There were times when I wanted nothing more than to devour an entire bag of potato chips at once. Kettle or Tyrrells’ thick, hand-cooked chips are my favourite. When I was about to grab a bag, I changed my mind and went for a small cup of Greek yoghurt. It was the wisest course of action. My stomach felt like it was going to burst the week before when I indulged in some potato chips. That was the safest, if not the wisest, option. Those are the kinds of decisions we make all the time. Our best interests aren’t served by this. Every now and then, a gentle nudge is all we need. Our lives can be improved by making these decisions. Doing what is difficult You may have seen the episode in which a paper company manager has to fire an employee before it’s too late. He goes to

Do you ever feel as if you’re in the middle of a never-ending blur? The world is changing at a rapid pace. It’s hard to tell when you’re excited about a new opportunity and when you’re depressed for no reason. The world is filled with so much noise that it’s easy to lose track of what we’re trying to accomplish. “Wait, what was I supposed to do on this planet?” is a common question. Let’s face it: We all get side-tracked from time to time. It’s a strange world out there. There are a lot of questions about how we can always be clearer. It’s been a while since I’ve received an email like this from a reader: “It’s great to hear you talk about reducing noise and distractions in our lives. What methods do you use in order to find your concentration? “It’s an interesting question, and it got

Almost every time I talk to someone about how to improve a particular aspect of their life, whether it’s their finances, health, or interpersonal relationships, I bring up the subject of awareness. It’s worth pondering. During a conversation with a friend recently, I mentioned that I’ve been consistently making money in the stock market for several years now. This year, he lost a lot of money trading crypto and chasing meme stocks, so he was curious about how I invested my money. I explained that I avoid all of that and only invest in stocks that I am familiar with. The majority of my money is invested passively, while a small portion is used to trade growth stocks. The 90/10 rule is what I call it. How to Trade in Stocks by Jesse Livermore is a major influence on my trading strategy. This method has allowed me to consistently close

People who know it all are well-known. That’s what they say, at any rate. When it comes to getting irritated, I’m not one of those people who react quickly. Really. The only things that annoy me are things that I’m not aware of. I’m also not easily irritated by other people’s behaviour. When I see someone online promising to make six figures in just six months, my eyebrows are raised. And, of course, I’m not a fan of people who are self-righteous. There’s no point in getting worked up over 99 per cent of the things people get worked up about. At times, I wonder: So, what? You don’t know everything about everyone, either. Knowing-it-alls are the one group of people that really irritates me. A scientist from Denmark named Piet Hein said it best: “Those who always know what’s best are a universal pest,” said the philosopher David Hume.

During the first few months of 2015, I was feeling pretty down about my job. Just a year earlier, I’d given up on my dreams of starting my own business and accepted a position in London with an IT research firm. That’s usually a positive thing. The benefits and compensation were excellent, and the people I worked with were wonderful. Nevertheless, it was not for me — I felt like I had given up entrepreneurship. Furthermore, my personal life was not in the best shape. It was a mutual decision between my girlfriend and me to break up. My grandmother, who I adored dearly, died unexpectedly the following week. I experienced a wide range of emotions. But most of all, I felt like I had no idea what was going on in the world. Have you given it any thought? What’s the point of living? We don’t know what we

My newsletter subscribers were the first to know about this. Then why not share it with everyone else? Have you ever heard of the social psychology principle of reciprocity? Influence author Robert Cialdini popularised the rule in his book Influence, which states that people give back what they receive. That kind of situation has happened to us all. That annoying co-worker you feel obligated to invite because he/she also invited you is because he/she also invited you. And you feel obligated to reciprocate, don’t you? Marketers frequently employ the strategy of reciprocity. When you give with the expectation of receiving something in return, you are living the Golden Rule. Altruism, on the other hand, is a unique quality. As a result, this is a form of selfless giving. There is no expectation of compensation. There’s also what most thought leaders call “reciprocal altruism,” which comes from evolutionary biology. It’s referred

Everyone in modern society is taught that we should all aim higher than we are. This is evident in a wide variety of contexts, including films, books, articles, and even the way people converse privately. It’s common to hear people say, “I want to get better at.” or “I want to be more successful.” We’re always looking forward to a time when we’ll have more of what we’re pursuing in our lives. Love, respect, and more money. In advertisements, you’ll also notice a desire for more. McDonald’s “You deserve more” marketing campaign from a few years back is a great example of this. Apparently, Micky D thinks we all deserve “more savoury, sweeter” for breakfast. Companies and advertising agencies, however, are not to blame. Everything we ask for, they deliver. Many of us truly believe that our desire for more is the source of our happiness. The more effort we

Fear is the most common obstacle that most people face. When it comes to most people, the fear of failure is a major motivator. What are your options if you don’t do well in school? What happens if your company fails? You might not be a professional athlete, but what then? What if you failed miserably at dating? If I had to, I could go on for a few more hours like that. However, have you ever given it much thought? My intention is to express myself in a practical manner. What are the repercussions of failure? Here are three possible outcomes, and your job is to pick the best one. 1. All life on Earth will come to an end. “OMG! Here we are at the end of my time on Earth.” No, it’s not just teenagers who say that. Many adults have said that to me. In fact,

I’ve found that the more options I have in my life, the more content I am with myself. In order to perform at my best, I need to have a wide range of career options. Having a wider range of options for how to spend my time frees me from the need to rely on others and activities. Simply put, I’m content if I have the freedom to decide how I spend my time at any given moment. No matter what I do, it won’t make a difference. The most important thing is that I have the option of doing something else. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned about happiness in the modern era is the importance of this concept. Gordon Livingston, a well-known psychiatrist, wrote Too Young, Too Late Smart, which I recently read. In that book, he explained why it’s so crucial to have a variety

This is an exciting time to be a human being. Many previously unimaginable possibilities have been opened up by technological advancements in the last few years. We all crave new ideas, new ways of doing things, and new ways of improving ourselves. The world’s most valuable resources are ideas, creativity, and knowledge. Every day, there are new apps and services to try out. And so far, it appears that each one has been a success. How difficult is it to come up with a new app? I frequently hear people ask this question.” Think big and come up with a great idea. “It continues: “You contract with a freelance developer.” Let go of it. It’s time to put it up for sale. Then, SPLAT. Enjoy a day at the shore. “But let’s face it, success isn’t easy to come by. Many believe that if they can just come up with