Goal-setting isn’t about adding more work. It’s about ruthlessly saying no to everything else. Productivity isn’t defined by how much work you do, but the amount of work you ignore. I’m a big fan of the 30-Day Trial system for changing habits. I’ve used it to rewire my health, work and lifestyle. One of the […]
How to Meet Interesting People
It’s important to meet like-minded people, who share your goals and can support you towards them. But what if everyone you know is, well… boring? A reader recently commented that most of the people he knows are boring. He found it difficult to connect when so many people lack ambitions, a passion for life or […]
How to Achieve a Goal (If You Don’t Know Where to Start)
Reaching some goals is simply the straightforward application of effort. If you want to get in shape, eat less and exercise more. It doesn’t require a brilliant strategy. However, I’d say most accomplishments don’t fall into this category. I’ve set many goals that I don’t even know where to start. I recently set a new […]
Showing Up and Deliberate Inconsistency
Showing up every day doesn’t mean doing the same thing every day. I don’t normally do follow-up posts, but a reader comment triggered an important point I forgot to mention. Here was the comment: “Congrats on another good post. Now check your OWN archives. You started at between 16 and 22 posts a month for […]
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.