Years before Jim Carrey became a world-renowned actor, he wrote himself a check for $10 million dollars for “acting services rendered” and kept it in his wallet. At night, he would drive up on Mulholland Drive, park his car on a vista overlooking the city of Los Angeles, and remove …

In September 2017, Puerto Rico was just beginning to recover from one of the worst multiyear droughts in its history. Faced with severe water shortages during the height of the drought, the island’s government rationed water use for two hundred thousand residents in the San Juan area, a drastic …

I pray that you’re doing well. I have been thinking a lot about my life since the interview. I felt nervous and did my best to answer your questions, but now I feel that there were more details I should have mentioned. It’s sort of hard for me …

Wildfire smoke is aggravating chronic illnesses hundreds of miles away from the flames. Air pollution, worsened by fossil fuel burning, kills more than nineteen thousand people a day, making it one of the leading causes of death in nearly every country on Earth. Young people growing up today are seeking …

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of variations on the idea that “brand is the most important thing” or that “brand is all that really matters when you’re launching a business.” Obviously, as someone who runs a brand company, I’m not sad that people are starting to …

The purpose-centric and purpose-driven vision makes the biggest impact. Unless a leader’s vision is solidly supported by values, no complex, profound or fancy vision will reach the minds and hearts of the team. Nor will it inspire action. It’s all about your ‘why,’ your greater purpose. This is …

A network effect is a concept rooted in the intersection of economic theory and telecommunications, but I won’t take you too far down that road here. For now, think of network effects simply as powerful, virtuous cycles that offer major benefits to companies and users alike. Still with me …

In order to understand what is meant by freelancing it is useful to start by looking at how it differs from being employed. The largest single difference between employment and freelancing is accountability. As an employee you are accountable to your boss and the company. As a freelancer you are …

It’s worth remembering the origin of the word ‘ambition’. It comes from the Latin noun ambitio, which derives from the verb ambulare – ‘to walk around’. ‘Ambitio’ was used to describe the walk taken around the public space where voters in elections would be gathered. It came to mean ‘ambition …

There are many ways to climb a mountain. Setting a goal to reach the summit can inspire, but the destination alone won’t tell you which trail to take. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens too often in business. When only results are rewarded even the most talented may take …

When King Giaffer, ruler of the ancient country of Serendip (an Old Persian name for Sri Lanka) became concerned that his three sons were too sheltered, privileged, and unprepared for the challenges of ruling the kingdom, he decided to send them on a journey on whichthey would learn some important …

Since 1977, the Federal Reserve has operated under what is commonly referred to as a dual-mandate from Congress. The dual-mandate directs the Fed to pursue maximum employment and stable prices. Basically, Congress put the Fed in charge of jobs and inflation. Congress doesn’t tell the Federal Reserve how many …

In 2017, $410 billion was contributed to nonprofit organizations, and 70 percent of that giving came from individuals. Charitable giving is an important source of revenue for nonprofits. Although on average, only 13 percent of nonprofit organizations’ income comes from charitable donations , this average conceals substantial variation. Some nonprofits use …

In a state of tension, it’s hard to be present – but it is possible. Tension blocks presence as it constricts us inside. When our body and emotions are squeezed, so is our life view in that moment. Tension can obscure our perspective, impact our breathing and unbalance the nervous …

Eye contact is a sign of interest. If someone at a party looked into your eyes for longer than usual, you’d think the person was interested in you, and you would probably consider him or her attractive.

Some people avoid eye contact. They may be painfully shy, or possibly …

Just as there are many ways to appreciate the outdoors, there are many ways to camp. The choices range from amenity-packed recreational vehicle (such as a camper van) camping to an ultralight ramble with just a tarp and some cord to rig a makeshift shelter. The more luxurious the camping …

Treehouses are not generally considered essential for life. Most people do not use them as a primary home, but rather as a temporary getaway. Practically speaking, they are not the most efficient structures we can build. They are generally less energy efficient because the floor is exposed to variable weather …