Selective Admiration: Why You Don’t Need Perfect Heroes

In my book Tiny Experiments, I used Amelia Earhart as an example of a life lived through experimentation and adventure. Her willingness to try new things perfectly captured the spirit I wanted to encourage in readers. To my surprise, some people pushed back: “She’s a terrible example,” they effectively said. “She was just a publicity … Read More

The Trap of the Deadline High

You’ve probably said it or heard it: “I work better under pressure.” It feels true because when the deadline looms, your brain kicks into overdrive. That last-minute rush can feel productive (even thrilling!) but it’s not increased performance. It’s rushed performance to compensate for weeks of avoidance and inaction. Procrastinating then rushing to finish a … Read More

Self-Authorship: The Art of Trusting Your Own Authority

Have you ever made a decision that looked right on paper but felt wrong in your gut? Or found yourself following rules simply because that’s what you were taught, not because they align with who you are today? If so, you’ve experienced the tension between external expectations and your own internal compass.  Self-authorship is the … Read More

Intellectual Self-Doubt: The Psychology Behind Questioning Your Competence

Here’s one of my favorite quotes: “I am not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people.” This comes from the diary of John Steinbeck, who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. This kind of intellectual self-doubt is common among high achievers. The smarter they are, the more acutely they seem to question … Read More

Why learning how to learn is the skill behind all skills

Traditional education teaches us what to think, not how to think. We memorize facts for tests, then forget them. We follow instructions instead of designing our own learning paths. Nobody teaches us the most important skill of all: learning how to learn. This gap matters because skills become obsolete faster than ever. The technology you … Read More

Cognitive Reappraisal: The Art of Seeing Things Differently

Plans fall apart. Flights get canceled. People let us down. And we often react automatically: irritation, anxiety, disappointment. But sometimes, we succeed in stepping back and reinterpret what’s happening, and suddenly it all feels much more manageable. That shift doesn’t mean you’re ignoring reality or pretending things are fine. It means you’re seeing the same … Read More