derek Sivers. An entrepreneur and author, Sivers emphasizes simplicity, focus, and deliberate decision-making as keys to personal and professional success. He advocates prioritizing meaningful goals and saying “no” to distractions using the “Hell Yes or No” approach—ensuring energy is spent only on truly worthwhile pursuits. Sivers also applies this mantra when choosing business partners and assessing potential investments. Clearing distractions has been a focus of mine over the past year, so Derek’s words lit my synapsis up like a bonfire.
He highlights the importance of independent thinking and creating unconventional paths to success, encouraging others to challenge societal norms. Sivers also emphasises systems over goals, suggesting that consistent habits and frameworks lead to lasting progress—a perspective many in our community share.
Actionable Steps
- Simplify Decisions: Use the “Hell Yes or No” rule to focus only on what excites or aligns with your values.
- Think Independently: Challenge societal norms and pursue paths that resonate with your personal vision.
- Focus on Systems: Build habits and frameworks to sustain growth instead of chasing rigid goals.
- Practice Minimalism: Eliminate unnecessary commitments to free up time for meaningful work.
Sivers’s principles inspire a more intentional and fulfilling life. Do Derek’s philosophies resonate with you?
Naval Ravikant – Wise
Yes, I know we just reviewed Naval’s book last month, and I might sound like a bit of a fanboy, but honestly, his perspective on life is something I aspire to emulate. For those who missed last month’s review: Naval Ravikant, entrepreneur and philosopher, offers a blueprint for achieving both material wealth and inner peace. He emphasizes building wealth through equity and leverage—owning businesses, investments, or scalable media—rather than trading time for money. To Naval, true wealth lies in freedom, not excess.
In Tools for Titans, Naval highlights that happiness is a skill cultivated through self-awareness, meditation, and reducing desires. He challenges societal norms, advocating for authenticity and rejecting comparisons. His philosophy centers on long-term thinking, embracing leverage, and aligning actions with personal values to create a life of purpose and fulfilment.
Actionable Steps
- Wealth Creation: Own equity in businesses or investments to build financial freedom.
- Happiness Practice: Meditate, simplify desires, and focus on inner peace.
- Use Leverage: Scale impact through technology, capital, or media—not increased effort.
- Live Authentically: Reject societal pressures and define success by your own values.
Naval’s teachings inspire freedom, clarity, and purpose. Invest wisely, prioritise happiness, harness technology, and live on your terms—you’ll be the happiest person you know.
So What?
The individuals discussed above are leaders in their fields, and it’s fascinating how their priorities often align—emphasizing health and happiness over money. Health truly is the ultimate wealth, and as outside-the-box thinkers, we must focus on our physical and mental well-being, not just the numbers on a spreadsheet. Money can always be made, but health and happiness? Those are priceless.
Should You Read This Book?
Absolutely. Tools for Titans is like a life manual. While you can read it cover-to-cover, as I did, it’s equally valuable when used in bits and pieces. Facing a challenge? Pick it up. Need focus? Read Derek Sivers’ section. Want to slow your mind and add more smiles? Dive into Naval Ravikant’s chapter. Looking to get in shape at 40? Get some Peter Attia. This book is a distillation of pure genius across all areas of life—a must-have resource for anyone seeking growth, health, and happiness.
Finally, thanks for reading 60 Seconds to FIRE! If you’re enjoying the newsletter, please subscribe and share it with like-minded friends and family. Join our Geo-Arbitrage FIRE Community here on Facebook to connect with others focused on financial independence and early retirement abroad.
Cheers
Andy
Florence, Italy
The view from Jardin de Boboli, Florence. A great walk.