True character reveals itself through action rather than self-description. People are defined by how they move through the world. When writing about someone, Polina looks for the moment the mask drops to see who the person actually is. This often happens in small, overlooked moments that contradict a person's public persona.

There were small moments where I would notice how tired he was. There were certain times where he told stories that I am like, why are you telling me this story right now? Because it is what we do that colors who we are, not the other way around.

Observing these subtle behaviors provides a more honest picture of a person. For example, noticing a subject's fatigue or the specific timing of the stories they share can offer a window into their real self. These actions provide context that words alone cannot capture.

Writing a book can feel like an overwhelming challenge, especially for those accustomed to short-form content. Polina initially focused on article-length pieces and did not see herself completing a major work. She successfully wrote her book by breaking the process into familiar, smaller tasks. She treated the project like a collection of articles, where several short pieces would form one section of a chapter.

The way I broke it down is I thought, okay, I'm good at writing article length pieces, so I'll have three articles that make up one section of one chapter. I just did it piecemeal like that.

This strategy helped her transition from writing short-form content to a full-length book. By using this method, she was able to manage a large project while also handling significant life changes, such as raising four children. Breaking a massive goal into manageable chunks makes it much easier to achieve.

Writing does not always start with a rigid outline. Polina describes her process as assembling a jigsaw puzzle of information. Instead of grouping people by their professions, she connects them through shared mental models. This leads to unexpected pairings. For instance, an athlete and a chef might appear in the same chapter because they share a similar perspective on the world.

I write in pieces. It is like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces of information. I want this piece here and this person's mental model here. But then this other person is a completely different person, but they use a similar mental model, so they belong in the same section.

Much of the structural work happens mentally during the small gaps in a day. Polina keeps a running document of themes and makes connections while doing other tasks. When it is time to sit down and write, the hard work of organizing the ideas is already done. These mental models are rarely stated directly by the subjects. They must be inferred by studying many interviews and research materials to understand how a person truly sees the world.

After you read enough research and watch enough interviews, you get a sense of how they see the world.

Polina suggests that the most robust mental model for creativity is walking through the world actively. Instead of waiting for inspiration, creative people see things in their daily lives and apply them to their professions. Whether it is finance, cooking, or fitness, ideas are everywhere if you look for them.

Chef Grant Achatz is a perfect example of this. He views everything through a kaleidoscope of food. He might see a woman wearing red earrings and realize he can incorporate that visual into a dish. He even uses music to structure the dining experience at his restaurant.

He moves through the world looking for ideas for his restaurant in the most unexpected places. He calls it seeing the world through a kaleidoscope of food. He listens to a song and he is like, there are peaks, there are valleys. I want the dining experience to mirror a story.

By observing the peaks and valleys in a song by Rage Against the Machine, Grant creates a narrative for his guests. This approach allows someone to carry insights from one field into another seamlessly.

Emotional sobriety is a vital trait for success. It involves separating your identity from your beliefs. This allows you to critique ideas without attacking the person who suggested them. At companies like Pixar, teams entertain even the wildest ideas first. They debate and refine them through a scientific process rather than accepting them at face value or dismissing them immediately. This approach leads to much better outcomes than blind agreement.

The most successful people in this world are able to attack ideas instead of attacking people.

Humans are primarily emotional creatures. Most people make decisions based on feelings and then use logic to justify those choices later. Temporary emotions can lead to permanent mistakes. To combat this, some leaders use systems to neutralize their emotions. Alexander the Great reportedly tested his sober decisions by revisiting them while he was drunk. If the decision still felt right the next morning, he would move forward with it.

Success also requires the courage to reinvent yourself. Many high achievers have lost everything, learned from the failure, and then chose to bet on themselves again. This willingness to start over is also essential for creativity. Chef Grant Achatz demonstrated this when he lost his sense of taste to cancer. Instead of quitting, he used logic to map out flavors using smell, vision, and texture. Polina notes that he forced his team to scrap their menu every six months, even when it was the best they had ever created. He did this because he believed that being satisfied with past success leads to complacency.

Complacency will kill creativity. So we need to start over. That forces you to think. It forces you to continue to push yourself intellectually.

