What if it Works Out? The Science of Strategic Success
When you’ve considered what success would actually mean for your life, you can pursue it with a sense of calm clarity or consciously choose a different path entirely.
Building a studio for your mind: an interview with the founders of Capacities
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Steffen Bleher and Michael von Hohnhorst are the founders of Capacities, an object-based knowledge management space that allows you to connect your thoughts, get new insights, and use … Read More
Cognitive Multiculturalism: Training Your Brain to Switch Between Worlds
Most people think multiculturalism means passport stamps and foreign languages. But there’s a more powerful kind happening right in your head: cognitive multiculturalism: the mental flexibility and fluency you develop from experiencing different worlds.
Breaking Free from Conditional Self-Worth
There’s a particular kind of mental math we all do, usually without realizing it. We add up achievements, subtract failures, and calculate whether we’re worthy of respect, love, or even basic self-acceptance. The equation feels logical: land the dream job = valuable person. Write the perfect book = deserve happiness. Get 500 likes = temporarily … Read More
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
Interview: The Future of Information with Arun Bahl, cofounder of Aloe
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to our Tools for Thought interview series, where we meet with founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Arun Bahl is the cofounder of Aloe, a tool designed to support human cognition in our information-dense world – an AI computer that acts as a “superhuman attention.” In … 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
The Audience Effect: Why We Change When Others Are Watching
When I write knowing someone will read it, something changes. Having readers forces me to think harder about what I’m trying to say. My arguments become sharper and my examples clearer. Yet I notice the temptation to gravitate toward topics I know will get engagement. Should I explore the philosophy of boredom or write about … 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