Mid-career, and the decade in which people are most often asked what their job actually consists of.
30 people · 1,178 answers
Game designer; co-creator of Exploding Kittens
There’s a few that are immediate, because he just drilled them into my head. One is “Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd.” Try as hard as you want to market something, get a crowd.
Recorded · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2023
Photojournalist and war photographer; Pulitzer Prize winner, 2009
My parents also said, “Don’t follow money. Follow your heart and you’ll be successful.” That’s all they told me and my sisters.
Recorded · American Academy of Achievement · 2017
Actor, director and producer
“David, you are going to walk among kings.” This was my mum’s prophecy when I was small. My father is from a royal family in Nigeria, so I interpreted it that way.
Recorded · The Observer / The Guardian · 2025
India Test and one-day international cricketer, 1989–2013
He gave me freedom at the age of 11, and told me that [I should] chase my dreams, but make sure you do not find short cuts.
Recorded · The Hindu · 2013
Financier; co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
One person that is my role model is my father. ... He’s a man who taught me something very important. And that was — give back to society what you’ve taken out.
Recorded · Academy of Achievement · 1991
Actor and film-maker; host of the Armchair Expert podcast
I would always be tempted to take a movie I liked less if the payday was twice as much, and I’ve interviewed a couple people that grew up with wealth and I’ve watched them navigate their…
Recorded · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2020
Film director; Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan
I think I’ve always been jealous of musicians. You hear the story where Bob Dylan wrote a song in the afternoon and it became the anthem for a generation.
Recorded · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2018
Prime Minister of New Zealand, 2017–2023; Leader of the Labour Party 2017–2023
Recently I had the privilege of joining ex German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on a panel. I have long been in awe of her leadership, not least for her endurance. She was in power for 16 years.
Recorded · Harvard Magazine · 2022
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Singer and stage actor
I am a shoe and bag freak. I shelled out for a Chanel handbag on eBay and it was still four figures!
Recorded · The Guardian · 2022
English actress and narrator
An old camper van that has cost me more in repairs than my house, my wedding and all the holidays I’ve ever been on.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2018
British comedian
I don’t own a property. The carpet in our flat; it’s not fancy or anything.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2020
English television presenter
Art. I recently bought a Sean Scully painting, I have a Damien Hirst, a Tracey Emin, a Polly Morgan snake and a couple of Jonathan Yeos.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2021
English actor
A Chanel dress. I bought it with my first proper paycheck and it was ridiculously expensive. It is also hideous.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2020
Cuban ballet dancer
A 1955 Jaguar XK120. It was not in very good condition and, little by little, I brought it back to its former splendour.
Recorded · The Guardian · 2018
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