Is it possible to spend your life having adventures, but still make meaningful accomplishments? The answer to this question matters to me because, like many of you, I’d like to have both. The challenge is that most advice-givers put the two in either-or categories. Being good requires focus, perhaps decades of it. The world tends […]
How to Learn Really Hard Courses
Some of the newer readers might not be aware that I’ve been keeping a semi-weekly video blog for the MIT Challenge. Along with providing more detailed updates of my progress, I also try to share the methods I’m using to learn faster, not procrastinate and stay motivated. Here are just a few of the recent […]
Should You Learn New Skills or Master Old Ones?
A recent meme in the life-advice world is that anyone can make themselves an expert. Malcolm Gladwell suggested that 10,000 hours of practice were the key to becoming world class. Anders Ericsson’s research backs this up—if you want to be good, deliberate practice is key. A bigger question is, what’s the best way to spend […]
The DIY Degree: Using Self-Education to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in 1 Year
Is learning useless if you don’t get a degree for it? Jay Cross explains the usefulness and opportunities that come with a DIY degree in this guest post.
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.