R3ciprocity Podcast: Recent Episodes

David Maslach

Professor David Maslach talks about graduate school, research, science, Innovation, and entrepreneurship. The R3ciprocity project is my way to give back as much as I possibly can. I seek to provide insights and tools to change how we understand science, and make it more democratic.

Why do we choose this strange, difficult career of research—and what makes it worth it?

David Maslach sits down with Olav Sorenson, Professor of Strategy at UCLA Anderson and one of the most influential voices in organizational theory and entrepreneurship.

“We’re professional problem solvers.”

In this powerful conversation, Sorenson shares how curiosity—not credentials—built his career. From almost launching a startup to shaping the field of entrepreneurship, he reminds us why the real reward in science is the process, not the prize.

We talk about:

•Why choosing “weird” ideas matters.

•How to build real, lasting relationships.

•Why intrinsic motivation is more powerful than prestige.

This is a reminder that being a good scientist means staying brave, sometimes irrelevant, and always learning to love the climb.

Most people give up.

They try a few times. It gets hard. It gets quiet. No one notices.

So they stop.

And that’s why the game is winnable.

That’s why you never see professors building open platforms.

Why researchers tell you not to start something new.

Why smart people will laugh at your idea and say,

“That’s not how it’s done.”

They’re not wrong.

They’re just done.

But I’m not.

Every day, I show up. Even when no one cares.

Even when I feel ridiculous.

Even when I want to quit.

Because I know the truth:

Consistency outlasts brilliance.

One more day of effort stacks higher than one perfect performance.

And I’ve seen this across research, careers, and life:

The people who win aren’t always smarter.

They’re the ones who refuse to stop when it stops being fun.

They do the boring thing.

The scary thing.

The invisible thing.

Until something cracks.

And then people say:

“Wow, you’re lucky.”

“Must be nice.”

But the truth is simple:

You didn’t quit.

And that’s always been the difference.

I’ve never liked how we talk about retirement. Like life just… ends at 65. You stop being relevant, you stop pushing, and you’re supposed to disappear into golf courses and travel ads. That might have made sense in 1955—when making it to 70 was a miracle. But that’s not our world anymore. Most of us will live far longer than we think, and if you’ve made it this far, chances are you’re healthy, sharp, and still very much alive.

This episode is a gut-check: why “retirement” is outdated, why aging is framed all wrong, and why it’s not too late to build, explore, and press against the world. We’ve confused age with irrelevance—and it’s costing us. It’s time to unlearn what we’ve been sold, respect the long arc of curiosity, and show up again—with all our might.

As a professor and researcher, you’d think I’d be certain about things by now.

But the more I study the world, the more I realize how little we actually know.

We act like understanding is easy—as if truth is just waiting to be downloaded.

But most knowledge is fragile. Most beliefs are assumptions in disguise.

And still, everyone around us—especially in academia—pretends like they know.

This creates a strange culture:

One where people compete by displaying knowledge, not seeking it.

Where learning becomes performance, and doubt is seen as weakness.

But here’s the secret:

The best minds I know live in the tension between knowing and not knowing.

They don’t shout. They ask. They keep peeling things back.

Not because they have the answers—but because they’re still curious.

You are more capable than you think.

Most people won’t tell you that. The world will make you feel small. Rejections pile up. Deadlines feel impossible. And sometimes it feels like quitting is the only way forward.

But here’s the truth: if you’ve made it this far, you already have a level of grit, intelligence, and persistence that few people ever reach.

You don’t need to “prove” yourself to anyone. You don’t need the world’s permission. You are already one of the most capable people in the room.

I’ve been thinking a lot about ultra-wealth—what it means when someone can earn more money in a year than most of us will see in a lifetime, and still have their wealth grow faster than they can spend it. On one hand, they earned it—through luck, skill, or strategy. On the other, we’ve created a world where a few people now sit above every system, every law, and maybe even time itself.

This isn’t a rant. It’s a puzzle.

What happens when wealth becomes untouchable?

What happens when markets can’t contain individuals anymore?

There’s no easy fix. But for those of us studying systems, innovation, and inequality—this is the kind of problem we have to think through. I don’t have the answer. But I think we need to ask better questions.

When I began my academic journey, I assumed science was about accumulating facts that would eventually point to some clear understanding of how the world works. I believed, like many do, that each study added a brick to a larger structure we call “truth.”

But over time, I’ve come to appreciate a more complex view.

In many areas, evidence is often ambiguous, methods rest on assumptions, and interpretation depends on context. The questions we ask, and the tools we use to answer them, shape what we’re able to see.

Pluralism is defined as the view that multiple perspectives, methods, or explanations can each contribute meaningful insights to a phenomenon. In my own work, I’ve found that no single model captures everything. Some scholars use experimental design. Others prefer ethnographic immersion, formal modeling, or archival methods. All have their strengths—and their limitations.

