What happened in this episode?
Andrew Bustamante argues that people are often misled by advice to “trust your instincts”, framing instincts as a survival mechanism shaped by cognitive biases and distortions rather than a reliable guide to long-term goals. He says CIA training taught him to question instinct and prioritise “effort” — defined as intentional, directed, consistent action — when making decisions.
Bustamante offers a personal example from his CIA career, saying an aggressive operational tempo, injuries and illness contributed to deterioration in his health around 2013. He recalls viewing the decline as normal ageing until he compared those instincts against longer-term ambitions he discussed with his wife (whom he says was also a CIA officer). He says he then chose a structured intervention, including a dietary plan and asking the CIA to assign an exercise scientist to design a programme to rebuild muscle mass.
He then shifts to a business case study from Everyday Spy, describing rapid growth in 2022–2024 and his decision to hire a chief operating officer in 2024. Bustamante claims that after a year under the COO’s leadership the company’s bank account hit zero, leaving $275,000 in debt and $500,000 in total losses including salary paid. He says he responded by cutting the team from 16 to six, refocusing on core services, and running marketing campaigns; he claims the firm repaid the bank debt by October 2025 and ended 2025 net profitable with no debt. He concludes by reiterating that effort, not instinct, is what he believes drives success beyond basic security.
