Every month, I receive hundreds of messages, emails, and questions from people all around the world. The single most common question that comes up: "I feel lost. What should I do?" Here's an open letter to my lost younger self—with the five things I'd like to tell that version of me that would have accelerated his path to the other side. (1) Reclaim your power; (2) Remember that the answer is found in the action; (3) Trust in the trend, not the position; (4) Create value for everyone you come...

Question: Do you want to be liked or loved? Framework: Amor Fati

One year ago, my family came together to mourn the loss of my grandmother. Reflecting on the experience later, I was struck by one thing: The card for the memorial had her date of birth and date of death, with a simple dash in between. That dash holds everything. Every ounce of a person's life captured in that single, small, insignificant line. The experience sparked one idea I can't stop thinking about: Make the dash count. This piece is derived from concepts explored in depth in my upcoming...

One of the greatest joys of my life is that I often get to spend time in rooms surrounded by big thinkers. Rooms with an extraordinary idea density. There are certain times when, even long after leaving the room, the ideas linger in my mind. I wrestle with them to develop my only lens for each. This piece shares 24 short ideas I can't stop thinking about.

Question: Are you embracing your Pattern Interrupts? Framework: Zeigarnik Effect

Success isn't what you think. You're sold a glossy, filtered version of success. The reality looks different. In today's piece, I want to share the harsh truths about success—the reality that no one sells you (because it wouldn't sell very well). 13 harsh truths about success nobody told you: (1) You will have to endure long seasons of loneliness; (2) Your anxiety will scale proportionally to your ambition; (3) To shine in the light you have to embrace boredom in the dark; (4) The climb is...

Question: Does your situation need to change, or just your outlook on it? Framework: The Cobra Effect

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create easy times, easy times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” - G. Michael Hopf We live in an ease-obsessed world. To build the life you want, to earn the things you want, your resistance is the cost of entry. Remember: Nothing worth having in life should be easy. The things that matter in life are hard to build.

Question: Are you allowing self-protection to become self-rejection? Framework: Hedgehogs vs. Foxes

It's easy to allow your weeks to spiral out of control as you try to navigate your personal and professional responsibilities. Fortunately, I developed some tricks that helped me fight back. 4 tiny habits that dramatically improved my weeks: (1) Defining what a "win" looks like, (2) Creating an awareness of my energy, (3) Executing a daily management sprint, and (4) Investing 30 minutes in a vision. Remember: Extraordinary change is simply the result of ordinary acts done well, over and over...

Question: How can you decide to be happy today? Framework: The Ludic Fallacy

More intensity is not the answer. To achieve the things you want in life, you must pursue them with balance. Unfortunately, in the modern era, to pursue things with balance is almost indistinguishable from laziness. The single greatest challenge for any ambitious person is reframing slowing down as an essential part of your performance, not a reward for your effort. When you're constantly moving fast, everything is a blur. When you slow down, you start to see the world more clearly. 5...

Question: What are the beliefs that no longer serve me? Framework: The Dartmouth Scar Experiment

In my 20s, I nearly drove myself mad adding more and more new things to my life. Today, I'm 33, happier, healthier, and more successful than I've ever been—but in today's piece, I want to share the secret that unlocked all of that: I quit. The truth is that the fastest way to improve your life is not adding new things to serve you, but quitting what no longer does. Here are 11 things I quit to transform my life: (1) Focusing on my potential, (2) Complaining, (3) Worrying about the opinions of...

Question: How can you change your outlook by changing your perspective? Framework: The Theory of Constraints

I've come to believe that there is one common theme that holds people back from living the life they want—and the life they are capable of living: Overthinking. In today's piece, I want to share what worked for me: Three simple mindset shifts—reminders and reframes you can reliably turn to—that helped me conquer overthinking for good. Three mindset shifts to conquer overthinking: (1) The decision is less important than the actions that follow it, (2) Trust in your adaptability, not your plan,...

Question: How will you respond when you find yourself in the valley? Framework: The Two Types of Happiness

"All the things which cause complaint or dread are like the taxes of life—things from which, my dear Lucilius, you should never hope for exemption or seek escape." - Seneca This idea—that there are taxes of life that you should happily pay—resonates deeply. The reframe to view these negatives as a necessary part of my growth and progress has been tremendously helpful on my journey (and will be on yours). In today's piece, I'd like to highlight 7 taxes of life you need to pay to live the life...

Question: What sacrifices are you willing to make to get the things you want? Framework: Winston's Star

Last weekend, I ran my second marathon in 2:53:38. This was a 4-minute personal best. During the suffering of miles 20-26 and the journey home after the race, I found myself reflecting on the key lessons from the experience. Interestingly, none of them have anything to do with running. This piece shares 8 powerful lessons for life from running a marathon.

Question: What are the lesser goals keeping you from your real goals? Framework: The Riptide Mentality

For the last several years, I've kept a running list of my favorite life hacks. I add and subtract from the list whenever I come across new ideas that create value in my life. I'd like to make a tradition of sharing that list annually with all of you—in the hope that you take action on them and feel their impact on your life. Here are the most powerful life hacks I've found to date: 50 tips, tricks, ideas, and techniques for building a healthier, wealthier life.

Question: What are the barriers within you that need to be broken? Framework: The Beginner's Paradox

I have a few core Missions that define my life—everything is aligned around them. Missions are life journeys with no specific end. Missions are not goals. Missions are infinite games. The power of Missions is found in the clarity they provide: If an opportunity, person, or action does not positively contribute to one of your Missions, you can say no to it. I have clearly defined a Mission within each of three categories: Professional, Personal, and Health. Clearly defining (and embarking on)...