Rather than treating one method as “the” path to insight, I’ve come to rely on what you might call a weighted mental model: I take what I can from each approach and try to integrate these insights in a way that makes sense for the specific problem I’m studying. It’s not always elegant, but it reflects the reality that many phenomena are multifaceted and dynamic.

Truth as Process, Not Endpoint

This doesn’t mean there is no truth. But it does suggest that truth in the social sciences often emerges through approximation—through triangulation across methods, perspectives, and disciplines.

Even strong findings can vary across contexts. A causal mechanism that holds in one setting may operate differently elsewhere. What looks like a robust effect in one dataset may fade in another. This doesn’t invalidate our work—it simply reminds us that most knowledge claims are conditional.

Rigor Still Matters

If anything, this view has deepened my respect for rigor. In complex systems, rigor is not about perfection. It’s about careful design, clarity in logic, and transparency in assumptions. It’s about acknowledging limits while still striving for insight.

The challenge is balancing structure with openness, precision with flexibility.

So Where Does That Leave Me?

Honestly? I still wrestle with doubt. There are moments I wonder whether I’m overcomplicating things—or not pushing hard enough for generalizable results. But I’ve come to believe that uncertainty isn’t a weakness in science.

It’s part of what makes this work so important.

I’ve been building a platform for years. And here’s the truth I wish someone had told me:

You won’t know what you’re doing—most of the time.

Building anything real means making decisions with half the data, managing problems you didn’t know existed yesterday, and waking up unsure if you’re wasting your life. Some days you feel like a visionary. Other days, like a fool. That’s normal.

The hardest part isn’t the code. It’s not the funding. It’s managing the quiet doubt that creeps in when progress is slow, bugs are endless, and people stop paying attention. But you show up anyway. You keep building.

(And no, I’m not talking about romance.)

One of the most underrated forces in our working lives is love. Not romantic love—but the kind of love that feels more like what a good parent gives: steady, safe, present. You mess up, and they’re still there. They guide, they coach, they believe in you.

It’s the kind of love that says: You’re not your worst moment. You’re still worth it. Let’s figure it out together.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized this is what shaped me most. My parents weren’t perfect—they were grumpy, snippy, just like everyone else’s. But underneath it all, I never doubted they were there for me. That kind of love? It’s the ground you walk on. You grow because someone believed you could.

In my adult life, outside of family, I can count on one hand the people who’ve shown me that same kind of love. My wife. My kids. Maybe one or two close friends. That’s it. And almost never in work settings.

We talk about trust in business—but I think what we’re really craving is this deeper sense of commitment. Not transactional. Not conditional. But a quiet promise: I’m here even when things go wrong. Especially then.

That kind of culture is rare. But when you build it—when you coach, support, and still hold people accountable—it changes everything. Not because it’s soft. But because it’s strong.

That’s the kind of workplace I want to build.

That’s what R3ciprocity is about.

That’s what I’m still learning to practice, every day.

The fastest way to wealth almost always feels the slowest and the most painful. Everything that truly moves the needle—high-return assets like index and mutual funds—feels boring, ordinary, and slow. Entrepreneurship and flashy startups may seem exciting, but they come with spectacular risk and rarely pay off.

Research, psychology, and economics all point to the same truth: long-run, low-risk investments—the kind nobody talks about—generate real wealth. We don’t see stories about the hundreds of small, ordinary gains that compound over decades. Instead, we hear about that one viral investment while the many failures go unseen.

If you want to build lasting wealth, don’t chase hype. Don’t buy the narrative that makes you feel weird or left behind. Stick to tried-and-true assets that grow steadily, even if they feel slow or boring. Over time, those tiny moves are the ones that win.

What if Science Isn’t About Truth After All?

When I started out, I believed research was about uncovering some objective reality. Something we’re all moving toward, together.

But over the years, I’ve let go of that belief. Not out of cynicism, but because I’ve seen how science actually works.

We don’t just ask what is “true or valid.”

Truth and validity is just the beginning.

Seeking truth is challenging. We really often don’t know what “truth is.”

We have to remember the system managed by imperfectly rational humans.

But, let’s not just blame the people involved. They are doing their best.

We often all are. And, we often research things that are challenging.

Science and research is just hard.

There are tools, like replication and retesting, but it is only the start.

We also have to ask:

- What will reviewers like?

- What will get published?

- What will get cited, shared, or funded?

What makes it through isn’t always just truth, as I once understood.

It’s what feels persuasive, legible, beautiful.

Strange ideas, messy ideas, uncomfortable ideas? They rarely survive the filter.

We don’t have good universal definitions of what is persuasive or beautiful.

And this isn’t just a social science problem.

It’s science, full stop.

⸻

I have seen this firsthand with my own work.

I share publicly. I build tools.

I try to make research more human.

And most of the time?

Ignored. Discounted. Misunderstood.

I am not upset. This is not a rant. It’s just reality.

