These aren't your typical hobbies—they're the hidden training grounds where tomorrow's CEOs, founders, and influencers are quietly building the mental muscles that will catapult them past their peers.
Ever notice how some people seem to naturally rise to the top, regardless of where they started?
I've been fascinated by this pattern since my early twenties. Back when I was fresh out of my psychology degree, I kept meeting successful people who all seemed to share certain hobbies outside their main careers. These weren't just random pastimes either. They were strategic interests that shaped their thinking and expanded their capabilities.
After years of observation and research, plus countless conversations with leaders across different industries, I've identified seven side interests that consistently show up in the backgrounds of powerful people. And here's the kicker: these aren't exclusive clubs or expensive pursuits. Anyone can start them today.
1. Public speaking and debate
Remember those kids in high school who joined the debate team? Yeah, they're probably running companies now.
There's something transformative about learning to articulate your thoughts under pressure. When I started doing speaking engagements about mindfulness and personal development, I noticed my thinking became sharper. You can't wing it when you're standing in front of 200 people. You need clarity, conviction, and the ability to think on your feet.
Leaders need to communicate vision, negotiate deals, and inspire teams. Every time you practice public speaking, you're essentially doing leadership reps. Join a local Toastmasters club, start a podcast, or volunteer to present at work meetings. The confidence you build compounds over time.
2. Strategic games like chess or poker
What do Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Peter Thiel have in common? They're all serious game players.
Strategic games teach you to think several moves ahead, assess risk versus reward, and read your opponents. In my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I write about the Buddhist concept of seeing reality clearly without emotional distortion. Strategic games train this exact skill.
You learn to separate ego from decision-making. A bad move in chess doesn't mean you're stupid, just like a good business decision that goes wrong doesn't define your worth. This emotional detachment becomes invaluable when you're making high-stakes decisions later in life.
Plus, these games teach patience. In our instant-gratification world, the ability to wait for the right moment gives you a massive advantage.
3. Writing and journaling
Clear writing equals clear thinking. Period.
I write every single day, treating it as a discipline rather than waiting for inspiration. This practice has shaped my career more than any other habit. When you write regularly, you're forced to organize your thoughts, question your assumptions, and articulate complex ideas simply.
Many powerful leaders maintain journals. Marcus Aurelius wrote "Meditations" as a personal journal that later became one of history's most influential philosophical texts. Writing helps you process experiences, track patterns in your thinking, and develop your unique voice.
Start with morning pages, three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing. Or maintain a decision journal where you document important choices and your reasoning. Years later, you'll have a blueprint of your mental evolution.
4. Physical fitness and martial arts
The mind-body connection isn't just new-age fluff. It's neuroscience.
Regular physical training builds discipline, resilience, and the ability to push through discomfort. These aren't just physical attributes; they're leadership qualities. When you've pushed through the wall during a marathon or stayed calm while sparring, boardroom pressure feels manageable.
Martial arts take this further by adding strategic thinking and emotional control. You learn to stay centered when someone is literally trying to knock you off balance. That translates directly to maintaining composure during hostile negotiations or crisis management.
The endorphins and mental clarity from exercise also improve decision-making. Some of my best business insights come during runs, when my prefrontal cortex is firing on all cylinders.
5. Learning new languages
Want to literally rewire your brain for success? Learn a new language.
Beyond the obvious networking advantages in our global economy, language learning develops cognitive flexibility. You're training your brain to switch between different rule systems, recognize patterns, and communicate across cultural boundaries.
Each language carries its own worldview. When you speak Mandarin, you think differently than when you speak Spanish. This mental flexibility becomes invaluable when you need to see problems from multiple angles or connect with diverse stakeholders.
I've noticed that polyglots tend to be more comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, two constants in leadership positions. They've learned that there's rarely one "right" way to express something.
6. Teaching and mentoring
You don't truly understand something until you can teach it to someone else.
When I started mentoring younger entrepreneurs through the Brown Brothers Media network, I discovered gaps in my own knowledge. Teaching forces you to break down complex concepts, anticipate questions, and adapt your communication style to different learning preferences.
This mirrors exactly what leaders do: translate vision into actionable steps that diverse teams can execute. Plus, teaching builds your network organically. Some of the most powerful people I know maintain extensive mentoring relationships that become their informal board of advisors.
As I explore in Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, true impact comes from elevating others, not just yourself. Mentoring embodies this principle perfectly.
7. Reading philosophy and history
While everyone else is reading the latest business bestseller, future leaders are studying Seneca and Churchill.
Philosophy and history provide mental models that transcend temporary trends. When you understand how Rome fell or how the Stoics approached adversity, you gain perspective that MBA programs can't teach. You see patterns that repeat across centuries and cultures.
Growing up, our family dinners often turned into debates about ideas, politics, and life. This tradition of engaging with big ideas shaped my analytical thinking more than formal education ever did. Philosophy teaches you to question assumptions and think systematically. History shows you that every "unprecedented" situation has precedents.
These subjects also cultivate humility. When you study the rise and fall of empires, you realize that success is often temporary and partly due to circumstances beyond individual control. This perspective creates leaders who are confident but not arrogant, ambitious but not reckless.
Final words
These seven interests aren't just hobbies; they're investments in your future influence and effectiveness. They develop the cognitive tools, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking that distinguish leaders from followers.
The beauty is that you can start any of these tomorrow. Download a chess app, sign up for a martial arts class, or pick up Marcus Aurelius. Small actions compound over time into significant advantages.
Power isn't just about position or wealth. It's about the ability to influence outcomes and create change. These interests develop exactly that capacity, turning ordinary people into forces of nature.
Which one will you start with?
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