Ed Catmull believed a project was only worth pursuing if it had a chance to fail. He avoided the safety of sequels to find original concepts. Polina explains that Catmull found the elevator pitch to be a poor measure of quality. If an idea is simple enough to explain in 30 seconds, it is likely not very original. Complex ideas like the ones in Ratatouille or Toy Story require nuance. Without it, they could easily become unappealing or too commercial.

If you can explain your idea in 30 seconds or less, it is not all that original.

The creative process at Pixar is methodical. Catmull says that early versions of every movie are poor. The team iterates until they reach the least bad version possible. This mindset allows them to experiment with ideas that seem like they do not belong together. They find ways to make them work through constant refinement.

This strategy also applies to how a narrative begins. The film Up starts with a dark and emotional story to define the themes of the movie. Polina uses this same approach when writing profiles. She looks for a specific moment that defines a person. She uses that moment to drop the reader into the story immediately.

Where do you want to drop the reader or viewer that defines this person's life in this moment?

Polina began her career as a business reporter at Fortune where she produced the daily Term Sheet newsletter. This was a demanding role that required starting at 5:00 a.m. every day to cover venture capital and Wall Street. Alongside this, she launched The Profile in 2017 as a weekly passion project because she enjoyed long-form stories about people. This project grew through word of mouth. It led her to leave legacy media in March 2020 to become the first traditional reporter to go full-time on Substack.

Although the newsletter was successful, Polina felt she hit a rut by late 2024. She realized she had been curating other people's work for years instead of writing her own original profiles. She had been telling herself stories about why she could not do it. She worried about things like lacking access or time. Her husband, Anthony, pointed out the contradiction of running a publication called The Profile without actually writing profiles.

We are the most unreliable narrators of our own lives. I was telling myself this story about how they won't give me access or I won't be able to interview people. I just never did it.

In early 2025, she finally shifted to writing original pieces. She started with figures like Anthony Scaramucci and Ryan Serhant. Her goal is to reveal sides of public figures that contradict their common public perception. She seeks out people who are misunderstood. She wants to show their complexities and paradoxes. To maintain high standards, she continues to work with professional editors she knew from her time at Fortune.

Polina Pompliano looks for small details that reveal the humanity of her subjects. In the media, successful or famous people are often reduced to simple caricatures. Polina aims to move beyond these one-dimensional portrayals by noticing little quirks and real moments. Her goal is not to praise her subjects or create negative hit pieces. Instead, she wants to show who they really are as people.

My goal is to humanize these people, not to flatter them or write a hit piece of some sort. I just want to humanize them because they are often caricatures in the press.

By focusing on these minor observations, she provides a more grounded and realistic view of public figures. This approach helps the audience see the person behind the public persona.

Many public figures curate their personalities to be highly likable and charismatic. Ryan Serhant is a prime example of this. While he appears to have a friendly and energetic public persona, spending time with him in person reveals a personality driven by revenge. This discovery was only possible through shadowing him. Modern media often misses these nuances because budgets for long-term shadowing have disappeared. Interviews have moved to Zoom or email, which strips away the level of humanity needed to see who someone truly is.

We are not who we say we are. We are how we move through the world. If you spend a day with me and I tell you I'm the most generous person on the planet, and then you see I don't leave a tip, it is what we do that colors who we are, not the other way around.

Authenticity is often treated as a deliverable by politicians and high-profile figures. Historically, some leaders spent hours practicing hand gestures and vocal moderation to manufacture a specific image. This performance art often masks a guarded internal world. Polina notes that Sierra Moochi avoids discussing his childhood because he has compartmentalized those memories. He even found that meditation ruined a vacation because it allowed suppressed thoughts to return. These moments where a person avoids a topic or shows a small window into their internal struggles are more telling than their public persona.

Childhood experiences often shape the adults people become. Historical figures sometimes carry trauma from their early years into their leadership roles. Polina moved from Bulgaria to the United States when she was eight years old. Her father dreamed of America while living under a communist regime. In that system, family members were jailed or killed for their beliefs. He applied to green card lotteries for years despite having a very low chance of winning. Polina's mother eventually won the lottery, allowing the family to move to Atlanta in 2000.