Look at my Youtube videos on R3ciprocity or these posts. Some work because some see their own humanity in it, and others barely get a few dozen views. I cannot predict what will be liked or who will pay attention.

Some warrant more attention than I would like. It is such a challenge to understand.

But I have realized: it’s not just me.

It’s the system.

The our realities are not only about facts.

It’s about style, status, and maybe who gets to speak.

Again, this is not a flaw. This is the reality of being a human being in a beautifully ambiguous and changing world.

⸻

So what’s left?

I don’t think the answer is perfect peer review. That is very difficult to do, and perhaps impossible.

I don’t think the answer is another ranking system.

The answer might be simpler:

•Let more voices in.

•Accept more ambiguity.

•Make the invisible visible.

Just have more ideas to be heard, no matter who they come from.

Maybe we create different ways to communicate become more acceptable?

Maybe we explore and play. Be silly.

I do see many positive things happening.

We need to figure out how to get people to continue to show up in science, and not give up.

Because science isn’t only about truth.

It’s about listening to others’ realities.

It is about not giving up in the face of the difficult uphill climb.

It’s about letting your voice sing in a way the shares truth, and what you love to explore.

Because it is so more than about truth.

It is about what is beautiful.

After years in academia, I’ve realized something few people admit: most people don’t actually want to change the world. They just want to live their lives, stay comfortable, and avoid risk. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and research only attract a rare few who are willing to keep going despite rejection and ambiguity.

You’ve been fed lies about productivity. “Do more, faster, smarter.” But in real research careers, that ratchet-up mindset breaks labs and burns people out. Most “efficiency gurus” overlook the truth: productivity doesn’t come from hacks—it comes from culture.

I used to believe I had to optimize everything—every minute, every task, every thought. But all that pressure to “ratchet up” only made me feel like I was falling behind. The truth? Most of what’s sold as productivity in science is just noise. It doesn’t reflect how real progress happens.

The best research careers aren’t built on hacks. They’re built like kindergartens—with guidance, patience, messy days, and small wins. What actually matters is creating the space where people feel safe enough to try, fail, and grow over years—not just days.

I’ve stopped chasing the illusion of perfect efficiency. Now I ask: how can I build a meaningful environment where people want to show up? Where I want to show up? That’s the real work. Share if you’ve felt this tension too.

Can a non‑top‑tier doctorate program get you into a job or career within the academic or research world that is top tier? I used to think that if you did everything right—you were producing more papers, asking profound questions, and had the “nod”—you could eventually land that rare job at Stanford or Princeton. But after years in the profession, I’ve come to realize there are tremendous headwinds, especially around market efficiency, sorting mechanisms, and even bias against geography or resources. These institutions are looking to make the biggest bang for their buck—they invest in uncertain resources and often reinforce existing hierarchies.

So what do you do? As I’ve learned, you have to play those forces—get the scores, network, aim high. But equally important is to reframe your identity. You can’t move up rankings if the market engine is too strong. Instead, love yourself where you’re at and build a meaningful life doing the best you possibly can given your reality. You can define success on your own terms—creating impact, enjoying your work, and living an enjoyable life—without chasing a permanently unreachable “top.”

Everyone says the algorithm is broken.

That it penalizes you. That it keeps you invisible.

But after 6,000+ YouTube videos, I’ve realized something:

The algorithm isn’t the enemy. It’s just a mirror.

It reflects what we click on, what we crave, what we can’t look away from.

Here’s the problem:

If you’re not exceptionally beautiful, funny, shocking, or extreme, the internet ignores you.

“Being normal” doesn’t trend.

But being normal is what lets you survive.

Most people burn out chasing performance.

Trying to out-hustle, out-shock, out-perfect the algorithm.

Me? I chose survival.

I chose to lower the bar, to just show up every day as a professor, a dad, a researcher, and a human being.

Because survival compounds.

It lets you build for decades, while everyone else quits after a few months.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not clickbait.

But maybe — just maybe — showing up as yourself is the most radical strategy left.

I was just having this conversation with my son—about how human nature drives so much of what we see online. You go on LinkedIn, and it’s like everyone has to sound like they’ve got their act together. “Founder of this,” “Thought Leader of that.” You meet them in real life, and it’s like… wait a minute. That title doesn’t match the person. Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s sad. But mostly, it’s just human.

I know I sound like a pretentious jerk saying all this, but you’ve probably seen it too. The polished title, the perfect posts, the projection of success. Yet behind the curtain, we’re all a little bit of a mess. And maybe that’s okay. Maybe the only real status is being okay with falling apart some days and holding it together on others. If you’re someone who’s tired of the fakeness—or just wants to feel human again—this one’s for you.

Don’t buy into the highlight reels. The truth behind progress—real, lasting, meaningful progress—is much slower and far more painful than anyone admits. Most people who look successful are just better at hiding their struggle. The ones who are actually making a difference? They often feel like failures. Because they’re pushing. Because they’re going slow. Because they’re honest with themselves about how hard it really is.

