Category Archives: Advice

Passion Does Not Cause Success

Posted on June 30, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 →

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How To Make Good Decisions

Posted on June 29, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 →

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Time Tracking, version 4

Posted on June 26, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 →

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Use Terrible Singing To Strengthen Relationships

Posted on June 25, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 →

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Entrepreneurs: Learn From Artists; Artists From Entrepreneurs

Posted on June 24, 2011 by AJ Kessler

A lot of artists have problems shipping work, myself included.  It’s scary.  An artist’s work is the most intimate reflection of his own taste, views, and values.  Putting work out into the world leaves an artist vulnerable to critique, criticism, … Continue reading →

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Cheating Work

Posted on June 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I’ve had this Seth Godin post on my mind the last couple of days.  It’s good.  I thought I’d throw it up here so I don’t lose it: If you’re going to work, work hard. That way, you’ll have something … Continue reading →

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Envy’s Benefit

Posted on June 20, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Each sin, at least in the short term, has some enjoyment attached to it, except one: envy, which just makes you sick. It’s a complete waste. -Warren Buffett

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Why Atheists Need Church

Posted on June 18, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I went to church today.  Many churches, in fact.  Walking around Vienna’s tiny Old City, it’s hard not to run into a church.  My feet got tired, so I sat down in one of the few available seats, which happened … Continue reading →

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Four Steps To Hacking Anything

Posted on June 14, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Great insights from an interview with Tim Ferris, all-around life hacker and author of the The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body.  These are the four steps he follows to figure out how to get meaningful results without spending what … Continue reading →

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How To Make Meetings Productive

Posted on June 11, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Everyone has been forced to sit in meetings that stretch on forever about something that’s either irrelevant, unimportant, or that they’re uninformed about.  Say someone’s giving a talk about a new technology that’s going to be implemented.  Most people have … Continue reading →

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Stop Waiting For The Right Idea

Posted on June 10, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Ideas aren’t a dime a dozen.  Ideas a free, by the thousands.  Don’t believe me? http://www.sixmonthmba.com/2009/02/999ideas.html Stop waiting for the perfect idea.  There is no such thing.  Just start.

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Barely Hanging On? Count Backwards to Success

Posted on June 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

The explosion came from out of nowhere. Flames surround me. I couldn’t see through the glowing white light of burning magnesium. That’s how the “second half” of Dan Ariely’s life began.  After sustaining third degree burns to over 70% of … Continue reading →

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Did Boredom Make Species Survival Possible?

Posted on June 7, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Boredom may not be unique to humans, as it seems polar bears and other animals experience some kind of boredom, but did it help our species survive? Boredom is a fascinating thing.  It’s so familiar to people that the dictionary … Continue reading →

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There Is Always An Excuse

Posted on June 6, 2011 by AJ Kessler

“I had a bad day, I deserve this.” “I had a great day, I deserve this.” “Well, I’ve already done X.  Y won’t hurt.” “Well, I haven’t done X yet, so I can do Y.” Your mind is disturbingly capable … Continue reading →

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Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems?

Posted on June 5, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I’m unabashedly pro-wealth.  I think the recognition of personal freedoms that allow capitalist systems to function has done more to benefit mankind than any other development since humans discovered how to wield fire.  That said, I’ve thought and written much … Continue reading →

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