Category Archives: Food For Thought

Showing Up

Posted on January 20, 2015 by AJ Kessler

As you go through life, you’ll meet the people who have it all figured out. The girl who, in 8th grade, starting taking zoology classes at the local junior college because she knew she wanted to be a Giraffe veterinarian. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration | 4 Comments

First Principles: Mindset

Posted on February 2, 2014 by AJ Kessler

The worst thing my parents ever told me was that I was smart.  When they bought me a toy piano when I was four, my dad tried to teach me to peck out the notes of Mary Had A Little Lamb.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Books, Creativity, Food For Thought | 3 Comments

Superiority

Posted on July 27, 2012 by AJ Kessler

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway

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Declare Victory or Failure

Posted on July 26, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Whenever you start a project, you should have a plan for finishing it. One outcome is to declare victory, to find that moment when you have satisfied your objectives and reached a goal. The other outcome, which feels like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Choice, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Leading, Quotes | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Greatest Enemy of Knowledge

Posted on July 25, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. –Stephen Hawking

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Perspective, Pt 2

Posted on July 24, 2012 by AJ Kessler

A Jewish man was sitting in a Starbucks reading an Arab newspaper. A friend of his, who happened to be in the same store, noticed this strange phenomenon. Very upset, he approached him and said: ‘Moshe, have you lost your … Continue reading →

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How to Say Nothing in 500 Words

Posted on July 23, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Paul McHenry Roberts (1917-1967) taught college English for over twenty years, first at San Jose State College and later at Cornell University. He wrote numerous books on linguistics, including Understanding Grammar (1954), Patterns of English (1956), and Understanding English (1958).  Paul also wrote this essay, which … Continue reading →

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Unreasonably Remarkable

Posted on July 20, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. – George Bernard Shaw Most of us live our lives as if we’re in … Continue reading →

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Of Studies

Posted on July 19, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Sir Francis Bacon was a true Renaissance man.  A lawyer, statesman, an educator, a philosopher, and perhaps the first modern scientist, Bacon is also accused of authoring some or all of Shakespeare’s works.  This fringe theory fits well because of … Continue reading →

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You’re Always Allowed to do Big Work

Posted on July 18, 2012 by AJ Kessler

No matter what position you’re in, whether it’s janitor or CEO, a huge part of your day is spent doing “small work”.  This includes the clerical stuff, the scheduling, the filing, the organizing, and all the other things that just … Continue reading →

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On Marriage

Posted on July 17, 2012 by AJ Kessler

From Ronald Regan to his son Mike, via Letters of Note: Dear Mike: Enclosed is the item I mentioned (with which goes a torn up IOU). I could stop here but I won’t. You’ve heard all the jokes that have … Continue reading →

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On Plagiarism

Posted on July 16, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing. – Salvador Dali Or, as Mark Twain explains in more fervent prose: Oh, dear me, how unspeakably funny and owlishly idiotic and grotesque was that ‘plagiarism’ farce! As if there … Continue reading →

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Earning Trust

Posted on July 15, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Where does trust come from? Hint: it never comes from the good times and from the easy projects. We trust people because they showed up when it wasn’t convenient, because they told the truth when it was easier to lie … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Leading, Quotes, Relationships, Seth Godin | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Taking Control of Your Life: Concierge Medicine

Posted on July 11, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Dr. Solis was on the edge of burnout after 21 years of running a traditional medical practice.  Trying to see between 30 and 40 patients a day, keeping track of a roster of over 3,000 patients, and dealing with endless … Continue reading →

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Cost v. Benefit

Posted on July 10, 2012 by AJ Kessler

It turns out, crime does pay.  Just not very much: The basic problem is the average haul from a bank job: for the three-year period, it was only £20,330.50 (~$31,613). And it gets worse, as the average robbery involved 1.6 … Continue reading →

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