The Outlast Journal

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Text reading “The OUTLAST Journal.”
A search for the wisdom of what lasts.
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We are living through a unique moment in history: profound technological change alongside an endless churn of fads, making it harder to distinguish what’s fleeting from what will actually last. The Outlast Journal cuts through that noise, seeking out the ideas and hard-won lessons with real staying power. Through stories of remarkable people and enduring companies around the world, it explores how to make wiser decisions, achieve lasting success, and create a body of work worthy of becoming a legacy.

The Outlast Journal is written by Eric Markowitz, who has spent years traveling the globe studying the world’s oldest companies. His forthcoming book, Outlast (Scribner/Simon & Schuster, 2027), explores what these enduring firms can teach us about mastery, resilience, and long-term thinking.

with

Eric Markowitz is Director of Research at Nightview Capital and a former award-winning business journalist. He is the author of the forthcoming book Outlast, to be published by Scribner.

Full Profile
A man with short dark hair and a beard wearing a dark button-up shirt stands against a dark, blurred background, looking directly at the camera.
Why the AI boom is creating a hunger for human connection
As AI makes life more efficient, people are seeking out real-world community — and all its messiness.

by Eric Markowitz

A crowded, dimly lit indoor space where people standing together before a large window share a sense of human connection.
Everything Articles
David Perell, in a short-sleeve white shirt, sits in front of a blurred background with plants, looking slightly to the side.
The Outlast Journal
The David Perell interview: How to resonate in the “age of engagement”
You no longer need an army of followers to stand out as a writer — “one great piece is all it takes,” says Perell.
Eric Markowitz
A stylized collage featuring an X-ray of human lungs above and a dandelion dispersing seeds below, set against green and beige backgrounds, evokes the easy, slack flow of breath and gentle change.
The Outlast Journal
“Slack”: The key to resilience in a world that keeps breaking
In nature, business, and life, survival doesn’t belong to the optimized — it belongs to those with a built-in buffer.
Eric Markowitz
Barry Ritholtz, a man in a suit and tie, stands confidently before a blue zigzag line on a light backdrop.
The Outlast Journal
The Barry Ritholtz interview: “Smart is good. Smart and lucky is better”
Barry Ritholtz — market commentator, founder of Ritholtz Wealth Management, and podcast host — shares what really trips investors up.
Eric Markowitz
Stylized graphic featuring two separate, partial illustrations of faces in blue and yellow tones against textured backgrounds, subtly capturing a nod to Seth Godin's bold and thought-provoking style.
The Outlast Journal
The Seth Godin interview: What I learned about the long view from sci-fi legends
Bestselling author Seth Godin urges us to rethink our definition of longevity — and to step back and measure what matters.
Eric Markowitz
Collage featuring a historical emergency hospital photo, a palm tree silhouette, and an L.A. County fire helicopter soaring above the cityscape—a testament to build better, resilient urban landscapes.
The Outlast Journal
What if we built something better? When disaster sparks reinvention
The history of catastrophe shows that true resilience comes not from restoration, but from reinvention.
Eric Markowitz
A weaver's resilient hand skillfully crafts vibrant, geometric patterns into the woven fabric.
The Outlast Journal
The hidden cost of AI: Trading long-term resilience for short-term efficiency
Many expect AI to follow a familiar pattern — technological disruption followed by adaptation — but what are we losing in return?
Eric Markowitz
A person with long dark hair beams with creativity, wearing a tiger print jacket, set against a vibrant blue background.
The Outlast Journal
The Anne-Laure Le Cunff interview: How to become “the scientist of your own life”
Neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff discusses the lasting benefits of uncertainty, curiosity, and the experimental mindset.
Eric Markowitz
A green football field features Sweden's flag on the left half. A hand, embodying Swedish pragmatics, draws an upward zigzag line with chalk across both halves, resembling a stock market chart.
The Outlast Journal
The lasting genius of “Swedish pragmatics” in soccer and startups
Stockholm has been called a “unicorn factory” for its success with new businesses. A unique connection with sports philosophy helps explain why.
