Every technological advance simultaneously augments and atrophies a human function by outsourcing it. Because my “smart” phone can “remember” thousands of phone numbers, my brain does not. As this phenomenon continues at an exponential paceª, thoughtful reflection and informed decision about how we use our tools will only become more important. Although many find their […]
If you want to add value through your words, here’s a simple best practice: Use fewer of them. Ideas of value always shun verbosity, being foreign to confusion and fantasy. Timely silence then is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts. —Diadochos of Photiki, On Spiritual Knowledge and Discrimination […]
In a recent video conference via FaceTime, a friend showed me the best practice I’ve seen so far during the coronavirus pandemic: use a sticky note to cover the image of yourself on your screen. Brilliant. Because it’s just such good common sense. And a reminder that the increasingly powerful tools we make for ourselves […]
Every professional writer has an editor because no writer is perfect. And because the writing matters. Every aspiring athlete has a trainer because she can’t pay attention to the mechanics of her backhand while she’s returning the volley. And because the game matters. Every serious student has a teacher because a teacher integrates fragmented information […]
T. S. Eliot described modern people as “distracted from distraction by distraction”. It’s one of the thickest obstacles between the present and a better future. Practical advice on clearing the mind abounds. In recent years, meditation has surged in popularity. But a motivational vision or image of an undistracted mind can sometimes be just as […]
Elon Musk recently announced he would be selling almost everything he owns, including all his houses.ª The decision appears to be motivated by concern that his many possessions could make him a target of the poor, and he’d rather not deal with the distractions such conflict would bring. In an economic downturn induced by a […]
No one likes a show off. Whether you encounter the boastful person in an occasional post on social media or in daily press conferences, you may be tempted to respond, perhaps with a snarky comment or an angry emoji, or even with a kinder word of correction, but… When someone boasts about his virtues, do […]
So much can be learned from extreme experiences. Although the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 is incomparably less terrible than the Holocaust of World War II, reflecting on the lessons learned from survivors of that savage chapter of human history can help us now. There are few more life-giving and inspiring reflections on that dark period […]
My mother is a legendary bargainer. She almost never buys anything for more than 75% off its retail price. When she does even better, she becomes positively gleeful. But as gratifying as it is to save money, bargaining has greater benefits than just the financial. Every event is like a bazaar. He who knows how […]
The fighter Conor McGregor’s career has been nothing if not dramatic. After rising to the top of the mixed martial arts (MMA) totem pole, he tumbled down, falling victim to the vices so often born of success, which in his case included ego and alcohol. A few months ago, he just as dramatically redeemed himself,ª […]