Bestselling author shares his No. 1 strategy for a happier, more successful life: It's especially useful if you're 'feeling stuck'

A single-minded focus is not necessarily the best path to success and happiness, according to Tim Ferriss.

Pursuing a variety of passions and side projects can help you live more happily and unlock new career opportunities, says the investor, bestselling author and podcaster. “Identity diversification,” as Ferriss calls it, is something he’s recommended to every startup founder he’s invested with over nearly two decades, he says.

New hobbies and interests aren’t just distractions, he says: They’re new things for you to be passionate about, helping your mental health and adding more purpose to your life. Identity diversification can be helpful for “anyone who’s feeling stuck or anyone who’s feeling fatigued, maybe anxious,” Ferriss says.

The advice may seem counterintuitive coming from Ferriss — an early investor in companies like Uber, Facebook and Twitter — who also says that intense focus boosts productivity and is a common trait of successful people.

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