Category Archives: Self-Improvement

On Being Prolific

Posted on October 31, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Picasso created somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 pieces of art during his life.Â If we take the low estimate and assume he starting making real art at about 6 years old, this means he had to create about two pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Self-Improvement | Tagged Art, Business, Create, Creativity, Output, Pablo Picasso, Productivity, Prolific, Work | Leave a comment

Remember What You’re Measured By

Posted on October 30, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Pointless bustling of processions, opera arias, herds of sheep and cattle, military exercises.Â A bone flung to pet poodles, a little food in the fish tank.Â The miserable servitude of ants, scampering of frightened mice, puppets jerked on strings. Surrounded … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Quotes, Self-Improvement | Tagged Goal, Life, Marcus Aurelius, Purpose, Worth | Leave a comment

Your Brand Is Irrelevant

Posted on October 28, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Branding has been tremendously valuable over the last 100 years or so.Â Even during the last five or ten years, pundits have been telling people to turn themselves into brands.Â Brands are identifiable, they stand for something, they signify quality.Â … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Persuasion, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged Access, Art, Branding, Brands, Business, Marketing, Persuasion, Relevance | 1 Comment

If You Can Easily Describe What You Do, You’re Fucked

Posted on October 27, 2011 by AJ Kessler

If you’re hanging out with the spouse of someone who is very successful, it’s hilarious to ask them what their spouse does.Â Most of the time, they have no idea.Â They’ll know what field he’s in, “uh… she works with … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Future, Inspiration, Money, Self-Improvement | Tagged Career, Creativity, Economy, Factory, Future, Job | 2 Comments

Focus On Your Core Principle to Make Decisions And Beat Procrastination

Posted on October 25, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I finished reading Made To Stick last week, which is fantastic and highly recommended for anyone who does anything creative, anything that requires communication, or anything related to sales (so… pretty much everyone).Â One of the biggest things that’s stuck … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Rationality, Self-Improvement | Tagged Chip Dan Heath, Core Principle, Decision making, Focus, Made To Stick, Motivation, Procrastination, Self-Improvement | Leave a comment

6 Easy Steps To Get Rich Without Worry

Posted on October 24, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Yesterday’s post prompted some email questions about how I handle my finances, so I figured I might as well answer them here: What’s the easiest way to get rich? Inherit Lottery See Below … … … ??? Build and sell … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Money, Negotiation, Quotes, Self-Improvement, Tips | Tagged Automation, Finances, Get Rich, Income, Investment, iwillteachyoutoberich, Money, Personal Finance, Plan, Ramit Sethi, Retire, Spend | 2 Comments

The Small Change in Perception That Can Change Your Life

Posted on October 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Who has a higher tolerance for pain: those who experience an acute injury, lots of pain at one time, or those who constantly suffer from pain?Â The answer is counter-intuitive, and the potential reason is fascinating. Dan Ariely has found … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Rationality, Self-Improvement | Tagged Dan Ariely, Drive, Goal, Inspiration, Motivation, Rationality, Success, Upside of Irrationality | 1 Comment

How to Beat Procrastination, Maintain Balance and Avoid Burnout

Posted on October 21, 2011 by AJ Kessler

How do Olympic athletes train for the biggest event of their lives?Â What separates the top tennis players in the world from those that are merely world class?Â A big part of it is what they don’t do. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged Burnout, Power of Full Engagement, Procrastination, Productivity, Techniques, Work Life Balance | 1 Comment

How To Get Anyone To Help You Do Anything

Posted on October 20, 2011 by AJ Kessler

â€œIf you want to build a ship, donâ€™t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.â€ â€“ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Negotiation, Persuasion, Quotes, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged Motivation, Negotiation, Persuasion, Productivity, Quotes | Leave a comment

How To Meet Your Heroes and Win Mentors

Posted on October 19, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Have you noticed that little kids can do just about anything they want?Â There’s a mountain of stories about young kids getting an audience with some business or government leader simply because they wrote a letter.Â Successful people, and people … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Persuasion, Productivity, Quotes, Rationality, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged Communication, Hero, Language, Meeting, Mentor, Never Eat Alone, relationships, Seth Godin | Leave a comment

Warning: Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Posted on October 17, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Practice makes permanent. Practice can sear technique into your brain and muscles.Â It can enable you to do something without much conscious effort. Obviously, that can be problematic.Â If you practice sloppy technique, that’s going to become your default.Â If … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Quotes, Self-Improvement | Tagged Default, Habit, Muscle Memory, Perfection, Practice, Technique, Vince Lombardi | Leave a comment

The Problem With Beginning

Posted on October 15, 2011 by AJ Kessler

The problem with starting any new creative endeavor is that you’re going to suck at it.Â Even when you become a professional, depending on your field, most of your work is still going to suck. There’s a terrible irony at … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Quotes, Self-Improvement, Style | Tagged Finishing, Ira Glass, Produce, Quitting, Taste, Work | Leave a comment

Use Oterap’s Principle To Live A Miserable Life

Posted on October 14, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Pareto’s principle states that a mere 20% of the causes produce 80% of the effects.Â Cool, right?Â People like Tim Ferriss, who made his name exploiting this principle to its fullest, have shown that you can produce extraordinary results by … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Productivity, Self-Improvement | Tagged Effort, Oterap's Principle, Pareto's Principle, Production, Sebastian Marshall, Work | Leave a comment

How To Ruin Your Life

Posted on October 13, 2011 by AJ Kessler

It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character.Â Otherwise it cannot harm you — inside or out. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 4.8 A little preachy and smarmy for us modern folk?Â Maybe.Â But it’s still true.Â And, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Quotes, Self-Improvement | Tagged Life, Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Philosophy, Stoicism | Leave a comment

Yes, It Matters, Even If No One Sees

Posted on October 12, 2011 by AJ Kessler

For the first thirty years of your life, you make your habits. For the last thirty years of your life, your habits make you. – Old Hindu Proverb We tell kids that their homework is important, even when we know … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Inspiration, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged Advice, Character, Habit, Priorities, Proverb | Leave a comment