I had no investors. No team. No roadmap. Just one strange, stubborn belief: that I could build something that changed the way research is done. Everyone said it was foolish. Many still do. But I kept showing up. Every day. With nothing but a broken idea and a full heart.

This post is about what it actually feels like to create something when the odds are against you. It’s not glamorous. You’ll be ignored, doubted, and dismissed. But you might also build something no one else dared to try. If you’re chasing a wild idea—if people don’t understand why you’re doing it—you’re probably on the right path. Keep going.

The internet is designed to keep you scrolling.

Not thinking. Not learning.

Most people check out the second a conversation gets difficult.

Not “heated.” Just difficult.

Hard conversations — about data, about money, about failure — get ignored, not because they’re wrong, but because they’re inconvenient. They feel uncomfortable.

And this is why so many of us never learn the most important lessons.

•Learning is not fun.

•Real growth feels terrible while you’re doing it.

•Engagement online isn’t built on wisdom — it’s built on what people already believe.

Once you see this, you can’t unsee it.

You stop expecting people to stay.

And you start focusing on the few who don’t check out.

Because the future is always built by the people willing to sit in the discomfort and keep going.

We keep hearing AI will ruin everything—but no one talks about how much of our life already changed without us noticing. From daily showers to spotless homes to chauffeuring kids every night—this is all new. In 30 years, we quietly reinvented “normal.” So what happens when robots don’t just work for us—but become better partners, better parents, even better lovers?

Everyone says they want innovation—until you actually try to fail on purpose.

But living in the land of failure is the only way anything truly new happens.

You won’t get applause.

You won’t get permission.

You will be told you’re wrong—by people who only repeat what worked last time.

But the truth is simple:

Those who win in the long run are the ones who keep failing deliberately,

quietly,

again and again.

They’re not chasing prestige.

They’re chasing truth.

And they know: the path to something real goes straight through what looks like a bad idea.

Try things that lead to failure. You never know what it will bring.

You were an R&D exec, an engineer, a builder of real things. And now? You’re told to watch Wheel of Fortune and sit still. That’s nonsense. You’ve still got curiosity. You’ve still got edge. You’re finally free to mess around, screw up, and chase what made you excited in the first place. Reinvent your toaster. Obsess over headlights. Start that blog about Lego men.

No one’s stopping you now. So… why the hell not?

I used to think I needed to build something massive to matter. Publish groundbreaking research. Get recognized. Maybe even win awards. But when I look back, the people who shaped me the most—my mom and dad—never chased any of that.

They just did small things. My mom still knits mittens for people in her community. My dad used to give away carrots and potatoes from his garden. No one gave them a medal. No one wrote them into history books. But when they left, the absence was felt.

This episode is about how real impact often looks like nothing at all. It’s invisible. It’s humble. And it changes everything.

If you’re feeling like your work, your life, or your research doesn’t matter unless it’s loud, flashy, or celebrated—you need to hear this.

Because the truth is: we don’t need more geniuses. We need more people who show up, give away the extra carrots, and knit mittens.

Take care. And be that kind of person.

I believed education would unlock everything—happiness, clarity, purpose. And in some ways, it did. But the hardest part of life wasn’t solved in any classroom. The real challenge is waking up each day and doing the hard, boring, painful things that don’t feel exciting anymore. Managing your own motivation, your aches, your disillusionment—that’s the work no one teaches you.

What’s missing from the story of success isn’t more knowledge. It’s knowing how to get back up when you’re tired, discouraged, or simply numb. It’s understanding that life won’t always feel fresh or inspiring, and doing the work anyway. You don’t need to be a genius to do that—you just need to decide to try. Every day. Even when it hurts.

Most of us think money problems are solved with budgets, rules, and discipline. But the truth is, you don’t need a budget—you need a reframing.

We live in a world where marketers are paid to make us feel like we don’t have enough. They pull on every psychological trick: comparison, fear of missing out, the idea that the “good life” is always just one more purchase away. And because we can’t measure what really matters—love, compassion, stability, joy—we undervalue it. We chase the quantifiable things: bigger homes, flashier cars, the visible proof of success.

But here’s the secret: the most valuable things in life are invisible. A walk with a friend. A stable relationship. The quiet consistency of putting 10–15% into index funds, even though nobody sees it. These invisible things compound. They build stability. They make you whole in a way “stuff” never can.

If you stop playing by everyone else’s rules—if you stop chasing what can be measured and instead invest in what can’t—your life transforms. Not overnight, but day by day, one step at a time.

The game was never about buying more. It was about seeing differently.

Brilliant ideas don’t start brilliant.

They start lonely. Ugly. Scary.

The first time you share something that matters, it will be misunderstood. It will feel like a punch in the gut.

And your instinct will be to shrink. To cry. To quit.

But that moment—that heartbreak—is the cost of entry.

Every meaningful idea feels dumb before it feels right.