The chances of getting the thing were very slim. I one time broke it down and it was about 0.1 percent. Then you have to go to the embassy for interviews and background checks. My dad stood in line on a freezing day in Bulgaria just for the chance to get here.

Growing up in a family of chemical engineers, Polina initially thought she would become a scientist. She joined a science program in high school. However, she discovered she preferred writing research papers over the science itself. This realization led her to join the school newspaper and eventually major in journalism at the University of Georgia. She became the editor of her college paper and interned at major news organizations. Her background as an immigrant gave her a profound appreciation for freedom of speech and the opportunities available in the United States.

Growing up in a restrictive environment changes how you perceive basic rights. Polina shares that her father lived in Bulgaria when it was under strict control. He used to listen to Voice of America in secret because it was forbidden. Simple acts of expression carried heavy consequences. For instance, her father was expelled from school in seventh grade just for writing USA on his backpack. This level of control is hard to imagine for those used to Western schools where students freely question their teachers.

Freedom is when you go out to have a coffee with a friend and you criticize the government and then you forget about it. In Zimbabwe, if you do that, you are never going to see that friend again. You are gone. You do not forget about it.

The true measure of freedom is often found in the things you are allowed to forget. Polina mentions an insight from Yvonne Marari, who challenged the dictatorship in Zimbabwe. He explained that in a free society, criticizing the government is a forgettable, everyday event. In a dictatorship, that same conversation can lead to your disappearance. The ability to speak your mind without it becoming a life-altering moment is the essence of being free.

Polina observes that independent writers on platforms like Substack have exposed the myth of objectivity in traditional media. Many journalists enter the field believing their role is to provide facts without bias. However, the industry often prioritizes clicks over accuracy. This creates a game where headlines are designed to provoke reactions rather than inform. Original thinkers who moved to independent platforms allowed readers to see their specific perspectives and biases clearly.

I really believed that if you deliver the facts objectively to the reader, they can make up their own mind. But then over time, I saw what was getting clicks. I saw it all and I was like, it's a game.

Recognizing bias in the media we enjoy is difficult. People can easily see the slant in news outlets they dislike but often ignore it in the ones they trust. This creates a state of ideological capture where people stop thinking and start reacting based on labels. One way to fight this is to steel man the views of others. This means trying to understand and present the strongest possible version of an opposing argument.

If you can infer all of my political beliefs from hearing one of them, then I am ideologically captured.

Polina describes Kathy Wild as an example of someone who avoids these neat categories. Wild represents the interests of wealthy New Yorkers but maintains a productive relationship with political opposites like Democratic socialists. She views capital as a tool to improve the city rather than a political weapon. This ability to mediate between disagreeing groups is rare and valuable because she refused to be put in a neat box.

The jury system serves as a powerful model for overcoming tribalism. When people from different backgrounds are given a specific task, they often set aside their anger to work together. Instead of focusing on who is really running the world, many people get stuck in horizontal fights against their peers. This wasted emotional energy fuels a culture of us versus them that feels outdated in the modern world.

Polina believes that storytelling is the key to breaking down these barriers because stories trigger emotions and emotions trigger memory. In school, she struggled to remember dates and facts until she began imagining the emotional lives of historical figures. By connecting with the feelings of someone like Marie Antoinette, the history became personal and memorable.

The reason juries work so well is you are put in a room with people maybe you don't normally interact with. Then you hear their stories and you can empathize. You feel an emotional connection and then you can solve a problem together.

There is a growing concern about the rise of authoritarianism on both sides of the political spectrum. Ideas like free speech, which were once considered radical and built the foundation of the country, are now sometimes mislabeled as partisan. Protecting the right to speak freely remains essential for a healthy society, regardless of political labels. Polina notes that many people are divided because they have never met those with different life paths, making it harder to find common ground.

Polina recalls a time when she served as the editor of the University of Georgia student newspaper. The publication was completely student-run until a new board member tried to introduce censorship. This board member wanted an adult to review every article before it was published. Polina refused to allow this change because of her family history with communism in Bulgaria. She decided to step down from her dream role during the first week of the semester.

