A common piece of advice is that perfectionism is bad. At least, that’s what you’d believe if you read an online article on the topic. However, I feel the situation is more complex. Certainly some perfectionism is bad–it causes us to procrastinate, leave projects unfinished and become mired in self-criticism. But, in some ways perfectionism […]
Want Better Results for 2010? Commit to Fewer Things
My new motto for 2010, inspired by Cal’s similar suggestion, is to work hard, but commit to less. To be fair, it isn’t a new motto. I’ve been running with this one for the latter half of 2009, so it isn’t exactly a resolution, but an affirmation of what I’ve already been doing. However, even […]
What if You Never Graduate?
I like doing thought experiments because they can reveal a lot about why we do the things we do. Today, I’d like to propose a simple thought experiment for all the students reading here: What if you never graduated from university? Not that you would drop out, but simply that you could never complete your […]
The Frustration Barrier – The Key Obstacle to Being Good at Anything
I’m a fan of meta-skills. These are the skills that allow you to learn faster and master new disciplines more quickly. I love meta-skills so much that a good portion of this blog writing, and my entire upcoming program are devoted to them. One of the most important meta-skills for becoming good at anything is […]
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.