Eric Markowitz
A composite image features a stock market graph in the upper half and a black-and-white photo of runners' legs pushing through the pain cave in the lower half.
The Outlast Journal
Lessons from the “pain cave”: What marathoners can teach investors
Resilience isn’t just about pain and perseverance — it’s about embracing the journey.
Eric Markowitz
A man with curly hair wearing a suit and headset microphone gestures while speaking on stage.
The Outlast Journal
The Rory Sutherland interview: Bees, magic, and the folly of “Laplace’s demon”
Why the advertising legend — and author of Alchemy — believes that inefficiency can be genius and insects can unlock innovation.
Eric Markowitz
A halftone image exemplifies the art of outlasting, featuring a golden brown pagoda roof atop a blue swirl pattern, elegantly divided by a white horizontal line.
The Outlast Journal
The art of outlasting: What we can learn from timeproof Japanese businesses
Playing the long game in Japan is about creating something so enduring that it becomes timeless.
Eric Markowitz
Collage of architectural designs: a detailed stone arch with sculptures reflecting ancient architecture, an ornate geometric pattern, and a faded image of the Taj Mahal.
The Outlast Journal
Why every long-term investor should study ancient architecture
Magnificent time-tested buildings are filled with lessons in resilience and stability — and the benefits for investment strategy can be huge.
Eric Markowitz
Abstract collage showcasing two mirrored, sepia-toned portraits of an older man with wild hair and a mustache, surrounded by scientific equations on a patterned background. This piece invites viewers to ponder the right question amidst the chaos of creative thought.
The Outlast Journal
Question: Are you asking the “right” questions?
Take it from Bezos, Musk, and Einstein — rethinking lines of inquiry can transform business, investing, and innovation strategy.
Eric Markowitz
A rabbit on grass above a tortoise on sand, with graph-like lines in the background, symbolizes long-term thinking.
The Outlast Journal
“Move fast and break things”? Slow down and go long
Businesses are realizing that rapid disruption without stability can lead to long-term failure. A new era of thoughtful, sustainable growth is emerging.
Eric Markowitz
A side profile of an older man with a white beard, wearing a light blue shirt, against a dark background, illuminated by soft lighting from the left, exudes an aura of radical optimism.
The Outlast Journal
The Kevin Kelly interview: The power of “radical optimism”
The co-founder of Wired magazine shares his insights on how a long-term mindset can shape a brighter, more innovative future.
Eric Markowitz
Top image: Close-up of hands slicing a piece of raw meat with a knife, emphasizing precision akin to the longevity sought in business immortality. Bottom image: Close-up of two Zildjian cymbals of different sizes on a grid pattern background.
The Outlast Journal
Business “immortality” and the art of focus
In a world of distractions, several remarkable companies show why focus is the ultimate strategy for endurance.
Eric Markowitz
Abstract image featuring a blue-toned sphere with grid patterns above an orange-toned depiction of a cyclist amidst technical drawings, evoking the principle of golden marginal gains.
The Outlast Journal
The golden strategy of stacked “marginal gains”
For extraordinary long-term success in business we can look to insights from British Olympic cycling, Roger Federer and neuroeconomics.
Eric Markowitz
A close-up illustration of a Play-Doh container with the words "Kutol" and "Wall" on it, symbolizing its lasting success. The background features text fragments and abstract patterns.
The Outlast Journal
Why the “extremophyte mindset” is crucial to lasting success
Like ultra-hardy plants that thrive in harsh conditions, businesses that see crises as opportunities are likely to win in the long run.
Eric Markowitz
A black sheep paradox is depicted as a sheep overlaid with financial charts, including bar graphs and line graphs, on a yellow background. The data showcases various metrics and percentages.
The Outlast Journal
Conformity be damned: How to crack the “black sheep paradox”
Going against the grain is often difficult — but necessary for outperformance over the long-term.
Eric Markowitz
Abstract image featuring a human silhouette filled with various medical and neural diagrams, with brain scan images in the background. A small figure is walking towards the center, symbolizing the long game.
The Outlast Journal
How a brush with death shaped my long game
Big Think Business columnist Eric Markowitz prefaces his new series on long-term thinking with the experience that almost cut his life short.
Eric Markowitz