I study innovation. I live this life.

And I still get that ping of doubt, that wave of embarrassment, every time I propose something weird.

Even Roman numerals on bricks.

The truth is, creativity only grows when the environment makes it safe to look foolish.

Your job isn’t to look smart. It’s to create space for weird ideas to breathe.

That’s what I’m building.

That’s what I’m still learning to do.

I talk about the politics of PhD life because gossip—yes, gossip—has a purpose.

We think of gossip as petty, but in research life, it’s often how we make sense of ambiguous, uncomfortable situations no one will say out loud. It’s the quiet way someone whispers, “Here’s what’s really going on.”

The reality is that research careers are messy, political, and resource-scarce. Most of us eventually realize there’s no magic bullet. You follow the tips, you mimic the strategies, but what works for others doesn’t always work for you. I’ve been at this long enough to know: my “magic bullet” doesn’t exist.

And that’s okay.

My only real trick? Ignore as much of the politics as you can, and keep taking steps forward. Focus on becoming the kind of person who can walk away at any time—with your integrity, your health, and your financial independence intact.

Because when you can walk away, you’re actually more powerful. And you’ll work with more kindness, generosity, and freedom than any political maneuvering could ever give you.

That’s the message I try to share. Not because it’s easy. But because it’s the only way I know to keep going in a system built on ambiguity, scarcity, and—yes—gossip.

As researchers, we are trained to demand evidence before believing something. We pride ourselves on the phrase, “Show me the data.” And yet, I’m struck by how quickly we discount the human side of knowing—the intuition, tacit knowledge, and “spidey sense” that quietly guides so many of our decisions.

In my own life, I’ve learned that those gut feelings often point to something real. You try something, and it just works. You see a pattern and instinctively know what to do next. But too often, those moments get dismissed as “just anecdotal” or “just the placebo effect.” The irony is that this dismissal can blind us to real phenomena worth understanding.

Why does this matter? Because intuition isn’t magic—it’s experience speaking. Expertise is defined as the ability to recognize patterns from having done something thousands of times, even if you can’t fully explain how you know what you know. In those cases, demanding formal evidence before trusting someone’s judgment can actually make us ignore valuable knowledge.

Of course, there’s a danger here. Everyone likes to believe they’re an expert. That’s why separating genuine expertise from overconfidence is hard. Still, when someone with deep experience says, “This works,” we should pay attention—especially if the claim has persisted across contexts.

Another reason we discount intuition is that effects vary. In research, these differences are called moderators—factors that change the size or even the direction of an effect. Something might work brilliantly for one person but barely move the needle for another. Think about marijuana: for some, it’s a knockout; for others, it does nothing. Medicine often ignores these nuances, chasing an “average effect” instead of exploring why outcomes differ. This is changing with personalized medicine, which recognizes that context, genetics, and environment shape results.

The same principle applies in management and innovation. An approach that’s a breakthrough in one setting may flop in another. The fact that it doesn’t work everywhere doesn’t mean it’s useless—it means it’s context-dependent. But when we only look for universal effects, we overlook valuable local knowledge.

So how do you tell if a feeling is worth trusting? I think it comes down to two things:

1.Depth of experience – Repeated exposure to a problem builds pattern recognition that can’t be faked.

2.Deliberate reflection – Paying close attention, experimenting, and adjusting until you see what really matters.

Neither guarantees truth, but both increase the odds that your intuition is pointing to something real. The challenge, especially in research, is to notice these patterns before they disappear under layers of skepticism.

And yes, we need to weed out the “woo” from reality. There’s a lot of junk science and wishful thinking out there. But history is full of ideas that were once dismissed as nonsense—handwashing, for example—that turned out to be correct. Often, the people raising them couldn’t prove their case at first. That doesn’t mean they were wrong; it means they were ahead of the evidence.

So, maybe the next time someone says, “I know it works—I’ve seen it a hundred times,” we pause before dismissing them. We ask:

•How much experience do they have?

•Have they paid attention to patterns?

•Could the effect be real for some people, even if not for all?

Because if we’re honest, a lot of what moves the world forward starts with a hunch that doesn’t yet have a p-value attached to it.

I know I’m weird. I record podcasts while driving. I talk to strangers on the internet. I’ve poured time, money, and reputation into something that might go nowhere. It’s embarrassing. It’s terrifying. And I do it anyway.

This episode is for anyone sitting on a dream but too scared to start. I get it. I feel that same fear—every single day. I’m shy. I hate being the center of attention. I worry I’m wasting time I could spend with my kids. But still, I show up.

We live in a world filled with opportunity. Anyone can build something. Anyone can speak. But most people won’t—because someone, somewhere told them they were foolish for even trying.

If you’ve ever felt like what you want is too big, too weird, too risky, or too small to matter, I want you to hear this: you’re not alone. The fear doesn’t go away. But the only way forward is through.

You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to do it afraid.

