Whenever I hear unanimous opinion a new idea or plan I have is “good”, I get suspicious. Until recently, however, I couldn’t articulate the cause of that suspicion. After all, if most people think an idea is good, shouldn’t that give me more confidence in it, not less? I think I’ve figured out the trigger […]
Why Your IQ Matters Less Than You Think
I remember the first and only time I got a D in a class. I was studying abroad in France, taking a French class to help me and the other foreign students adapt. The classes were divided into twelve levels. Level one was for extreme beginners, who had no knowledge of French. Level twelve consisted […]
How to Execute a Successful Side Project
I’m a big believer in the power of side projects. This blog was once a side project. Same for the business behind it. Nearly every professional milestone I’ve made was from something that happened in my spare time, and I don’t think that’s an accident. Side projects harness the unexpected. While your regular job and […]
Is Free University the Future?
Too busy to watch the whole thing? Read the transcript here (PDF). Above is an interview I recorded with Jonathan Haber. Jonathan independently came up with his own goal to learn a degree in one year (he only found out about the MIT Challenge after he started blogging about his quest). The two main differences […]
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.