Category: Life Optimization

As humans, we suck at problem solving. We’re wired to avoid problems, not to solve them. It’s hard enough to identify the correct root problem… Let alone solve it. Trapped in our own perspective, we can’t read the label from inside the bottle. So we seek outside perspective. We hire coaches, business advisors, and therapists. […]

There’s a BIG difference between joy and happiness… Joy is internal and constant. It’s independent of circumstance. Happiness is external and temporary. Dependent on circumstance. Joy is in the heart. Happiness is on the face. Joy is present in the moment, each moment. Happiness is temporary, just passing through. Indian yoga guru, Jaggi Vasudev, captures […]

The traditional investment thesis is used by the world’s smartest investors. It outlines the assumptions supporting an investment opportunity. But in our lives, we make investments constantly. Yet most of which are made without a supporting thesis. We invest in our careers, relationships, skills, hobbies, even which podcasts we consume. These are all investments driven […]

64% of people quit their new year’s goals in January. That’s less than 8% into the year. So how do we keep the excitement of new goals without falling off? First, we must understand the five stages of the “Emotional Cycle of Change.” 1. Uninformed Optimism The most exciting stage. We imagine all the benefits, […]

Our best days are NOT by chance. Equally true with our worst days. There’s a pattern. Our current self either borrows from or builds to our future self. Writing → builds future clarity Caffeine → borrows future energy Booze → borrows future happiness Exercise → builds future energy and happiness Prepping a to-do list → […]

Conventional wisdom says, “Follow your passion.”  But it’s flawed.  We want to believe the “Passion Hypothesis” (find your passion, then find a job to match it) because it sounds blissful.  Do what you love. Chase your dreams. Yolo! But, Cal Newport argues in So Good They Can’t Ignore You, it’s better to adopt a Craftsman […]

I started doing “Family Math” the other week to calculate what age my parents will be when I’m 35, 40, 50, etc. It’s a simple exercise and the impact was surprisingly visceral (strongly suggest it). But then this morning I got a call from my best friend. Not a good call. In fact, it was […]

When starting something new, we first know nothing. Complete beginner. Noob.  Starting our careers we have to research everything. This is great to get going, but it leads to a bad habit. We soon find we can’t research everything. We need to move quicker.  But…easier said than done. We have this muscle memory from our […]

I started working with Noah Kagan two years ago. Like the desk right next to him.  My first thought was, “wow this dude moves fast.” Maybe even too fast.  He was employee #30 at Facebook, #4 at Mint, and started 20+ companies since (including AppSumo, my current employer). So maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.  […]