Key Moments
Brandon Stanton Interview | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)
Tim FerrissKey Moments
Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York discusses his journey from financial trader to photographer-storyteller.
Key Insights
Stanton's early academic struggles stemmed from a desire for a grand purpose, leading to a period of self-discovery through reading and routine.
His transition into finance was driven by a temporary comfort with risk and a fascination with market psychology, not purely financial gain.
Losing his job in finance prompted a pivot to photography, prioritizing personal fulfillment and the act of creation over immediate financial success.
Humans of New York evolved from a photography project to a platform for deep, vulnerable storytelling, facilitated by trust and presence.
Stanton carefully manages partnerships, separating his personal income from the integrity of the Humans of New York brand.
Financial success with HONY has allowed him to focus on artistic endeavors like documentary filmmaking, prioritizing personal growth over audience metrics.
EARLY STRUGGLES AND THE SEARCH FOR PURPOSE
Brandon Stanton's early life was marked by academic challenges, stemming from a perceived need to achieve something monumental. This grand ambition led him to neglect his studies in favor of pondering existential questions, ultimately resulting in him flunking out of college. He later found his way back by establishing discipline, focusing on routine, and committing to reading 100 pages of non-fiction daily, a habit that profoundly shaped his intellectual growth and perspective.
THE UNEXPECTED PATH TO FINANCE
After returning to college and focusing on his education, Stanton pursued a career in bond trading. This move wasn't driven by a passion for finance itself, but rather by a temporary comfort with risk, honed by a bet on Barack Obama's political success, and a genuine fascination with market psychology. He describes markets as a compelling arena of human behavior, driven by greed and fear, which he found philosophically intriguing despite its eventual demands.
THE PIVOT TO PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORYTELLING
Losing his job during the financial crisis of 2008 marked a critical turning point for Stanton. This event, coupled with a realization that two years of his life had been consumed by a myopic focus on trading, prompted a significant life change. He decided to pursue photography, not for skill or potential success, but because the act of taking pictures was deeply nourishing in the moment. This led him to structure his life around this passion, aiming to make just enough money to support his photography habit.
THE EVOLUTION OF HUMANS OF NEW YORK
Initially, Stanton's project, "Humans of New York" (HONY), was conceived as a large-scale photography project documenting 10,000 people across the city. However, the project gained traction when he began posting individual portraits with compelling quotes on social media, particularly Facebook. This shift transformed HONY from a visual census to a platform for intimate storytelling, where his growing expertise lay not in photography itself, but in making strangers comfortable enough to share deep, vulnerable truths.
THE ART OF CONNECTION AND VULNERABILITY
Stanton's success hinges on his ability to create a safe space for strangers, fostering an environment where they feel genuinely heard. His approach involves absolute presence and deep listening, using simple entry questions as springboards for expansive conversations. The magic of HONY lies in transcending the typical interviewer-interviewee dynamic, creating a connection where people feel comfortable sharing profound personal experiences they might not have disclosed elsewhere.
NAVIGATING MONETIZATION AND ARTISTIC INTEGRITY
While HONY has achieved significant financial success through book sales and the television series, Stanton maintains a strict boundary regarding brand monetization. He has turned down numerous lucrative partnership offers, choosing to earn income through personal endeavors like public speaking and book sales. This protects the integrity of the HONY brand, ensuring that no content posted on the platform has a commercial motive, thereby preserving the trust of his audience and the authenticity of his work.
FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND ARTISTIC AMBITIONS
Looking ahead, Stanton is navigating a tension between the demands of social media's constant output and his desire as an artist to pursue longer-term, more polished projects, such as documentary filmmaking. He plans to spend a month filming a documentary in the Philippines, prioritizing artistic excitement over social media metrics. This decision reflects his core principle of pursuing what is nourishing in the moment, a philosophy that guided him from his initial struggles to his current success.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Supplements
●Software & Apps
●Companies
●Organizations
●Books
●People Referenced
Common Questions
Brandon Stanton flunked out because he felt the curriculum was irrelevant to his 'big purpose' in life, spending his time pondering philosophical questions and engaging in recreational activities. He later returned to college, focusing on discipline and establishing routines like reading 100 pages a day, which led him to graduate with straight A's as a history major. (Timestamp: 600)
Topics
Mentioned in this video
An Irish exchange where Brandon Stanton placed a bet on Barack Obama's primary election prospects.
Tim Ferriss's preferred platform for blogging and creating websites, also used by The New Yorker and Beyoncé. It offers out-of-the-box SEO and 24/7 support.
An online classifieds site where Brandon Stanton found a sublease in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, when he first moved to New York.
One of 30+ countries Brandon Stanton has visited for Humans of New York, conducting interviews with interpreters.
One of 30+ countries Brandon Stanton has visited for Humans of New York, conducting interviews with interpreters.
