Science prides itself on being able to validate hypothesis with controlled experiments. Take two subjects, vary only a single variable between them, whatever difference you generate must owe to that distinction. If only life were that easy. Instead, life is full of confounding variables. We build theories for our lives the best way we can, […]
Is Owning Your Own Business Worth It?
I try to avoid writing too much about being an online entrepreneur. For one, there are plenty of people writing about it who are much better than I am. Even after being at this game for nine years, I still feel like a newbie most the time. I also try to avoid hyping entrepreneurship too […]
Why You’re Exhausted But Not Improving
Early in my business I remember going months without making any increase in revenue. Despite this, I was exhausted from trying to keep up with my business. I was working hard, but getting no results. Eventually I learned a distinction that changed how I viewed work. Now my business grows faster, even though I’m working […]
Could You Walk Away From $8 Million in Easy Money?
One of my favorite stories comes from Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh. Tony sold his first company to Microsoft shortly after graduating from college. One of the conditions was that he stay for another 12 months. In exchange, he would walk away an extra $8 million richer. The work conditions weren’t strenuous, as Tony himself recounts, […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.