Slumps suck. You don’t feel motivated to work. You don’t enjoy your time off. Worse, sometimes your slump turns into a habit, and feeling drained for a few days becomes a few months. This week, I found myself in a slump. A few small setbacks and a disruption of my routine dragged me down. Temporary […]
Consistency is an Overrated Virtue
Consistency is often a liability towards self-improvement. If putting pressure to stay who you are, how can you grow into something better? Trying to stay consistent in the eyes of family and friends can slow your growth, as you avoid challenges that don’t fit neatly inside your predefined personality. Consistency and Social Drag Anyone who […]
Don’t Burn Your Ships
Several years ago I heard a story about the importance of commitment to motivation: A general sailed over to an enemy country with his army. While the army slept, he burned the ships down. When they awoke, he told them, since they had no way to get back, they would have to conquer the enemy […]
Vidcast #1 – My Goals
Here is my first attempt at vidcasting. All feedback is welcome, as it will help me decide whether to make this a regular part of the website. My Goals I’ve written a number of articles on goal-setting, so I feel it might be helpful to share a few of my goals and what I’m doing […]
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.