Category Archives: Relationships

How Could Anyone Live Here?

Posted on August 24, 2011 by AJ Kessler

If you’ve traveled at all, even if it’s just a few miles from your home, you’ve undoubtedly run across places that you can’t imagine living.  Desolate or teeming, scorching or freezing, swamp-like or bone-dry, gaudy or spartan, run down, dilapidated … Continue reading →

Posted in Food For Thought, Relationships, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stalin Was Right

Posted on August 19, 2011 by AJ Kessler

One death is a tragedy.  One Million is a statistic. This fundamental deficiency in our humanity, as it has been called, is a weird phenomena.  Why can we be so emotionally moved by an individual’s story, and yet so unmoved … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Business, Inspiration, Quotes, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Don’t Know

Posted on August 17, 2011 by AJ Kessler

My friend Richard Feynman said, “I don’t know.” I heard him say it several times. He said it just like Harold, the mentally handicapped dishwasher I worked with when I was a young man making minimum wage at Famous Bill’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Quotes, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Recognize When You’re Being An Asshole

Posted on August 16, 2011 by AJ Kessler

There are some instances when I can’t stand wasting time.  If someone’s driving 10 mph under the speed limit on a one lane road, I’m infuriated.  If the one guy behind the counter at the post office is moving at … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

People Aren’t Racists, They’re Assholes

Posted on August 13, 2011 by AJ Kessler

If I was black, I’m pretty sure I would think a huge section of our society was racist.  If I was flamboyantly gay, I’m pretty sure I would think a huge section of our society was homophobic.  If I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Appreciation

Posted on August 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Nobody appreciates having clear nostrils and sinuses or a smooth throat until they have a cold. Nobody appreciates bending over until they throw their back out. Nobody appreciates sitting in the sun, or drinking a glass of wine, or eating … Continue reading →

Posted in Food For Thought, Inspiration, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How To Seem Good At Everything: Stop Doing Stupid Shit

Posted on August 4, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I read this post today, which does a great job of laying out one of the best pieces of advice I had ever been given: Back in college, one of my best friends was a prodigious chess player. He’d won … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Take This The Wrong Way…

Posted on August 1, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Once, when I was very small, I was walking through the airport with my grandfather when a man began running towards us.  When he finally reached us, a bit out of breath, he extended his hand and thanked my grandfather … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Negotiation, Persuasion, Relationships | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Aspire To Be The Grapevine

Posted on July 27, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Some people, when they do someone a favor, are always looking for a chance to call it in.  And some aren’t, but they’re still aware of it – still regard it as a debt.  But others don’t even do that.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Inspiration, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

After You’ve “Made It”

Posted on July 18, 2011 by AJ Kessler

A lot of people in their teens and 20s, and a fair amount of people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, have this idea that once they make it, once they’re successful, they’ll finally be able to tell people to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Maturity Means No Excuses

Posted on July 9, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 , , , , | 1 Comment

Pay People To Insult You

Posted on July 8, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Picking Partners

Posted on July 3, 2011 by AJ Kessler

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 , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

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 →

Posted in Advice, Business, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment