My favorites, readers’ favorites, and a little about me as a human — Four years ago, I was gathered around a campfire with a few friends, and I told my buddy Alex that I wanted to be a writer someday. …

Startup employees, here’s what you need to know… — *This article is not intended to be used as investment advice. A few years ago, I was hired as the first U.S. employee for a Y Combinator-backed startup. Before then, I had worked in companies of multiple sizes and industries, but I had never worked in an early-stage startup, so…

I read 70 books last year. These ones are worth your time. — Seven years ago, I stumbled upon Perpetual Page Turner’s end-of-year book summary. I’ve been writing my own version ever since. Here are my favorite books from what I read in 2022. My answers pertain to books I read last year, no matter when they were published. For each book, I…

From the hundreds of business books I’ve read, these are my favorites — I’ve read hundreds of business books and run a business book review website for the past 12 years. Here are my 50 favorite business books, alphabetized by author’s last name. You’ll notice the list includes some psychology books, self-help, and biographies that are pertinent to leaders and business readers. I’ve…

Giving feedback is tough, but this template makes it much easier. — I frequently get calls from friends who want to chat about work challenges. And I’m perpetually amazed by how often my friends’ struggles come back to one thing: a hesitancy to share feedback. One entrepreneur I know (“Greg”) was having issues with his business partner. I asked Greg how his…

It’s called “Smart Brevity,” and it will change the way you write. — On average, readers spend 26 seconds on each online story. WHY IT MATTERS: Social media, smartphones, and the Internet shortened attention spans. Novels like War and Peace would never sell today. And yet, few of us have adapted our communication to this new reality. BACKGROUND: Many of us were raised…

Quotes have a unique ability to capture wisdom in a few memorable words. These ones are worth living by. — The best quotes contain a world of wisdom in a couple of sentences. Each of the 25 quotes below can be used to build a life worth living… “Not wanting something is as good as having it.” -Liad Shababo This concept has been around for thousands of years. Supposedly, when…

I grew up going to church every Sunday. My family sat in the same pew every week: the third one from the front on the left-hand side of the sanctuary. All of the regulars at our Baptist church knew it was our pew. It was “ours” every week except the…

What I wish I could teach my younger self — Today I turn 35, which feels really old. I think self-reflection is important, so I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned these past three and a half decades. Here’s what I wish I could teach my younger self (in no particular order)… 1. Don’t worry about what you can’t…