“You can get 12 months of work done in 11 months but you can’t get 12 months of work done in 12 months.” Please re-read the above sentence. At first glance, it doesn’t make any sense. Upon reflection, however, you may come to see the wisdom embedded within the statement. If you are constantly working,…

In the picture to the right, count the bars from the top and then count them from the bottom. Did you count ten the first time and seven the second time? I love optical illusions such as this one because they force us to acknowledge that the world isn’t always so black-or-white. Often, our starting…

One of my favorite authors and thinkers, Daniel Pink, has a wonderful post on New Year’s Resolutions. Instead of making a resolution to do something new this year, Pink suggests making a resolution not to change something. Interestingly, by reversing your thinking and asking a different question, you can get human psychology working for you…

It is conventional wisdom that if you want to achieve your goals you need to “raise the bar” or “shoot for the stars.” This works in some cases but I believe a more effective method is to “lower the bar” and start easy. For example, if you want to start a new exercise regimen try…

Everybody likes to be “in the know.” The problem with this is that it’s an impossible goal to achieve because knowledge is being created at an ever accelerating rate. This knowledge creation is a wonderful thing but it also implies that our ignorance is growing even faster (in the sense that it is impossible to…

Below is a wonderful talk by Kathryn Schulz, self described "wrongologist" and the author of Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error. I especially liked this statement of hers:"One of the problems with being wrong … is that it feels like being right." This is so true and it is one of the reasons…

By sheer luck, my family and I walked up the steps of the Eiffel Tower on the evening of March 19, 2011 — the night of the “Super Moon.” The view was spectacular as a large red orb arose over the Parisian skyline. If you would have asked me whether the moon was closer to…

Please solve this problem: Tell me if the following statement is true or false: "This statement is false." If the statement is false, then it is true. If the statement is true, then it is false. The above example is a well-known paradox but I believe one of the things society, parents, teachers, bosses and…

I am currently reading William Irvine's book, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and stumbled across this paradoxical — or, at least, counter-intuitive — idea: Denying yourself pleasure can lead to pleasure. How? Consider eating an ice cream cone or, perhaps, a pleasant dessert. Undoubtedly, such an experience would…

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