Category Archives: Uncategorized

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo Speaking of The Nudge, this anecdote from Economics professor Tyler Cowen… Yesterday I had lunch with a former Ph.D student of mine, who is nowContinue reading “Raise Their Expectations”

“Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in [their] personal vision of the world.” -Edward Hopper Another phenomenal poem from Albert Huffstickler (aka “Huff) who also wrote “I Dreamed I Lived In Austin” which I put in the blog a little while back.Continue reading ““The Way Of Art””

This story about Mozart courtesy of Sahil Bloom’s Curiosity Chronicle… A young man asked Mozart how to write a symphony. Mozart replied, “You’re far too young to write a symphony.” The young man then said, “What? You were writing symphonies when you were 10, and I’m 21.” Mozart smiled and replied, “Yes, but I didn’tContinue reading “Take Mozart’s Advice”

“Never underestimate the power of inertia…People have a strong tendency to go along with the status quo or default option…Loss aversion helps produce inertia, meaning a strong desire to stick with your current holdings.” -Richard H. Thaler, book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness “He already knew he could coach. All you hadContinue reading “The Nudge”

We’d all loved to be recruited, courted, affirmed, wined and dined, told we’re amazing. Get a Godfather offer. One, it validates us. Who we are and the work we’ve done. Two, it lets us off the hook from having to choose or decide on a path. Instead, we get chosen. You can sit around waitingContinue reading “An Offer They Can’t Refuse”

“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:12 and the epigraph from Tarell Alvin McCraney’s powerhouse of a play, The Brothers Size) “I’m always trying to make the intimate epic, meaning finding a way to grab my personal impulses or theContinue reading “Your Why Becomes Their Why”

My very first blog post was about the formula. One of the components was meaningful work (the other was meaningful community). If you’re searching for meaningful work or wanting to create it for others (or both), here are some qualities to look out for: (1) AGENCY. You get some say in the kind of workContinue reading “Some Qualities Of Meaningful Work”

“An overnight success is ten years in the making.” -Tom Clancy Speaking of measuring progress, this excerpt from Sahil Bloom’s excellent Curiosity Chronicle newsletter… The Chinese bamboo tree can grow to be nearly 100 feet tall—but it’s how it achieves that growth that makes it even more interesting. After being planted in the ground, it requires dailyContinue reading “Chinese Bamboo and You”

“Progress equals happiness. Even if you’re not where you want to be yet. If you’re on the road, if you’re improving, if you’re making progress, you’re gonna love it. You’re gonna feel alive.” – Tony Robbins “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” -RichardContinue reading ““How Am I Doing?””

“Expect nothing. Accept anything.” -Jerry Seinfeld “When we just sort of focus on the small things, the big things often accidentally end up taking care of themselves.” -Paul Thomas Anderson Speaking of letting it happen, read this great article from Billy Oppenheimer. Perhaps the reason you’re not getting the result you want is you’re tooContinue reading “The Result”