Everything I Know by Paul Jarvis Summary
Overview of Everything I Know
In "Everything I Know," Paul Jarvis challenges conventional entrepreneurship with raw authenticity. Endorsed by Danielle LaPorte and Marie Forleo, this cult classic asks: Why follow generic advice when your unique path awaits? Fast Company calls it "whip-smart" - the kick you need to finally trust yourself.
Similar books to Everything I Know
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
When the Creative Police Come Knocking and Why Money Makes a Terrible Goal
What if someone discovered you were a fraud? That gnawing feeling in your gut-the one that whispers you're not really qualified, not really talented, not really deserving of success-is more universal than you think. It's the fear that one day, the universe will expose you as an imposter, strip away everything you've built, and sentence you to a life of mediocrity. Yet here's the paradox: despite this terror, you keep showing up. You keep creating. You keep sharing your work with the world. This tension between fear and action defines the creative life, and it's precisely where authenticity begins. The question isn't whether you'll feel like a fraud-it's whether you'll create anyway. Early in his career, chasing a million-dollar annual income seemed like the ultimate target. That goal dictated every decision-saying yes to nearly everything, working 80-hour weeks, designing websites for professional athletes despite having zero interest in sports. The money came, but so did something unexpected: emptiness. Making lots of money didn't create fulfillment; it created exhaustion and disconnection from meaningful work. Here's the uncomfortable truth: money is a terrible primary goal because it has nothing to do with your values. It's a measuring stick that tells you nothing about whether you're living well or creating work that matters. This doesn't mean money is evil-it's an enabler and amplifier. If you're focused on helping others, money lets you do more good. It also serves as feedback, measuring how much people value what you offer. But until you define what "enough" means for you personally, you'll always be chasing an arbitrary number that never satisfies. Consider the contract accountant who accepts projects until he's covered his necessities and retirement savings, then stops working and travels for months. He's defined his "enough." This clarity creates freedom-the freedom to say no, to take time off, to explore interests beyond income generation. Once you abandon the endless pursuit of more, you can let your values guide your work instead. What matters to you? Who do you want to serve? What kind of impact do you want to make? Living frugally with minimal business expenses helps maintain this freedom. When your overhead is low, you need less income to sustain your lifestyle, which means you can be more selective about projects and clients. You can take time to write, travel, or simply think. The intersection between enjoying what you do and getting paid for it becomes the sweetest place of all-not because you've maximized income, but because you've optimized for meaning.
Breaking Free from the Blueprint and Building Your Own Path
The Competitive Advantage of Being Weird
Fear: The Dragon You Must Befriend
Progress Over Perfection: The Power of Iteration
The Unsexy Secret: Just Show Up
Your Work Is a Love Letter to Someone
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Everything I Know Summary in 10 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Everything I Know into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 11 Insights from Everything I Know in a Nutshell
Distill Everything I Know into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Everything I Know Lessons Told Through 19-Min Stories
Experience Everything I Know through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Everything I Know Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Everything I Know summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.