I don’t know anything about cars. Exhibit A: My friend picks me up in his car, which I’ve ridden in over a dozen times. We go out, and when we head back to the parking lot, I tried opening the passenger door. Except it wasn’t his car. It wasn’t the same make or model. It […]
I Told My Friend Not to Start a Business. Here’s Why…
I’ve made my living running this blog for the past five years. I owe a lot to this blog. It’s enabled me to travel, take on interesting side projects, communicate with thousands of people and live well. Given my positive experience, you’d think I’d encourage other people to do the same. Except when my friend […]
You Don’t Pay Enough for Information
Some time ago, I read a forum discussion involving one student asking for advice about getting into grad school. One of the commenters gave an unusual piece of advice: before you commit to a university, a lab, or even grad school itself, do one year as a paid research assistant. It’s unusual advice because most […]
Why the Smartest People Don’t Always Give the Best Advice: The Importance of Local Wisdom
Say you want to become a novelist: who would give you better advice on getting started, Stephen King or someone who just published their first book? I imagine most people would lean towards Stephen King. After all, he’s an incredibly successful author, so he certainly knows a lot of things that a first-time author wouldn’t. […]
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.