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Rhetorical questions are the most underrated linguistic tool in our arsenal. They’re powerful because they’re more about making a point than getting an answer. Such language stimulates introspection, which is an invaluable asset when navigating fear. We need to learn how to deploy that within on a moment’s notice. During the pandemic, I remember reading headlines each day, seeing the same doom and gloom everyone else did. But there…

Here is a useful framework for freeing ourselves from fear. This tool contains four elements. Dichotomy, rhetoric, evaluation and empowerment. Dichotomy presents us a choice between two contrasting options. This trait prompts us to reflect on our own beliefs and encourages critical thinking. Dichotomy helps to break free from binary thinking and open up possibilities for more nuanced understanding. For example, late one night, our relative sends us a…

Identity is a complex, dynamic and multifaceted entity. And it’s not evenly distributed. Who we are as unique individuals rests at the nexus of a vast number of dynamic and interwoven factors. Whitman’s immortal mantra, I am large, I contain multitudes, is not an understatement. The interesting question to ask is, in the mosaic of our lives, composed of these diverse and distinct tiles, which pieces are most prominent?…

There’s no such thing as a person who is always right. Certain people may over index on intelligence, intuition and prescience, and their batting average may be an order of magnitude higher than the rest of us. But do the math. At eight billion strong, the human experience is far too complicated, dynamic and immense for anyone to always be right. People are fallible and prone to errors in…

A backlog is a list of tasks required to support a larger strategic plan. It’s an accumulation of uncompleted work. And whether it’s a physical stack sitting out on our poorly constructed shelves, or some kind of digital record, the premise is the same. We tell ourselves a story about how the backlog isn’t that big and we’ll get to it eventually. Or we tell ourselves the story that…

Contempt is the tendency to look down on, distance, and derogate others who violate our standards. It’s a disposition that’s been clinically proven to have significant negative consequences. And the long term effects of contempt often damage trust, hinder effective communication, contribute to hostile environments, even end marriages. Everyone is aligned on those facts. The verdict on contempt is out. But what nobody talks about is the bigger issue,…

The less we operate at the extremes, the wiser we become. Once we humbly accept that life is a deeply complex and subtle experience; and once we stop chasing absolutes and start embracing reality on reality’s terms, we finally learn to sanely connect to self, other and the world. This is the essence of what it means to be a mature human being. It’s the stuff enlightenment is made…

I’ve launched dozens of projects in my career, and never once did I even consider the possibility of crowdfunding. Now, I personally think it’s wonderful that crowdfunding exists as a standard business practice. The fact that over a hundred billion dollars is raised each year through these platforms is extraordinary. In fact, I have contributed to a handful of campaigns for friends and strangers alike, and I enjoyed both…

I am just like anyone, in that I love the familiar smell of my own bullshit. That smell has adaptive value, insofar as it protects my esteem, prevents negative consequences of adverse events, and helps in deceiving others. Reminds me of my friend, who is a highly respected and successful physician. His favorite mantra to share with patients, specifically those who insist on doing their own research, so to…

Maturity is the growing awareness of our own limitations. We acknowledge that we may not have possessed the necessary knowledge, experience or perspective in the past. And we accept that we might have missed something that was there all along, but our perceptions weren’t sophisticated enough at the time. We simply didn’t have the eyes to see what was staring us right in the face. I frequently experience this…