I used to think with enough hard work and ambition, you could achieve the things you want. I don’t believe that anymore. Instead, I believe you can only achieve goals from pursuits you enjoy. Self-improvement works best when it maximizes who you already are–not trying to erase every flaw you see in yourself. Over 90% […]
Is Being Rich Important for Living the Ideal Life?
I want to live an abundant life. I want to live to an old age knowing that my years were full of rich experiences and that I spent them doing something that matters. I’m guessing you do too. The question is, in order to accomplish that aim, how important is money? Basic economic textbooks will […]
Manageable Awfulness and How to Let Bad Things Happen
“If you want to invent life-saving medicine, you need to accept that at some point, people will die.” A successful life-science entrepreneur told me this during a conversation. At first, I was shocked at the comment. Isn’t the point of creating new drugs or medical procedures to save lives? But the more I thought about […]
If You’re So Smart, Why is Your Life Still a Mess?
Normally, more intelligence is a good thing. Yes, we all know examples of the anxious overthinker or the scholastic introvert who can’t get a date. But, for the most part, being smarter helps in life. However, I’ve noticed one problem that mostly strikes really smart people. The smarter you are, the more likely you are […]
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.