Brandon Stanton's hometown, described by him as being like 'Starbucks and Barnes & Noble' but where he enjoyed growing up.
One of 30+ countries Brandon Stanton has visited for Humans of New York, conducting interviews with interpreters.
The city where Brandon Stanton worked as a bond trader after graduating college.
A neighborhood in Brooklyn where Brandon Stanton found his first sublease in New York City.
Brandon Stanton returned to Atlanta to practice street photography before moving to New York.
One of the cities Brandon Stanton visited to develop his street photography skills before settling in New York.
The city where Brandon Stanton lives and where Humans of New York is based; he moved there specifically for its photographic opportunities.
One of the cities Brandon Stanton visited to develop his street photography skills before settling in New York.
Brandon Stanton plans to travel there to film a documentary; also mentioned as a setting in 'Cryptonomicon'.
Creator of Humans of New York, author of best-selling books, recognized by Time magazine, and subject of the interview.
His autobiography was one of the first books Brandon Stanton read, inspiring his focus on self-improvement and daily discipline; recommended as a starting point for those feeling stuck.
Founder of WordPress.com and a close friend of Tim Ferriss, who has appeared on the podcast multiple times.
Author of 'Liar's Poker', a book about bond trading that Tim Ferriss found fascinating.
A dictator whose biography Brandon Stanton studied for understanding crowd psychology and history, not for admiration.
A notable photographer of the past whose work, according to others, resembled Brandon Stanton's in capturing regular people.
Co-founder of Airbnb, known for asking the question, 'Do you remember the first time you got in trouble?'
The historical figure on whom Brandon Stanton has read the most biographies, finding his life 'fascinating'.
Opponent of Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary, against whom Obama's campaign was discussed.
A dictator whose biography Brandon Stanton studied out of intellectual curiosity about how groups of people can be mobilized towards evil, not out of admiration.
President invited Brandon Stanton to photograph him in the Oval Office. Brandon also bet on his primary election win in 2007/2008.
Author of 'Cryptonomicon' and 'Snow Crash', suggested by Tim Ferriss.
Brandon Stanton collaborated with the UN to tell stories from around the world.
A news organization mentioned as a user of WordPress.com.
Community college Brandon Stanton attended after flunking out of University of Georgia to improve his grades.
Brandon Stanton flunked out of and later graduated from the University of Georgia.
A book by Neal Stephenson, suggested by Tim Ferriss, which has a narrative thread taking place in the Philippines.
A New York Times best-selling book by Brandon Stanton.
A children's book by Brandon Stanton.
A book by Michael Lewis about bond trading that Tim Ferriss read and found informative about the risks of the market.
An example of a book Brandon Stanton would read during his self-imposed '100 pages a day' reading habit.
An example of a nonfiction book Brandon Stanton would read during his self-imposed '100 pages a day' reading habit.
A publication by Benjamin Franklin containing sayings that Brandon Stanton found influential.
A book by Neal Stephenson, mentioned by Tim Ferriss.
A sweetener that Tim Ferriss avoids; he specifically requested Four Sigmatic's reishi elixir without it.
A green tea product from Four Sigmatic, used as a coffee alternative, containing L-theanine and Astragalus.
An adaptogen included in Four Sigmatic's matcha blend, which may help with stress tolerance.
A Four Sigmatic product, recommended by Tim Ferriss for improving sleep and calming the mind. He requested a custom stevia-free version.
An amino acid found in Four Sigmatic's matcha blend, contributing to a balanced energy boost.
An organic ingredient listed in Four Sigmatic's reishi elixir.
An organic ingredient listed in Four Sigmatic's reishi elixir.
An organic ingredient listed in Four Sigmatic's reishi elixir.
Social media platform where Humans of New York can be found.
A financial firm mentioned in 'Liar's Poker' as the workplace of 'Fat Tony'.
The publishing company that made an offer for Brandon Stanton's first Humans of New York book.
Company co-founded by Joe Gebbia.
A company recognized for its mushroom coffee and reishi mushroom elixir, created by Finnish founders.
Platform where Humans of New York gained massive following (over 25 million followers). Subsequently acquired the HONY video series as original content.
A friend who works at Google praised WordPress.com's SEO capabilities.
A bookstore chain mentioned as being present in Marietta, Georgia, and later as a place Brandon would browse photography books.
A publication mentioned as a user of WordPress.com.
Brandon Stanton's photography and storytelling blog, which has become a New York Times bestselling book series and a video series for Facebook.
A financial news channel, watching which Brandon mentions gives a tangible but superficial view of markets.
A news magazine mentioned as a user of WordPress.com.
Named Brandon Stanton one of the '30 under 30 people changing the world' in 2013.
A technology news website mentioned as a user of WordPress.com.
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