In chemistry, a catalyst is a chemical that speeds up a reaction but isn’t involved in the reaction itself. Iron rusts more quickly with saltwater, even though rusting results from just iron and oxygen. Catalysts lower the energy needed to trigger a reaction. Similarly, a motivation catalyst lowers the amount of energy you need to […]
How to Start Projects You’ll Actually Finish
How often do you get that next “great idea”? How often do those “great ideas” result in something you can hold in your hands? It’s easy to have that work-in-progress sit in your basement or hard drive for months without ever being “quite ready”. It’s even easier to start projects that get pushed aside after […]
How to Build Momentum Into Your Day
Have you ever had one of those days? You struggle to pull yourself out of bed. Every task you attempt feels like wading through molasses and even simple chores become painful. Maybe you’ve had one of these days recently. I believe building momentum to be one of the critical factors for whether I have a […]
9 Ideas to Overcome Discouragement
If you have a goal, then you’ll probably face a lot of discouragement. Rejection, criticism, frustration, obstacles and failure are all part of the package. Although a few people might be immune to discouragement, I know I’m certainly not. I suspect you probably aren’t either. For myself, I’ve found that trying to resist negative experiences […]
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.