I promise that this post will not be a trip down some philosophical rabbit hole where we get lost in the mind of Friedrich Nietzsche. On the contrary, I am going to share some personal development insights I’ve extracted from a simple, yet life-altering idea that he conceptualized. It’s called Perspectivism. Simply put, Nietzsche’s basic idea is that there can be no objective reality because thoughts and beliefs are always limited by an individual’s perception. The “truth” is always personal rather than objective. The big idea that comes out of this is that (get ready to have your mind blown), there is no absolute truth. Instead, truths are something that... Read More

I started using a new goal setting ritual a few months ago and it rocks, pun intended. Like myself, many of you have probably tried different ways to ensure that you consistently tackle high priority tasks, in order to reach your loftiest goals. This simple and fun method has turbocharged my ability to get “big goals” done faster, and ended the habit of letting them stagnate on a list or in a day planner. It has also given a huge boost to my overall personal development efforts. Another great thing is that it will complement any task or goal management system you have in place. A simple litmus test for uncovering your high priority tasks is that you avoid them at all costs. Instead... Read More

The 1995 film, “The Usual Suspects,” was voted the 35th greatest screenplay by the Writer’s Guild in 2006 and ranks as the 21st most popular film of all time (according to Imdb.com).  Although a mesmerizing plot is weaved throughout the film, it is the jaw-dropping twist at the end of the movie that audiences remember most.  Before I begin, I just want to let you know that this post will contain spoiler information. In the final scene, we learn that narrator Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) has been anything but reliable.  We are left wondering how much of what we saw and heard was true.  For his role as the fiendish con man Kint, Spacey won the Oscar for “Best Supporting... Read More

Few ad slogans have enjoyed the lasting power of Nike’s “Just Do It.”  But let’s face it, those beautifully chiseled athletes in the commercials don’t actually “Just Do It.”   In fact, for athletes like Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods, their achievements are like the tip of the iceberg, while preparation represents the ice beneath the surface.  “Just Do It,” and variations of the phrase, act like a spontaneous nudge when we are on the fence about accomplishing a daily task or goal.  A gentle thought reminding you to take action is fine, but using the words for regular kicks in the butt is a sign that there is a deeper problem.  Even... Read More

On December 19, the New York Times ran an obituary for Kim Peek, also known as Rain Man.  He was known as the “Mount Everest of Memory.”  Read More →