I was like, not on my watch. You don't know where I came from. I'm not going to do that. But if you want to find somebody else who will do that.

Her resignation triggered a massive walkout by the entire staff. The story became a national news event and appeared in major newspapers. This pressure forced the board to negotiate and add two student seats to the board of directors. The walkout successfully protected the paper independence for future students. Polina reflects on how her actions were seen as radical at the time, though the definition of radicalism changes as years pass.

Experience in journalism often provides lessons in accountability and leadership. Even in high school, editors often face challenges when faculty advisors try to control content. In these situations, it often feels better to ask for forgiveness than to seek approval. Political labels also have specific historical origins that are often overlooked. The terms left and right come from the French Revolution. During the assembly, those who supported the king sat on the right side of the speaker. Those who wanted to overthrow the king and change the government sat on the left. At that time, these ideas of freedom and self-determination were the most radical concepts in the world.

Modern political labels are often outdated because individual beliefs rarely fit into a single category. One person can support bodily autonomy while also advocating for the protection of individual rights and the decriminalization of drugs. The real danger today is the authoritarian instinct to police speech or the tendency toward ideological capture. This tribalism often prevents people from hearing opposing views or evaluating ideas based on their merit.

I am fascinated by people who trust the source so much that they are willing to throw rationality out the window. Even if the source is obviously not perfect. I knew someone who said something, and I showed proof it did not happen. They said, I do not know, I trust that person. That is back to emotions ruling as opposed to logic.

Using technology like AI can help verify claims and combat sensationalism on social media. It serves as a tool for skepticism against the impulse to believe a source without proof. Polina observes that people living under oppressive systems often ignore empirical evidence because of the power of a narrative. Comparing her family experience in a free society versus an authoritarian one shows the impact of opportunity. In just 26 years, her family achieved success that would have been impossible in Russia. Jim and Polina agree that any system that increases human freedom is ultimately preferable to one that restricts it.

Profiling individuals in person often reveals a reality far different from their public persona. Polina explains that spending physical time with a subject is essential for journalists and investors to test their theories. During her profile of Ryan Serhant, she encountered a stark contrast between his polished image and his internal motivations. Polina spoke with his former boss, who claimed partial credit for Ryan's success. The former boss suggested that his firm helped Ryan become who he is today and described it as a great experiment in real estate.

When Polina shared this quote with Ryan, his reaction was visceral. He literally choked on his water. After a moment of reflection, he responded with a line from the movie The Social Network.

If you have to stand on my shoulders to feel tall, then go for it.

This interaction highlighted the human emotions and tension behind high level success. Many successful people are not trying to prove themselves right. Instead, they are driven to prove everyone else wrong. While Ryan is a charismatic and bright character, his drive is fueled by something darker, like revenge and adrenaline. This type of motivation is powerful but dangerous. Polina compares it to fire. Fire is incredibly useful, but without proper controls, it can burn your house down.

Polina is currently focusing on mastering long-form profiles. She finds great joy in humanizing her subjects and might eventually transition this work into a biography. Her personal life has become a lesson in extreme optimization. With four young children including twin infants, every second of her day is carefully managed. While she grew up as an only child, she has discovered that she actually thrives in environments that others might find overwhelming.

I grew up as an only child and I realized that the reason I love so many kids and the reason why I love New York City so much is that I secretly love chaos. I say I don't like it and that I miss quiet, but I actually really like chaos.

This love for intensity extends to her life in New York City. There is a specific dynamic to living in such a fast-paced environment. You either feed on the energy of the city or the city feeds on you. For those who thrive there, the chaos of the city combined with the chaos of a large family creates a unique kind of fuel.

You either feed on New York's energy or it feeds on you.

Polina believes that freedom of speech is the most valuable thing in the world. If you live in a place where you cannot speak freely, you should try to move somewhere where you can. This right is the foundation of a free society.

Freedom of speech is actually the best thing in this world. And if you don't have it, you should try to move somewhere where you can have it.

Polina also argues that every person should take a chance on their own potential. At some point in life, it is necessary to bet on yourself. This mindset is vital for achieving goals and finding fulfillment.

At some point in your life, you should bet on yourself.