I think most people like to see themselves as being unique. From early childhood most kids are taught that they are special and original. Western culture celebrates independence, so starting as toddlers, children are taught to think and act as being in a slightly different class than everyone else. While there are some benefits to […]
The Key to Motivation: Forget Goals, Focus on Projects
If you want to accomplish anything, doing a lot of stuff is a good place to start. All else being equal, someone who does a lot more will end up more accomplished than a slacker. One of the things that has helped me in the “doing stuff” department is a focus on projects over goals. […]
People Remember Your Screw-Ups, Not When You Help
A friend of mine was asked recently to share his advice to a group of people. His advice was, “do what you say you’ll do.” People will remember when you break promises, but they won’t remember when you help them out. I think this is great advice about the importance of being reliable. People expect […]
Why You Should Be a Geek
Several weeks ago I had the privilege of hearing an unusual motivational speech. It wasn’t in a seminar, but in a computer science class. The speaker wasn’t Tony Robbins, but a professor Michael Zapp. Zapp interrupted a lecture on heap-sorting to share a valuable life lesson: the virtue of being a geek. Geeks are people […]
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.