Take care. And go be weird.

If you’re looking for a rational, financial reason to have kids, you won’t find one here. I’ve looked. I teach strategy and economics. I live in a world obsessed with optimization. And by all those measures, having children is just… a cost.

But I did it anyway. Twice.

This episode is about the truth no one wants to say out loud: there’s no economic model that justifies raising kids. It’s time-consuming, expensive, and pulls you away from work you love. And yet, somehow, it’s also the most meaningful decision I’ve ever made.

I talk about the tension between ambition and family, love and logic, joy and sacrifice. I challenge the financial frameworks we use to define “value” in life—and why they break down the moment you try to price love, time, or legacy.

This isn’t an argument for parenthood. It’s an invitation to rethink what matters.

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re doing something that doesn’t make sense on paper—but feels right in your soul—this one’s for you.

Take care. And let yourself choose joy, even when it looks like a loss.

Everyone tells you to be bold—but when you’re actually in the middle of a PhD, or building something real, all you feel is pressure.

Pressure to finish quickly.

To not mess up.

To not look like a failure.

So what do you do?

You choose the “safe” project.

You chase metrics.

You kill the weird idea that kept you up at night.

I’ve seen this story unfold a hundred times—students who could’ve done something incredible… but didn’t. Not because they lacked talent, but because they were afraid.

Afraid of what their advisor would say.

Afraid of wasting time.

Afraid of looking stupid.

And here’s the truth no one tells you: that weird, risky idea you’re avoiding? It’s probably the most valuable thing you’ve got.

The ones who do the extraordinary aren’t always the smartest. They’re the ones who follow the strange idea anyway.

Even when it looks foolish.

Even when no one else understands it.

Especially then.

If you’re in your 20s and terrified of taking a risk—this is your sign.

Do the thing you’re scared to do.

Not recklessly.

But relentlessly.

Because in 10 years, the only regret you’ll have is not doing it sooner.

Everyone around me says I’ve made it—tenure, a house, a good life. But inside the system I work in, I’m told—explicitly and implicitly—that I don’t count. That I’m invisible. That I’m failing.

Why? Because I didn’t play the game the way I was supposed to. I didn’t chase citations or prestige. I chased joy. Stability. Meaning. Love.

This isn’t just my story—it’s a quiet rebellion against a broken definition of success. If you’ve ever felt like you were doing all the right things, but still being told you’re wrong… you’re not alone.

This is a message for everyone who’s ever whispered, “What if success isn’t what they say it is?”

Take care.

Why do we feel guilty when we finally enjoy our lives — as PhDs, professors, or researchers?

There’s this unspoken rule in academia: if you take weekends off, you’re not serious. If you rest during the summer, you’re lazy. If you enjoy time with your family, you’re not really committed. And yet… the best insights always come during the pause — on the walk, in the shower, during the laughter.

This guilt? It has no logic. But we still carry it.

In this episode, I reflect on the pressure to always perform, the subtle shame baked into the culture of research, and why the most profound work often begins when we stop working. If you’ve ever felt like resting means failing — this one’s for you.

Take a breath. You’re doing okay. And if someone has a problem with that?

Screw them.

Artificial intelligence is the most powerful innovation we’ve seen in a generation—maybe ever.

I know many people still don’t see the impact it will have. But as someone who studies failure, I can’t help but think about the things we’re not seeing. The things we can’t predict. The blind spots that history has shown up again and again.

This isn’t fear-mongering. I’m not saying we should stop building or exploring AI. The cat’s already out of the bag—and much of what’s happening is remarkable. We’re likely entering an era of discoveries that will radically reshape what’s possible in science, medicine, education, and even creativity.

But what concerns me isn’t the progress. It’s our arrogance.

We often think we can control systems far more complex than we understand. We’ve done it before—nuclear power, financial systems, the internet—and every time, we learn the same hard truth: we’re not as prepared as we thought.

What makes AI different is how fast it’s moving, how invisible the risks are, and how hard it will be to reverse once the damage is done.

Yes, some dangers are obvious—weaponization, manipulation, data exploitation. But others are subtle. They creep in through overconfidence.

At some point in your PhD or academic career, the pursuit of knowledge turns into a grind for survival — passing comps, getting published, getting grants, staying relevant. The dream fades. But what if the only way to stay whole is to stop taking it seriously? What if joy, play, and laughter are the real resistance?

There’s no perfect template for success — not in academia, not in life. Even people who look like you, think like you, or grew up with you will want different things. The truth is, you’re unique. And those academic metrics, rankings, or definitions? They don’t define who you are. You don’t need to belong to succeed. You just need to say, “Screw it — I’m doing OK.

I’ve spent the last nine years building something that matters—at least, it matters to me.

It’s called the Reciprocity Project. It’s a platform I started to help researchers and writers get better feedback, improve their work, and deal with the quiet, brutal struggle of doing hard things in isolation.

