A lot of goal-setting advice focuses on deciding what matters to you. People exclaim, “follow your passions!” or “set priorities.” This is fine, but it misses the opposite, but equally important question: what doesn’t matter to you. Importance is relative, so in deciding to make something a priority or importance in your life, you need […]
15 Things I Wish I Knew
The great thing about writing articles is that I get to pick the topic. I try to only pick topics that I either have some familiarity with, have done research on or have at least spent a lot of time thinking about. The problem with writing articles is that people assume I know everything. The […]
Friday Links
From the Web Entrepreneurs Don’t Take Risks – Tim Ferriss posts a book excerpt claiming the standard myth about starting a business (that entrepreneurs are daredevil risk-takers) is completely false. He uses Bill Gates life as an example, showing how a series of small starts pushed him towards starting one of the largest companies in […]
The Importance of Being Likable
Likability matters. In your career, most of the opportunities will come through other people, and people give opportunities to the people they like. In relationships, someone has to like you before they can love you. Anywhere in life, if people like you, they are more willing to help. Unfortunately, likability has picked up a bad […]
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.