Personal Development for Smart People^TM

On January 1st I’ll begin my 30-day trial of eating 100% raw foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds). I wasn’t sure how most readers would react to the idea, but after yesterday’s post there’s been a great deal of support to blog about it along the way, including dozens of forum posts and even more emails. So […]

I’ve decided to kick off 2008 with a 30-day trial of eating a 100% raw vegan diet. I’ve done a couple 30-day trials as well as a 45-day trial of raw foodism during the past several years, but I always went back to eating cooked vegan food. I’m eager to give it another try now […]

One of the best ways to kick off the New Year is by starting a 30-day trial of a new daily habit or activity. Instead of creating a New Year’s Resolution that probably won’t stick, just commit to a short-term change. Make a January resolution only. If it doesn’t work out, you’re completely free to abandon […]

Supposedly Buddha recommended avoiding extremism, suggesting we should instead pursue the middle path. But where exactly are the edges of the middle path? Does the middle path mean the average path, close to what everyone else is doing? No, I don’t think the middle path is something you can measure with an external yardstick. This is […]

Are you afraid that if you quit too many jobs or switch careers too often, your resume (CV) will make you look undesirable? And who’s gonna hire you then? No one wants a loser who can’t stay put.
You’re probably right to be concerned… assuming your primary career goal is to work for a company that wants to […]

Why is it that so many people are willing to tolerate work they don’t enjoy for the sake of a paycheck? I think it’s because most of them simply don’t know what it’s really like to be in love with their work. Their fear is greater than their power, so they never make the leap […]

A few days ago, I decided to do a simple journaling exercise. I wanted to make a quick list of 20 things I love about writing. However, when typing the number 20, I accidentally typed 200 instead. As I hit the backspace key to correct the error, I paused and said, “What the hell… I can […]

I’ve been in the fortunate position of watching a lot of people undergo career transitions during the past several years, myself included. I’ve noticed a very simple recurring pattern that I’d like to share with you. This pattern is so common you could almost call it a rule.
During the pre-commitment phase, when people consider making a major career change, they usually focus on the […]

With respect to goals, projects, and other to-do items, it’s easy to get stuck too long in the thinking and planning phase.  You can sit around writing and rewriting your goals, delving into your subconscious mind, working through emotional blocks, summoning the power of Thor… whatever.  But if you don’t eventually get into action, you’re […]

Many people ask me how they can start generating income from a new line of work, especially work that is highly creative or artistic. Some have already created quite a bit of content like albums or books or paintings, but they aren’t making any money from it. Some have a decent level of skill, but […]