SPOS #970 – Rohit Bhargava On Non-Obvious Thinking

Welcome to episode #970 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Rohit Bhargava isn’t just a brilliant thinker, entrepreneur and bestselling author - he’s also a close friend who has been a regular guest on this podcast for over fifteen years. Every time we talk, he brings fresh, non-obvious insights that challenge how we see the world. His latest book, Non-Obvious Thinking - How To See What Others Miss, continues this tradition, offering a four-step framework to help people become more observant, uncover insights, and think in a way that stands out. In this conversation, we explore how this mindset applies not just to creativity but also to the ever-changing landscape of publishing and business books. As the founder of Idea Press, Rohit has redefined what it means to be an author, building a hybrid publishing model that gives writers more control, better royalties, and an alternative to traditional publishing. We talked about the increasing volume of business books, the challenge of maintaining quality, and how shorter, more engaging formats are shaping the future of reading. Rohit also shared his perspective on book marketing in a saturated world, the role of curation in cutting through noise, and the importance of managing attention in an age of constant distraction. Beyond publishing, we dove into the broader theme of Non-Obvious Thinking - why we need to be open-minded, embrace different perspectives, and push back against the confirmation bias that dominates so much of modern discourse. It’s always a pleasure catching up with Rohit, and this podcast is no exception. If you’re looking for smarter ways to navigate business, creativity, and the way you absorb information, this one’s for you. Enjoy the conversation...

• Running time: 1:02:23.
• Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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• Here is my conversation with Rohit Bhargava.
• Non-Obvious Thinking - How To See What Others Miss.
• Idea Press.
• Non-Obvious Thinker Newsletter
• Non-Obvious Guides.
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• This week's music: David Usher 'St. Lawrence River'.

Chapters:

(00:00) - The Evolution of Idea Press and Independent Publishing.
(03:03) - The Hybrid Publishing Model Explained.
(05:57) - The Changing Landscape of Business Books.
(09:02) - Quality vs. Quantity in Business Literature.
(12:02) - The Role of Authors and Writing Quality.
(15:03) - Trends in Book Formats and Reader Engagement.
(18:02) - The Audiobook Dilemma.
(20:52) - Emerging Themes in Business Literature.
(23:59) - The Future of Book Marketing and Reader Engagement.
(32:17) - Innovative Book Marketing Strategies.
(35:03) - The Art of Curation in Content Creation.
(38:56) - Non-Obvious Thinking: Becoming Your Best Self.
(45:10) - The Science of Attention and Distraction.
(49:29) - Capturing and Absorbing Information Effectively.
(51:27) - Navigating Confirmation Bias.
(54:50) - Expanding Horizons in a Divisive World.