Category Archives: Quotes

How To Succeed At Anything

Posted on January 30, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Be so good they can’t ignore you. – Steve Martin Being good is easy to ignore. Lots of people are good. When you’re just good, you give someone else the power to decide your future. Whether it’s a hiring manager, … Continue reading →

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Avert Disaster: Use Checklists

Posted on January 26, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Van Halen epitomized 80’s bands.  They were loud, fast, and big.  Their hair was big, their sound was big, their fans were big, and their shows were big.  Really big.  So big, that their contract rider spanned a dozen pages, … Continue reading →

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It’s Never Easy, Even For The Great Ones

Posted on January 24, 2012 by AJ Kessler

David Ogilvy was the “Father of Advertising”.  In 1962,  Time magazine called him “the most sought-after wizard in today’s advertising industry”.  He, and his eponymous advertising firm, were responsible for some of the world’s most iconic advertising campaigns, like “Don’t leave … Continue reading →

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The Trouble With Expertise In Complex Fields

Posted on January 21, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Fresh out of law school, it’s easy to forget that, compared to the general population, you are already something of an expert.  You have the tools to search for, read, and understand just what the hell that legalese actually means.  … Continue reading →

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The Wise Man

Posted on January 19, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The wise man is content with himself. The wise man lacks nothing but needs much, whereas the fool needs nothing but lacks everything.   This isn’t as highfalutin as it sounds. The fool needs nothing, because he doesn’t know how … Continue reading →

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Racing To Not Fall Behind

Posted on January 18, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for our miseries, and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries. – Blaise Pascal, 17th Century We have now, as a society, reached a point of near constant and total … Continue reading →

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It’s The People Who Realize “I Don’t Know Anything” Who Succeed

Posted on January 13, 2012 by AJ Kessler

In every good piece of legal writing, there is a narrative.  It’s a plain, easily digestible story that the writer wants you to follow.  It cuts through jargon and pomp and circumstance and clues the judge in to what the … Continue reading →

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Why Taking Time Off To Figure It Out Is A Mistake

Posted on January 8, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Most people I know don’t really know what they want to do with the rest of their lives.  This includes most really successful people I know.  My grandfather, at 80 years old, used to say he didn’t know what he … Continue reading →

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Steve Jobs on Failure

Posted on January 6, 2012 by AJ Kessler

I’ve never found anyone who didn’t want to help me if I asked them for help.  Most people never pick up the phone and call; most people never ask.  And that’s what separates, sometimes, the people who do things and … Continue reading →

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You Are Not Too Busy

Posted on January 4, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Richard Branson owns and operates more than 400 companies under his Virgin Group.  He sells everything from music to trips to space. He sets world records on sailboats and hot-air balloons. He appears in movies and television shows.  He writes … Continue reading →

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Chase Permanent Wins, Then Throw Them Away

Posted on January 3, 2012 by AJ Kessler

When I spend 100 hours working to create a photograph, I produce a finished product.  It’s tangible.  It’s also permanent: I get to look at it forever, anybody can see it, and I can even sell copies of it. All … Continue reading →

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Politics and the English Language

Posted on January 2, 2012 by AJ Kessler

In 1946, George Orwell wrote an essay that should be read by everyone who needs to convey an idea.  Orwell’s thesis is that clouded language leads to clouded thinking, and so we should strive to choose the words that most … Continue reading →

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Giving Thanks

Posted on December 31, 2011 by AJ Kessler

A great way to give thanks for the privileges we’ve got is to do important work. Your job, your internet access, your education, your role in a civilized society… all of them are a platform, a chance to do art, … Continue reading →

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Biggest Regrets

Posted on December 30, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Bronnie Ware had the opportunity to learn about a lot of people’s regrets.  As a palliative nurse, she cared for those in the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.  The most common regrets she encountered: I wish I’d … Continue reading →

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The Thank You Economy And Your Tribe

Posted on December 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Louis C.K. continues to publicly prove the points championed by the likes of Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk: build your own audience, connect with them, interact with them, let them in on the your secrets, and success will follow. And, … Continue reading →

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