Jordan Harbinger is one of the guys who runs The Art of Charm, a company dedicated to helping its students achieve peak performance in life, love, and work. He also hosts The Art of Charm Podcast, one of the top 100 podcasts in iTunes, and has interviewed guests like Tim Ferriss, Larry King, Brian Koppelman, Cal Newport, and Gary Vaynerchuck.
Building relationships that last is a useful skill for anyone to master, but it’s virtually impossible to survive the entertainment industry for long without it. Jordan has some smart things to say about how we can build rapport and develop those kinds of relationships, and that’s part of why I wanted to bring him on the show. I’ve also been impressed by his inclination to bring on guests who take on challenging issues and don’t shy away from controversy.
The Art of Charm is definitely not just another lifestyle brand that cranks out bland, feel-good fluff week after week. It takes courage for them to cover some of the things they address, and I’m grateful that they do.
“If that sounds really terrible—helping a bunch of people with no thought towards what you might get out of it—you’re screwed.” – Jordan Harbinger
There are a number of self-proclaimed experts out there who offer up generic platitudes or downright creepy advice when it comes to dating and career development, but Jordan isn’t one of those guys. The advice offered by him, his colleagues, and guests tends to be data-driven and seems to come from admirable intentions.
That’s not to say that I agree with every position discussed on The Art of Charm. I can’t say that about anyone, not even good friends and family, but overall I’m impressed by the range of topics and opinions that the show covers and the even-handed way those topics are handled.
In case you’re wondering, the title of this episode comes from a phrase that Jordan likes to say at the end of his show. Not the kind of thing just anyone can get away with saying, but Jordan earns the phrase with the outlook of his show, and it’s consistent with what he shares on The nsavides Podcast.
Some of the things Jordan and I discuss in this episode include
- How to develop social capital
- Ways to reach out to celebrities and other influencers
- The merits of developing within a group of like-minded people
- How to disagree without being disagreeable
- Useful ways of reacting to negative feedback
- Helping others take emotional risks
Listen to the Episode
Related Things
- theartofcharm.com
- The Art of Charm Podcast on iTunes
- The Art of Charm Challenge
- Thank Jordan on Twitter
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini,
- mentioned by Jordan regarding the law of reciprocity
- “Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Joanthan Haidt,
- mentioned by me, an article in The Atlantic that explores the thin-skinned, easily-offended sensibilities nurtured by contemporary culture
AOC Episodes Mentioned in the Show
- Brian Koppelman, screenwriter and series creator of Billions, an inspiring episode I recommend for any creative person who strives to make a living from his or her creative output
- Jack Donovan, on why masculinity still matters
- #29 Fan Mail Friday, where Jordan responds to feedback about the Jack Donovan ep.
Other Notable AOC Episodes I Like
It would take far too much space for me to list all the episodes that I’ve found helpful, but here are a few that stick out, for one reason or another:
Sponsor for this episode
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
- Why not leave a friendly review on iTunes?!
Thank you for visiting!
Jordan has some good things to say, but coming out of the gate bashing another program has me not caring about what he wants to share. I listened to about 10 minutes, and that was enough. Building relationships should not include downright accusing others of being con-artists leaves me wondering if he is projecting.
Hi Katie, thanks for checking in. From what came later in the episode and from what I’ve heard Jordan say elsewhere, I think he was trying to distinguish between those who offer advice not tied to anything concrete and those who base their advice on research. The example that comes up later is that of a coach who instructs others to eat whatever they enjoy as opposed to someone who bases nutritional advice on the latest scientific research. I get that Jordan may have spoken critically of something that means something to you, but he offers lots of actionable advice later in the episode, so I hope you’ll keep listening. In fact that’s what a large part of the episode is about.