I’ve posted nearly every day. I’ve shared thousands of thoughts, built tools, recorded videos, written blog posts, tried to show up in all the ways we’re told matter. And still—nearly a decade in—I get people asking:

“Wait, what is that again?”

And every time I hear that, it hurts. Like… really hurts.

Because if you’ve ever tried to build something meaningful from scratch, you know how demoralizing it is when no one sees it. Not because it’s bad. But because the algorithm never let it through.

And here’s the thing:

Most people still have no idea how much of their life is controlled by algorithms.

You think you’re seeing the world. You’re not.

You’re seeing what a machine thinks you should see.

What you hear. Who you talk to. Whether your spouse even gets your message on time. What your kids learn in school. What research gets funded. What books get published. Who gets famous.

All of it is filtered, sorted, and ranked by invisible systems you don’t control.

I’ll post something that takes me days—sometimes weeks—to write. Thoughtful. Vulnerable. Built from experience.

And it disappears.

Even my own wife doesn’t see it in her feed. Because the algorithm decided it wasn’t relevant to her life as a mom who loves golden retrievers.

And it’s not just social media.

Regulations? Algorithms.

Healthcare approvals? Algorithms.

Your bank account? Algorithms.

The traffic light you’re stuck at every morning?

Yep—algorithms.

And still, we walk around thinking, “If I just work hard enough, someone will notice.”

But the truth is more brutal:

You can do everything right and still be invisible.

Because algorithms don’t reward meaning. They reward metrics.

And unless your work fits the formula—unless it’s popular enough, short enough, shareable enough—you don’t exist.

So before you give up…

Before you assume your project isn’t good enough, your writing isn’t clear enough, your voice isn’t valuable enough—

Ask yourself: Did it actually reach anyone?

Or did it just get filtered out by a machine that decided, in 0.2 seconds, that you weren’t interesting today?

I’m not saying this to make you feel worse. I’m saying it because I need to remind myself too.

I’m nine years in. Most days, I feel like the only person who knows how hard I’ve worked is my mom. And I’ve almost quit more times than I can count.

But I haven’t.

Because once you understand the game, you stop taking it so personally.

You stop assuming that silence means failure.

You stop chasing perfection for an audience that may never even see you.

And you start building anyway.

Because that’s the only power we’ve got left—

To keep creating, even when the algorithm doesn’t care.

If you’re doing anything that really matters in your life, there are two things you have to hold onto.

First: Persistence.

Just. Keep. Going.

I know that sounds stupid—like a motivational poster—but honestly? Most people quit way too soon. They stop when it gets boring, or slow, or hard. But if you keep showing up, you will do something extraordinary. I promise.

Second: Self-forgiveness.

You’re going to mess up. You’ll fall behind. You’ll say the wrong thing, miss the mark, blow the plan. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.

You have to let go of the idea that you’ll get it all right.

Keep going. Be kind to yourself.

And even if it doesn’t work out the way you imagined—at least you tried.

That’s already more than most ever do.

I was talking with my son about life, work, and why I insist on building this “weird” thing in public.

R3ciprocity isn’t just an app; it’s my way of showing the world—especially the mom on the bus, the single parent in Brazil, the early-career scholar in Afghanistan—that you can change the game without dropping everything or being a 25-year-old with rich parents.

I’m a dad, a husband, a professor, and yes, my life is already stupid-busy.

I record videos in my car. I code in the cracks of the day.

Most people look at me and think, “Why bother? This is a giant failure.”

I hear that voice in my own head every day.

But here’s the truth:

•I want a platform where anyone, anywhere can create non-rejectable research and actually have fun.

•I want to prove you don’t need fancy investors or perfect timing to move the needle.

•I want to live a life that looks impossible on paper—and do it anyway.

Every step feels awkward. Every metric shouts “not good enough.”

But I keep going, because that’s what a good life looks like to me:

one uncomfortable step after another, taken in public, so other people can see it’s normal to feel stupid and still press “publish.”

If you’re building something the world doesn’t get yet, welcome.

We’re in this together—one weird, embarrassing step at a time.

I know I’m a world-class researcher. I know I’m doing careful, meaningful work—stuff that will matter in 30 years. I also know that I’m building something with the R3ciprocity Project that helps people finally feel like they belong in this world of research. It’s not just a tool. It’s a quiet movement—a belief that you’re already good enough, even if the system never says it out loud.

But most people don’t see any of that. They don’t get it. They think I’m weird. Or crazy. Or wasting my time.

And honestly? That used to hurt.

I spent years trying to get a job after my PhD. Two years of silence. Rejection. Most schools didn’t even look. But the strange part? A few top schools—MIT, Wharton—they did look. That contrast told me something: the majority often don’t understand what matters until much later. The people who get it? They’re few. But they matter more than anything.

So I’ve had to build this quiet confidence inside. A kind of daily faith. I wake up, and I say: “Giddy up. One more day. Keep going.” That’s it. Not flashy. Not loud. But consistent. Honest. Determined.

