If you want to accomplish anything, doing a lot of stuff is a good place to start. All else being equal, someone who does a lot more will end up more accomplished than a slacker. One of the things that has helped me in the “doing stuff” department is a focus on projects over goals. […]
People Remember Your Screw-Ups, Not When You Help
A friend of mine was asked recently to share his advice to a group of people. His advice was, “do what you say you’ll do.” People will remember when you break promises, but they won’t remember when you help them out. I think this is great advice about the importance of being reliable. People expect […]
Can You Live With the Worst Case?
A great deal of self-improvement advice is based on one principle: if the cost of failure is low, taking action and making mistakes beats doing nothing. This isn’t motivational hype, it’s common sense. If the upside is great, and the downside is minimal, why not roll the dice? Unfortunately, few people actually ask themselves what […]
Do Things to Do Them
How much do you enjoy what you do? Not just your work, but all the activities you spend time on. I think genuine enjoyment comes from something other than a payoff. And if you strip away all the little payoffs from what you do, you’re left with the joy it brings you. Here are some […]
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.