Do you find your goals and interests in self-improvement result in people disliking you? A friend and reader of this blog recently wrote to me that he felt personal development had made him a “square”. Although he had made tremendous improvements with his habits and personal life, he felt that his new beliefs and habits […]
Why I Stopped Setting Long-Term Goals
I started setting goals about 6 years ago. When I started, I heard from authors and speakers that I needed to set long-term goals. Specific goals that I wanted to achieve in 5-10 years. I followed their advice and set long-term goals for my income, health, business and even the number of books I wanted […]
Consistency is an Overrated Virtue
Consistency is often a liability towards self-improvement. If putting pressure to stay who you are, how can you grow into something better? Trying to stay consistent in the eyes of family and friends can slow your growth, as you avoid challenges that don’t fit neatly inside your predefined personality. Consistency and Social Drag Anyone who […]
Don’t Burn Your Ships
Several years ago I heard a story about the importance of commitment to motivation: A general sailed over to an enemy country with his army. While the army slept, he burned the ships down. When they awoke, he told them, since they had no way to get back, they would have to conquer the enemy […]
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.