Double Down on the Fundamentals

Retired NBA player Tim Duncan was nicknamed “The Big Fundamental.” He was somewhat boring to watch play compared to his peers, but his play was so efficient and effective that he won five championships (including 3 Finals MVP awards) and will soon be in the hall of fame. He’s arguably the greatest power forward in the history of the NBA, and it’s because he mastered the fundamentals of basketball. He made good decisions, took high percentage shots (like the bank shot that he’s famous for), positioned himself well on offense and defense, and made smart passes.

I could only watch 3 of the shots in the video linked above before I got bored. But those are worth 2 points each, the same amount as exciting dunks!

The fundamentals are so important in every area because they are dependably effective. They always provide great results in the long-term. Here are the big fundamentals for living well as a human being.Read More

5 Awesome Quotes (With Analysis)

Who doesn’t love a good quote? Oh, that one guy? Don’t talk to him.

Just a sentence or two of the right words can blow your mind. Here are a few quotes that I like, with my thoughts beneath them.

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.” (Benjamin Franklin)

Ben Franklin is one of my favorite people ever. The way he thought about (and lived) life was fascinating.Read More

When to Raise (or Lower) the Stakes

Stakes play a big role in our lives. Steaks, too.

Just about every action we take has stakes attached to it. If you place a bet, stakes are defined in dollars, but if you want to improve your life, stakes are conceptual and more fluid. The size of the stakes we place on our goals can determine whether we fail or succeed.

Are Higher or Lower Stakes Better?

Neither higher or lower stakes is inherently better. Though if you ask the average person or self-help guru, they will always tell youRead More

How to Be More Creative (and Why It’s Important)

“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.”

~ Bill Moyers

Creativity can help with every facet of life. The more creative you are, the better you are at solving problems, doing good work (at whatever your profession is), and being of interest to other people. And yet, in the self-helposphere, productivity, not creativity, is the main focus. Are we making a mistake?Read More

A Better Life Begins With Clarity

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.”

~ Arthur Schopenhauer

20-year-old Bobby Fischer played Grandmaster Donald Byrne in chess in 1963. After nearly symmetrical play from the two players, Fischer sacrificed his knight for a pawn. Two grandmasters covering the game said that Fischer’s mistake would give Byrne the win. They were wrong. Fischer’s tactical sacrifice opened up a devastating attack on Byrne, who resigned 11 moves later.Read More