Tag Archives: Life

Make Yourself Redundant

Posted on April 15, 2012 by AJ Kessler

There’s a lot of career advice out there that implores you to make yourself indispensable.  Taken the right way, this is clearly good advice.  But I’ve seen this misinterpreted any number of times.  Making yourself indispensable or irreplaceable in terms … Continue reading →

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Don’t Work. Be Hated. Love Someone.

Posted on April 14, 2012 by AJ Kessler

A commencement speech full of contrarian advice, some of it totally wrong, but definitely worth reading and thinking about: You’ve probably been told the big lie that “Learning is a lifelong process”and that therefore you will continue studying and taking … Continue reading →

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Happiness Obligation

Posted on April 7, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Other people don’t have an obligation to make you happy. You have an obligation to those around you to be happy.  Even if you’re not, you have an obligation to appear happy.  Fake it, if necessary. Don’t bum out your … Continue reading →

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On Luck, Part 2

Posted on April 6, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Yesterday we discussed why successful people actually consider themselves lucky (not because random events tend to directly benefit them, but because they find ways to exploit the random events, good or bad, that they do encounter). With this philosophy in … Continue reading →

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The Most Astounding Fact About The Universe

Posted on April 2, 2012 by AJ Kessler

You may have seen Neil deGrasse Tyson’s quote about what he considers to be the most astounding fact about the universe, but it’s even more impressive when mashed up by Max Schlickenmeyer:

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Worthy Ideals?

Posted on March 31, 2012 by AJ Kessler

[E]verybody has certain ideals which determine the direction of his endeavors and his judgments. In this sense I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves — such an ethical basis I call more proper for a … Continue reading →

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Who Am I

Posted on March 19, 2012 by AJ Kessler

When I see those paparazzi pictures of Fat Kevin Federline, sometimes sporting dopey cornrows, sometimes waddling across some anonymous poolside deck with beer in hand, I imagine a guy who does not know who he is, what he is supposed … Continue reading →

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Gift Giving

Posted on March 16, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The measure of a good gift is in its appropriateness, not its cost. The corollary to this is if you receive an expensive gift from a wealthier friend, you’re not obligated to give him something of equal value in return.  You’re only … Continue reading →

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Make The Secret A Lot More Trouble Than The Trick Seems Worth

Posted on February 25, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Good advice for magic, and life: Make the secret a lot more trouble than the trick seems worth. You will be fooled by a trick if it involves more time, money and practice than you (or any other sane onlooker) would … Continue reading →

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Thanks, for Modernity

Posted on February 24, 2012 by AJ Kessler

On April 14, 1851, Dora Dickens, the ninth child of Charles Dickens, died unexpectedly.  The next morning, Charles wrote to his wife, who was away recuperating from her own illness.  Dickens softens the blow, telling his wife not that she … Continue reading →

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Level of Difficulty Matters

Posted on February 22, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Doing the same easy thing over and over again doesn’t usually lead to success.  Of course, neither does taking on impossible tasks that never get off the ground. The better way is to constantly take on those things that seem … Continue reading →

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What You Should Focus On

Posted on February 19, 2012 by AJ Kessler

A good reminder:

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How To Measure A Man

Posted on February 18, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Two quick shortcuts: How did his kids turn out?  (and what kind of relationship do they maintain) How scared of him are his employees/subordinates?

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Pursuit of Truth

Posted on February 16, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The true value of a man is not determined by his possession, supposed or real, of Truth, but rather by his sincere exertion to get to the Truth.  It is not possession of the Truth, but rather the pursuit of … Continue reading →

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Impatience as a Virtue

Posted on February 13, 2012 by AJ Kessler

You’re impatient with everyone else.  You yell at other cars in traffic who don’t move up fifteen feet.  You’re impatient with the old lady who’s writing a check in front of you at the cashier.  You’re impatient with your roommate, … Continue reading →

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