You are an artist. Everyone is. Any act of creation is art. Software, articles and cooking are as much artistic acts as painting a landscape or composing a symphony. Even if your normal tools are a keyboard and IDE instead of a brush and canvas you can improve your artistic skills. I’ve always had a […]
10 Must-Have Steps to Getting Honest Feedback
People are too nice. You’re worried about rejection and criticism? I think it is more important to worry about the opposite, that people aren’t giving you the honest feedback you need. Even when most people do give criticism, it is usually worded to be as unoffending as possible, often omitting true feelings. I’ve delivered speeches […]
The Effort Delusion – Why Hard Work Isn’t Enough
It’s time to face facts. Hard work isn’t enough to succeed in today’s world. If there ever was a time when sheer force and industry would get the job done it has passed. I’d like to argue that hard work is being replaced by three other factors that will be far more important in the […]
Seven Tricks to Stop Forgetfulness
I used to be horrible at remembering things. Little details like tasks, appointments and ideas often slipped my mind. And I can remember joking that I could only remember two dates, my birthdate and Christmas. It took me a lot of work and research to find ways to overcome my forgetfulness. My ability to remember […]
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.