Why subscribe to The Profile?
The Profile studies the most successful and interesting people and companies in business, entertainment, tech, sports, and more. Everyone has a story, and we can all learn a lesson or two from the world's most exceptional. In your inbox, every Sunday.
Who writes The Profile?
My name is Polina, and I read 1.8 million words last year, which is the equivalent to 25 books. I did that in the name of finding the most interesting and well-reported profiles of the world’s most successful people.
I’ve read an insane amount of longform articles and worked on The Profile at baseball games, on vacation, and in Italian coffee shops with no Wi-Fi.
Why? Simply because this is how I learn and I want to share my learnings with you.
I started writing this newsletter in 2017, and it features a range of profiles, or long-form articles that delve into the detailed story of an individual. My newsletter has been read by tens of thousands of people—including actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, famed restaurateur Danny Meyer, and my wonderful mom.
I always ask myself one question, “Will the reader learn something from this?” If the answer is no, I don’t include it.
That’s because The Profile is the physical manifestation of how I learn. So even if I wasn’t writing a newsletter, I’d still be reading profiles and learning from the life paths of those who have built something meaningful and developed a useful way of thinking.
My philosophy centers around something I like to call “people-focused learning,” the notion that people and their stories are at the center of any learning pursuit. Stories trigger emotion, and emotion triggers memory.
So I invite you to join me on this learning journey by subscribing below:
What are readers saying?
Wait, did you also write a book?
Yes! I wrote my first book, HIDDEN GENIUS, and it comes out on June 20, 2023.
After years of profiling hundreds of fascinating people, I asked myself: What distinguishes the great from the truly exceptional?
I realized that the highest performers don't use "tricks" or "hacks" to achieve greatness. They use mental frameworks that fundamentally change the way they see the world.
This book will help you do the same. Inside, you’ll find practical techniques around augmenting your creativity, mastering mental toughness, telling better stories, cultivating healthy relationships, clarifying your thinking, and unlocking your own hidden genius.
You can pre-order it below.
