Category: Inspirational
-
The path of most resistance
In the first book I ever wrote, the main characters had a rule for themselves as they navigated a death-defying competition. “Always choose the path of most resistance.” The idea in the story is that the easy way out is where you naturally feel compelled to go. But the more difficult route is often the…
-
Better if you do
I’ve been told a lot of things this year. Toward the top of the list is an oh so familiar phrase that I never want to hear again. “I didn’t want to bother you.” Why do we always feel like we’re bothering the people around us by asking questions? By engaging? By being part of…
-
Establishing your priorities in life
Growing up, I was always the person with friends. I won Valedictorian in the most glaring of popularity contests in grade 8, and finished runner-up in grade 12 for the same prize after rocking the crowd with a rap. But then in university, I struggled to adjust. I struggled navigating the landscape of a new…
-
The power of naming your greatest accomplishments
“Feel the rain on your skin. No one else can feel it for you.” – Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield Let’s face it. Even those of us that reflect on the daily, don’t reflect enough. Sure, you might reflect upon the day. What you’re thankful for. What you’re looking forward to. How you’re going to overcome those…
-
I’m already Batman
In 2016, Dr. Stephanie Carlson of the University of Minnesota put together a fascinating study. The study worked like this: You put a toy in a box. You give 4-year-old children a set of keys to open the box and retrieve the toy. None of the keys actually work. You then tell those children to…
-
Move on, we’re not seventeen
“Move on, we’re not seventeen.” – Slide Away, Miley Cyrus About a month after leaving the best job I ever had, I met with probably the best boss I’ve ever had to discuss potential ways of coming back. One thing from that conversation has always stuck with me. “You never make up your mind.” To…
-
The best way to build confidence in others
In dozens of different articles on this website, I’ve written about how competence naturally breeds confidence. I’ve also mentioned how confidence naturally breeds competence. If we do something frequently enough, over an extended period of time, we will naturally become better. We might even master it. As that process unfolds, we will grow our own…
-
Why hard work should never be at the expense of enjoyment
Rihanna loves work. She sang about it that one time. She repeated that line six times. David Goggins and his disciples feel the same as Rihanna’s song. Work, work, work, work, work. If you work hard and stay disciplined, you will achieve your goals. That’s the only way of living life. To work hard. Hard…
-
How I improved my writing over the past 8 years
With everything that we do in life, the more we do it, the better we get. Especially when it continues to feel intrinsically motivating, and play rather than work. I’ve seen this with my own writing over the years, typically having a hard time looking a 2017 article in the eye. With that, here are…
-
Perfectly imperfect is perfect
Growing up, I was often afraid to mess up. In adulthood, I’ve realized that messing up is so much more fun. Being perfect is not only unattainable, but so much more stressful than simply doing the thing well. Here is why I think that being imperfect is the only way to ever be perfect.
