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Woody wrote in one of his recent movies that he didn’t know who he loathed more, those who use simple tricks to prey on the gullible, or the gullible, who are so stupid that they deserve what they get.  As someone who’s always been a bit too trusting of others, this insight resonates deeply with me.  Because on one hand, deception is part and parcel of being human. People…

Seinfeld, the zen master of comedy, once made the observation that our blessing in life is when we find the torture we are comfortable with.  In a world where everyone is doing everything they can to avoid painful feelings, this is a refreshing insight. Because it’s impossible to anticipate or avoid pain.  Everything sucks, some of the time. And most things are hard whether or not we want them…

Every day, our minds go to places that are so unnecessary.  Our pestering unproductive thoughts rattle us to the bone.  And although we try to wrench those little buggers out of our psyche, calmly appraising them instead of carelessly accepting them, sometimes, there’s just no stopping that train.  We feel trapped so terribly inside our own head.  In this situation, the best thing we can do is to displace…

Every day, new bits of knowledge come avalanching towards us in tiny increments like grains of sand piled on top of another.  But while they may not feel overwhelming on a daily basis, those mental dunes can pile up awfully fast. And if we are not vigilant about metabolizing those grains into something more meaningful, our minds will suffocate.  Cognitive researchers who study the deluge of information that bombs…

Koontz cites two key childhood experiences that later influenced his horror novel writing.  First, he was regularly beaten and abused by his alcoholic sociopath father. Second, he recalls the courage of his physically diminutive mother who bravely stood up to her husband and put an end to that abuse.  It’s no surprise, then, that he made the following observation in one of his interviews: To surrender to despair is…

Only a few times in twenty years has somebody told me they trust me less for wearing a nametag.  Apparently, it’s a trigger that makes certain people question my intentions, actions and authenticity.  Which is fine. People are entitled to their opinions.  But clearly, they do not know we very well.  The irony is, vulnerability through personal disclosure, specifically through the offering and exchanging of names, is precisely what…

A priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar.  And the bartender shouts, hey, what is this, some kind of joke?  That one always cracks me up. Not only because it’s cheesy and essentially a joke about the joke itself, but also because it points to an interesting business principle that’s worth exploring.  Godin was the pioneer of the business mantra, ideas that spread, win. His handy little…

When we only concentrate on finding the right career, instead of becoming the right person in the process, then we set ourselves up for repeated disappointment.  Because the job is not the point. That’s just the current incarnation. Our vehicle for ongoing reinvention. And they can take it away from us at any time. The economic winds can shift on a moment’s notice.  What matters, what lasts, is moving from our…

We spend so much time and energy trying to land the perfect partner, the perfect job, the perfect whatever.  They have to fit the bill, we warn. Because we are not settling. Not this time. Somebody has a little something called high standards, thank you very much.  And so, if the stars and planets and moons are not perfectly aligned, then we won’t waste our time. Not getting any younger over…

Fear is a biological response.  An evolutionarily advantageous feeling.  An alert that enables us to take appropriate action to guarantee our safety in the face of perceived threats.  Worry, on the other hand, is a habit we have acquired. It offers no real protection and cannot keep us or those we love safe. It never guarantees anything, it just keeps us agitated.  Interestingly enough, the word worry derives from…