You tend to become the things you believe are important. This idea alone defines much of the different trajectories people take. Luck, talent and habits constrain the path, but they matter less than which direction you decide to take. If your finances are in order, that’s probably because being responsible with money is important to […]
A La Carte Education
Whenever I bring up the possibility of getting an education without going to school, I quickly get objections: “Without credentials at the end, a university education is meaningless.” “You can’t learn without guidance from instructors.” “College is mostly about forming a network, not passing exams.” “Self-education only works if you’re exceptionally bright or dedicated. Most […]
Is Obsession a Prerequisite for Success?
In chemistry, there’s the idea of an activation cost. This is the threshold of energy you need to surpass to start a chemical reaction. Dynamite, for example, contains a lot of energy. But unless a spark or lit fuse pays the activation cost it won’t explode. Life also has activation costs. There are many pursuits […]
The Paradox of Success and The Only-72
From Cal Newport, the Paradox of Success has two parts: Most people think they know what it takes to be successful. Most people are not successful. The idea behind the paradox of success is that, if so many people know how to be successful, why aren’t more of them doing it? Luck and drive certainly […]
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.