Most work sucks. Your boss is demanding, the tasks are menial, you’re not paid what you’re worth and you can never seem to get enough sleep. It’s no wonder, then, that a lot of people hate their jobs. The thing that FIRE (the people who want to retire in their thirties), cryptocurrency junkies and passive-income […]
You Fail to Reach Your Goals Because You Designed Them Badly
Reaching any goal requires motivation, self-discipline and commitment. But where do those things come from? Many people see these as personality traits. Some people are motivated, others are lazy. Other people recognize that they are sometimes lazy and sometimes motivated. So they add a little nuance and say that it depends on the pursuit. You […]
Some Things That Have Helped Me Worry Less
I worry about things more than I’d like to. I worry about making mistakes, getting criticized, having my business fail, being awkward or rude in social situations and lots of other things. Most of the time my worries just stay in my head. They’re there, but I ignore them well enough to get on with […]
Do You Need to Be Smart to Learn Certain Subjects?
How does being smarter change how you learn things? While definitions of intelligence vary, and the models behind what makes some people smarter than others vary even more, a common view says that intelligence is likely linked closely to having a better generalized working memory. Working memory is essentially the ability to hold multiple ideas […]
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.