In statistics, one of the first things you learn is the importance of n. The variable n, represents the size of the sample you’re studying. And the size of n has a huge impact on whether your results are significant or just a fluke. Unfortunately it’s easy to forget this lesson outside the classroom and […]
How to Finish Your Work, One Bite at a Time
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” If you’ve ever run more than a few miles, you probably understand why you need to pace yourself. Runners that sprint at the start of a race will be exhausted far before they cross the finish line. The same principle applies when trying to […]
Should You Work on Your Strengths or Weaknesses?
A recently popular subject in the self-improvement genre is focusing on your strengths. The idea is that a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none, therefore you should ignore your weaknesses and build on your strengths. If you’re good at history and bad at chemistry, the supporters argue, you should focus on becoming the best historian […]
Friday Links – 08-03-04
From the Web How to Get a Book Deal – For anyone interested in getting a book published, Cal Newport provides an excellent guide. He includes some great insider tips like, “Don’t write the book first” and “If your idea is simply interesting (e.g., a book about some new youth phenomenon) then you’re violating rule […]