Personal Growth
When Business Sucks And It’s Hard
We were in a van. Packed in like sardines. It was the perfect setting for my favorite pastime: eavesdropping. Paul Graham says you can judge a place by what you eavesdrop and this van was no exception. Listening intently, I heard a woman turn to the man next to her and say, “The hotel business seems really (…)
You Should Start A Podcast (And Other Things You “Should” Do)
If I had a dollar for every genius who told me, “you should start a podcast!” I’d be a wealthy woman. They’re the same geniuses who told me I “really should do” a YouTube channel, Instagram quote pictures, and (my personal favorite) QR codes. People in the peanut gallery are always eager to tell you (…)
The Secret Advantage of Peer Pressure
When you’re a kid they warn you about “peer pressure.” I remember being very concerned about this. One day a kid would come up to me and ask me to do drugs. And I’d be like “NO!” and make my 4th-grade class proud! I was a cute little 4th grader. As you know from your (…)
Why You Need To Go Back To Trusting Your Instincts and Start Having Fun
One the most destructive things no one talks about is when you stop trusting your instincts. It happens at different times for each of us, but it always the same shift. You go from “this is fun!” ——> “oh sh*t, there are consequences.” For a lot of us, school is the culprit behind this shift. (…)
The New Rules of Gift Giving
It was awkward. The couch was sweaty. Probably because I was nervous. I don’t know. All I knew was it was uncomfortable. We’d decided not to do gifts that holiday season. It felt like a scene out of 20th century England. No one said anything directly, but their faces were judging us. We’d made a (…)
Why Good People Need To Get Comfortable With Wealth And Power
At the end of every Tim Ferriss Show episode, Tim asks his guests the same question: “When you think of the word ‘successful,’ who is the first person that comes to mind and why?” Listeners love it when the guest says, “My father. He worked 40 hour days at the car shop, didn’t speak any English, (…)
Why It’s Not Enough To Follow Your Bliss
Been hearing a lot of “Do what you love and the money will come” bromides lately. Build the audience first, worry about sales later Love your customers, don’t focus on metrics Follow your passion and the money will find you No. No no no nonononononononoooooooooooo Money doesn’t “come.” It doesn’t find you. It doesn’t fall (…)
This Is What Happens When You Let Other People Get In Your Head
This week I’m in Houston staying with my parents because I’m a great daughter and winner of all brownie points. I was meeting a friend for dinner when my mother said, “I’m not sure you should take the car. You haven’t driven in a while.” She was right. Living just outside Manhattan I never drive, (…)