Life is a web of decisions in which every strand could lead to a different outcome. One strand may end in prison while another leads to success and a secondary residence. The most considerable difference between good and bad outcomes is those good things rarely happen quickly. We make hundreds of decisions every day, decisions […]
Category: Reflections
Perception vs reality
Entire universes exist between perception and reality. The life of an entrepreneur seems glamorous. Think of Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos’s fortune. To judge them based on their outcome alone is like knowing someone only on social media– it’s a highlight reel, not real life. The real-life of entrepreneurs is gritty. When you think of […]
The art of perfection
There’s nothing like consuming something perfect, a book without a word out of place, an entrancing song, or an article you wish didn’t end. For me, that’s Kendrick Lamar’s album DAMN. I could crank that lyrical genius start to finish, on repeat, preferably with noise-canceling headphones. It’s flawless. That’s how a finished product should be, […]
The importance of ‘lasts’
An eerie aura hangs over final moments. A person’s final breath. One last hug with an old friend you may never see again. The last look of your apartment before moving. Every day wouldn’t matter if we lived eternally. That’s why we have to make every day count. Last actions matter because they mark the […]
Caught in COVID Lessons
Coming out of our COVID-19 cage, we should carry lessons into the rest of our life. Your health matters Strangely, many people treat their temporary possessions: cars, phones, and Airpods better than their irreplaceable body. People pump premium fuel but shove in junk to fuel their bodies. COVID-19 preys on those with preexisting conditions, such […]
Use friction to live your best life
Changing your behavior is hard, but adding or subtracting friction–how hard or easy it is to do something–can ease the switch. Technological advances have made many things more accessible than ever. That can change consumer behavior so that the consumer ceases to reap pleasure: binge-watching shows for hours because the episodes auto-load, endlessly scrolling social […]
Focus and long-term goals
We live in an age of instant information and gratification. That’s a blessing and a curse: you can stay up to date with friends across the world but are also interrupted nonstop with meaningless notifications. It’s mind-blowing for anyone who existed just 10 years ago when text messages cost $0.10 each, and dial-up internet usually […]
Networks are key
CNN Business reported that the coronavirus could cost China’s economy $60 billion. That’s due to missed trade opportunities and work, but that’s the power of networks. Few people or countries achieve greatness alone. Hunters and gatherers society was rough–we spent much of our time isolated, constantly working for the minimum to get by. Networks are […]
Small Innovations Matter
I layed on my patio for an hour and a half writhing in pain after throwing out my back at the ripe age of 24. I had walked outside to open the door and get some air when I coughed and fell onto my back, separated from my phone that was connected through bluetooth Bose […]
Empathy: a blessing and a curse
There’s no better trait than empathy. You understand a small part of someone’s pain and may sacrifice to help them out. It’ll make you give away your one working umbrella to a young intern, so he doesn’t make his first impression while comedically drenched from a D.C. monsoon. However, it can also hurt. You’re so […]