Are you happier when you’re working, or when you have time off? Easy answer right? We work in order to have free time. Everything from basic economics to our deepest intuitions tells us that we must be happiest during our free time. Turns out we were wrong. Flow, Flipped Intuitions and A Scientist’s Name You […]
My Elusive Quest to Complete a Handstand Pushup
I’m taking a break from my normal rants on mastery, adventure and the pursuit of the ideal life to talk about a side-pursuit of mine for the last few years: bodyweight fitness. What is Bodyweight Fitness? If you’ve ever done a push-up or chin up you’ve already experienced a bodyweight exercise. Unlike strength training with […]
How to Conquer Your Fears – Engineer a Low Cost of Failure
A great deal of self-help emphasizes overcoming your fears. Our fears, we’re told, are the reason we aren’t sky-diving millionaires with supermodel spouses right now. A quick Google search shows over 3.2 million entries for “how to overcome fear.” The book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways was a major best-seller. Clearly there is […]
Perfectionism Isn’t Bad (In the Long-Term)
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 […]
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.