I’m Ken Jennings and This Is How I Work
Ken Jennings didn’t become a household name overnight. His name became a household name in exactly 74 nights. Ken, of course, holds the record for the longest winning streak on the Jeopardy TV quiz ! and has since become a bestselling author.
His 2006 book, Brainiacs, plunged into the world of his fans of the trivia and his own growth in this world, and most recently he contributed to his series of ” Guides for Young Geniuses ” for children. But he hasn’t hung up his trivia hat yet. Next week, Ken will be one of the Featured Players at FleetWit , an online quiz and mind games platform that competes for real prizes. Ken will compete against the public in a quiz race on December 11 at 8:30 pm ET, when you can counter your own wits to his quizzes. In the meantime, we contacted Ken to find out a little about how he works.
Venue: Seattle. Current Performance : Author of eleven books, the most recent being Guides for Young Geniuses for nerdy kids. One word that best describes the way you work: reluctant New mobile device: iPhone Current computer: Watson from IBM who is now my butler
First of all, tell me a little about your past and how you became who you are today.
I was just a simple programmer in 2004 when Jeopardy won unexpectedly ! six months in a row. Sorry for the spoilers if you still have them on your dash cam.
What apps, software or tools can’t you live without?
Chicago Style Guide , Diet Dr. Pepper, Twitter ( @kenjennings ).
How is your workplace arranged?
Big old railroad table, very cluttered.
What’s your best time-saver or life hack?
Fight back only the day when you know exactly what you want to write next. If you stop when you get stuck, your future will be ruined the next morning. I stole this from Hemingway and it totally works. Finish early and go to a bullfight or something. (Or, in my case, watch all productivity end when the kids return from school.)
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
The flip side of yesterday’s page of my New York Times crossword desk calendar.
What device, besides a phone and a computer, can you not live without and why?
I’m not one of those weirdos who carry the Leather Man with them on a keychain. But I carry around a miniature Swiss army knife, such as one with a ballpoint pen and tweezers, and it always comes in handy.
What are some of your best everyday activities? What’s your secret?
Shutting down the car right at the end of the song. Early planning is key. You need to start making changes when you are at least two to three minutes from your destination.
What do you listen to while you work?
If I write, it should be quiet. But if I’m in the research phase of something, I can put on music. 2016 was a terrible year, but at least there was a new Teenage Fanclub record and a new Sleigh Bells album.
What are you reading now?
I have been reading Alan Moore’s new novel Jerusalem for weeks and weeks because it has almost a million words. Right now, I’m stuck with this fifty-page James Joyce spoof chapter, and I may never escape.
How do you replenish? What do you do when you want to forget about work?
Go back and shoot some baskets.
What is your sleep pattern?
Requires a white noise machine. I always go to bed too late, read or write, so I don’t get up early.
Fill in the blank: I would like _________ to answer these same questions.
Alex Trebek. Sometime someone asks him something.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I’ll never forget what my dad once told me when I was a kid: “Don’t drive up to gas stations like your mom.”
What else would you like to add that might be of interest to readers and fans?
My daughter just starred in a cool play called ” This Is Exciting!” She plays Electromagnet No. 2 and Fan Club Member Alessandro Volta. Let’s talk about range!