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Author Archives: AJ Kessler
Maturity Means No Excuses
In the law, the state doesn’t hold minors responsible for some of their actions. If a bank agrees to give a 16 year old a credit card, that 16 year old isn’t liable for his debts because the law assumes … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Law, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement
Tagged Excuses, Law, Maturity, Minors, Responsibility
1 Comment
Pay People To Insult You
Here in California, nobody sends anything back at restaurants. Even when the food is terrible or prepared totally incorrectly, most people refuse to send it back. This isn’t a regional phenomenon either. Even in New York, the bastion of speak-your-mind-straight-shooters, … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Diet, Food For Thought, Money, Rationality, Relationships
Tagged America, Business, California, Feedback, New York, Pussies, Resteraunt, Send it back, Service
1 Comment
How To End The Lockouts
Seth Godin is a smart guy. You know how I know? Not only does he have great insights and produce great work in his chosen field, he offers great insights into all sorts of different things. For those who don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Negotiation, Persuasion, Rationality
Tagged basketball, Brinksmanship, football, Lock Out, Lockout, NBA, Negotiation, NFL, Sports, Stalemate
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Steal This Idea: Matching Buyers and Sellers
Today, most marketplaces are extremely competitive, and markets for some goods are near perfect. But, these marketplaces still rely on competition, pitting parties against each other. What if we could use the abundance of information we have on consumers and … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration
Tagged Amazon, Business Ideas, Code, Hack, Price, Web Business
2 Comments
No Limit On Better
Harrison Ford, carpenter turned movie star, learned early on to approach everything he did with the mindset of a craftsman. One of his earliest lessons came at the hands of an employer: “When I was a carpenter, I once worked … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Self-Improvement
Tagged Betterment, Harrison Ford, Improvement, James Cameron, Perfectionism, Productivity
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Picking Partners
A partner needs three things: intelligence, energy, and integrity. If they don’t have the last one, don’t even bother with the first two. – Warren Buffett I’m never surprised to learn of a partnership’s demise when I know, hear, or … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Future, Quotes, Relationships
Tagged Marriage, Michael Isner, Oracle of Omaha, Partnerships, Picking, Spouse, Warren Buffett, Working Together
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Hacking Hollywood
(Photo: vlastula) Will Smith is, at least according to legendary screenwriter William Goldman, the only real movie star left in the world. Why? Well, he’s the only lead actor who seems to guarantee a $150 million gross at the box … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Quotes, Self-Improvement
Tagged Actor, Hacking, Hollywood, Loophole, Shortcut, Superstar, Will Smith
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The World’s Most Valuable Skill
It’s not the ability to pick stocks or spot market trends. It’s not the ability to sniff out which wells will produce oil or which methods will cure cancer. It’s not the ability to mange people or leverage their talents … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Law, Negotiation, Photography, Rationality, Self-Improvement
Tagged Art, Awareness, Cooking, Curiosity, Photography, Self Improvement, Skill, Valuable, Value
5 Comments
Passion Does Not Cause Success
Nearly everyone I went to law school with was there because they hadn’t figured out what they wanted to do with their lives. It wasn’t that they were passionate about law, or putting bad guys away, or freeing the innocently … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Self-Improvement
Tagged Advice, Cause and Effect, Passion, Passionate, Rationality, Success
5 Comments
How To Make Good Decisions
There are a lot of people who seem to have miserable luck and tough lives. They end up with significant others that cheat on them or leave them. They make bad investments or get caught up in scams. They have … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement
Tagged Decision making, Happiness, How to be Happy
6 Comments
Violently Execute
A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week. General George S. Patton Most successful people spend a lot of time planning. But, at a certain point, your plan is good enough. … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Business, Productivity, Self-Improvement
Tagged Data, Efficiency, Metrics, Patton, Productivity, Time Tracking
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When Precision Is Detrimental
Precision is generally good. It generally feels good. I’ve used camera lenses that have been precisely machined and mated to particular camera bodies. They’re about as perfect as can be and they were a joy to use. Peter Drucker famously … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Rationality, Self-Improvement
Tagged Peter Drucker, Precision, Shipping, Vibrations
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Time Tracking, version 4
I love this new addition to my time tracking routine, courtesy of author and Study Hack maven Cal Newport: the tally system. It’s extremely simple. Identify a core task. Put a tally mark down for each uninterrupted hour you spend … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Productivity, Self-Improvement
Tagged Cal Newport, Study Hacks, Tally Marks, Time Tracking
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Use Terrible Singing To Strengthen Relationships
Everyone likes to be thought of, to be recognized, and to be remembered. When’s the best time to show some appreciation for those people you care about? Holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, are fine, but eminently forgettable. Everyone calls or … Continue reading
Posted in Advice, Business, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement
Tagged Birthday, Happy Birthday, Keep in Touch, Never Eat Alone, Pinging, Relationship Building, Singing
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