Category Archives: Advice

If You’re Gonna Be Opaque, You Better Over-Deliver

Posted on March 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

This article, a fantastic rant by auto writer Chris Harris, is a great example of how zealously trying to control your brand’s message can backfire.  Harris skewers Ferrari for things like heavily modifying journalists’ test cars to specific tracks so … Continue reading →

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Kill Yourself

Posted on March 19, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I love being unproductive.  I could sit on the couch and watch football all day long.  I could play video games 12 hours a day.  I could surf and hang out at the beach for a week straight. Sometimes, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Self-Improvement | 3 Comments

Don’t Try to be a Renaissance Man, Yet

Posted on March 17, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I wish I had heard this advice when I was 18, but it’s still just as applicable today. Derek Silver’s commencement speech Learn a skill.  Then master that skill.  Then exploit that skill to its fullest potential.  Then, become a … Continue reading →

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Doubt

Posted on March 16, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Roger Federer, perhaps the best tennis player of all time, had easily handled Andy Murray, the gifted shot-maker and #3 player in the world, 6-4, 6-4 in the first two sets of the Championship Match of the 2010 Australian Open. … Continue reading →

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Successful People Work For Free

Posted on March 15, 2011 by AJ Kessler

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”       ~ George Bernard Shaw I’ve worked for free for most of … Continue reading →

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Pay Enough or Don’t Pay At All

Posted on March 13, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Why might you get worse performance out of someone you’re paying than out of someone who’s doing the job for free?  If you put on your economist’s hat, you’d say this is plainly irrational.  If someone is willing to do … Continue reading →

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Confinement v. Fear

Posted on March 10, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Many people hate the process of going to their job, putting in their time, and coming home every day.  They think being self-employed would be the ultimate freedom.  “If I didn’t have a schedule, if I could work when I … Continue reading →

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How to Build a Habit

Posted on March 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I’ve taken vitamins every single night for years.  One day I just decided to start doing it, and I have rarely missed a day.  Contrast that with my time tracking endeavor: I found I was very consistent at doing it … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Self-Improvement | Tagged | 3 Comments

99 Percent of the Work is Never Seen

Posted on March 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I was talking to a little kid the other day.  “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I asked.  “I want to be a singer!” she immediately exclaimed.  “Oh? Why is that?”  “I want to be on … Continue reading →

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The Importance of Mastery

Posted on March 2, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Mastery is a complete and utter waste of time for most things.  Mastery takes enormous amounts of time and produces only marginal benefit over mere competence in an area.  When I was a kid, it took me a few hours … Continue reading →

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Pursuing Mastery

Posted on February 23, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I just stumbled across Penelope Trunk’s blog, which I’m enjoying quite a bit.  In her latest post, she discusses “mastery” and says she “will not embark on anything unless I know I can become a master at it.”  As evidence … Continue reading →

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How To Negotiate

Posted on February 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

(Note: this post attempts to outline the material covered in a 200 page book, a semester long class, and a 6 day seminar in 2500 words.  It can’t possibly cover everything, but it covers a lot.  I’ve tried to bold … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Self-Improvement, Tips | 4 Comments

How to Learn Faster

Posted on February 18, 2011 by AJ Kessler

My good friend works full time for a nice little financial planning and tax advice business.  He also loves going to football and basketball games, traveling, hanging out with friends, taking care of his mom, and drinking.  He’s a busy … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Creativity, Inspiration, Self-Improvement, Tips | 8 Comments

How Equipment Affects Creativity

Posted on February 17, 2011 by AJ Kessler

The Luminous Landscape just published a very thoughtful essay by Mark Dubovoy about whether equipment affects creativity.  In short, his answer was it absolutely does. I agree with him, but I have some additional points below, which are applicable beyond … Continue reading →

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What’s the Use?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I know more than a few landscape photographers who are photographers, mostly, because they get to be outside and see cool stuff. I know photographers who take photos because they like to call themselves photographers, or because they like the … Continue reading →

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