Luck and skill are connected: Why chance favours the prepared mind
Chess is generally considered a game of skill. But at the highest levels, it’s almost a game of luck.
Newsletter
The full archive of my newsletter, covering psychology, philosophy, business and culture. Every post features a photo from my travels.
Latest
The Future Is Cheap: Why the best opportunities look ridiculous at first
Buying the future is usually cheaper than you think. Alexander Graham Bell tried to sell the telephone to Western Union
The Banana Problem
Why becoming too consistent or formulaic is a trap. The banana – bred for reliability, now vulnerable to extinction – as a metaphor for creative work that optimises for recognition over growth.
Limitations are a Gift
Limitations are a Gift We want more than we have. This seems to have always been true. We covet life
The Ladder of Mastery: Learn the rules, break the rules, forget the rules
Have you ever felt trapped by numbers? Metrics that at one point tracked success can begin to dictate it, chaining
What Happens When We Stop Sharing Reality
The World We Knew I was sitting in an Uber with a friend in Accra, Ghana, when I noticed the
Seth Godin is Eminem in a Suit: The secret behind effortless eloquence
You've probably heard of Seth Godin - he's the author of 20 best-selling books and an
Why You Don't Actually Need a Lawn
The Problem With Lawns Lawns, as expanses of verdant private land, were invented as a status signal. English aristocrats in
Freedom of Silence: The hidden price of going along with the group
A popular movie trope is the scene where a plucky kid stands up to the bad guy, saying what the
On the other side of boredom: Why getting past the honeymoon phase is the real test
You're experiencing new things, achieving new goals, and everything feels fresh and thrilling. But before the honeymoon phase
Don't take this personally: Why failure is data, not destiny
Scientists don't see an unexpected outcome as a personal failure. They see it as data. Thomas Edison is
Why Espresso Isn't Just Strong Coffee
Coffee and Espresso Aren't the Same Thing Coffee and espresso are kinda the same thing, but they'
