You Didn't Make the Rules, so Why Follow Them?
Have you noticed as more and more of the world goes online and we become more and more connected (yet more independent) that all the…
You Today vs. You Tomorrow
Most of my time each day is spent trying to overcome my own fears and insecurities. I try to embrace a life of risk-taking…
Are You Dreaming or Anticipating?
I’m an anticipation junkie. I think I actually get more enjoyment out of the excitement that builds up before doing something than actually do it…
27 Simple Tactics You Can Use Today to Become an Intrepid Risk-Taker
Problem: We’re pre-conditioned to avoid risk even though we deal with it on a regular basis. As a result, we do poorly when forced to make a risky decision because we’re totally unprepared. Solution: If we engineer small risks in our lives on a daily basis, we can become better equipped to deal with bigger…
You Can’t Get There From Here: A Few Stories About Backtracking
Problem: If you’re on the wrong path, no amount of tweaking or persevering will get you where you really want to go. You’re headed down a dead end. Solution: Backtrack until you’re in a familiar place, and try again. Repeat as necessary. *** Life goes fast, and it’s easy for even the best laid plans…
Consistency is Consistently Overrated
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to condemn consistency. I think it’s valuable for a lot of reasons. Consistency is a virtue… if you’re not a screw-up. Yet, I can’t help but notice that people blindly accept consistency as the road to their success. It’s a classic case of copying tactics without understanding the…
Happiness For Sale
The gist: Happiness can’t be bought, but it can be sold. Selling happiness is something we do every day, often without realizing it. *** Whoever said you can’t put a price on happiness probably never actually tried. The truth, I believe, is actually the opposite. Not only can you put a price on happiness, you…
Memory: The Truth About the Lies You Tell Yourself
The gist: Your memory is unreliable even though you think it isn’t, and it will lead you astray even though you think it won’t. Your life has unfolded much differently than you remember it now. Does that surprise you? All of the good times you look back on now didn’t really happen the way you…
How to Hack Your Genetics to Take Better Risks
Problem: In order to do great things, you must be willing to take risks. But your ability to accept risk in your life is genetically pre-determined, and if you don’t have the right gene, then you’re “risk handicapped.” Solution: Take advantage of the loopholes your brain provides to bypass your genetics to take smarter and…
Fear and the Very First Step
I remember the day I got the email to play my very first gig. A local musician found my Myspace music page (don’t try to look it up, it doesn’t exist anymore), and invited me to open for him at some dive bar in a Portland suburb. I remember feeling incredibly flattered. Most bands work their asses…