People often can’t tell the difference between a giant loser and someone who’s going to change the world. So they default to doubt. And they laugh. Or ignore. Or stay silent because of their own fears.

But that’s not my problem.

What I’ve learned is that changing anything that matters means carrying the weight of misunderstanding. It means looking foolish—for a long time. And still walking forward anyway.

I keep going. I keep building. I keep telling others they’re good enough. Not because it’s easy. But because it matters.

If you’re doing anything that’s truly different—if you’re trying to change the world—here are three truths I’ve had to live by:

1.Giddy up. One more day.

You don’t have to feel strong. You just have to take the next step.

2.Ignore the world. Trust the work.

Most people won’t get it. That’s their fear talking, not your failure.

3.Smile. Nod. Keep walking.

The future is built by people who keep showing up—long before they’re understood.

Take care. Keep building. And I’ll see you in ten years.

Let’s be honest: where you went to school still shapes your academic career.

If your degree says “top 10,” doors magically open. If it doesn’t? You hustle harder. You stay later. You apply three times more. And you hear, “we had many qualified applicants” way too often.

I didn’t know the rules when I started. I didn’t grow up around people who talked about elite universities or academic journals. I just did the work—day after day.

And I’m still here.

Yes, the pecking order in academia is real. The status games are real. But here’s the truth: they don’t have to define you. There’s power in persistence, in carving your own lane, and building something that matters.

If someone told you you’re not good enough, it’s probably because they’re just afraid. Most people who try to shut you down are projecting their own pain. You are not flawed — you just believed a story someone else gave you. Pursue what matters, over and over, until you see the possibilities for yourself. There is no weakness in trying. Just keep going, with a kind heart.

This podcast is a bit of a diary. I treat myself like a Petri dish. And I just have to say it—after I sit and read and think and work through research, I almost always feel this deep sadness. Not because the ideas aren’t exciting (they are, sometimes!), but because the process is cognitively demanding, isolating, and just… heavy.

I’ve tried things—exercise helps. Face-to-face interaction helps. But there’s still this crash. That yuckiness at the end of the day.

I don’t know if it’s just me. I don’t think so. I think it’s the nature of the work. So I’m trying to figure it out—how to build a life that feels more connected, less draining, and still lets me do this thing I’ve spent years trying to get good at.

If you’ve felt this—if you’ve got tips or insights—I’d love to hear from you. Because honestly? I study this stuff… and I still don’t know how to fix it.

Some professors say they love this job.

They say it’s rewarding. That it’s exciting.

And maybe it is for them.

But I’m going to be honest with you:

Every single day, I ask myself if I should quit.

It’s not because I’m bitter.

It’s because I’ve seen how the system works.

And once you’ve worked with real data—not cleaned-up, publishable models, but real-world messy data—you start to see how deeply broken this profession can feel.

I was trained as an engineer. I came into academia thinking that truth mattered most.

But truth is messy.

Truth doesn’t fit cleanly into a journal submission.

Truth doesn’t get past peer review if it’s not beautiful—or worse, if it’s too perfect.

And that’s the tension that keeps me up at night.

You do the work.

You analyze the data.

You know it’s real.

But if it doesn’t match what a few anonymous reviewers think is interesting—or polished just right—it dies in a PDF no one will read.

I’ve built models that worked.

I’ve spent years on papers that were correct.

And I’ve watched them get rejected for not fitting someone else’s ideal of perfection—or worse, because they were too close to it.

That messes with your head.

And the hardest part?

This journey is incredibly lonely.

When I started, I thought I’d be part of a community—collaborating, learning, discovering truth together.

But more often than not, it feels like you’re alone—quietly fighting to get something meaningful through a system that wasn’t designed to reward truth.

It rewards polish. Performance. Persistence.

Some people figure out how to play the game.

Some don’t work with real data at all.

Some just… stop caring.

I can’t.

But I don’t know how much longer I can keep going, either.

So here I am—still showing up.

Still trying to be honest.

Still trying to make something meaningful, even when the process feels broken.

Every region, every country, every decision — it’s always a complicated mess. Even when you think you’re doing the right thing, time and context reveal otherwise. Life doesn’t follow a simple plan. What feels clear now might look completely wrong ten years later.

So keep yourself a whole bunch of humility. Eat some humble pie. Be okay with feeling embarrassed by who you used to be. Because no matter what country you live in, or what you’re going through, things are almost always complicated — and that’s okay.

You’ve worked for months—sometimes years—on an idea. Then someone says: “You just have to do this.” And suddenly, it feels like everything you built is slipping away.

In this raw episode, David Maslach unpacks the frustration researchers feel when the core contribution of their work remains fuzzy to them—but strangely clear to others. He speaks openly about the emotional weight of feedback, the difficulty of letting go of your first framing, and the exhausting process of re-seeing your own work through someone else’s eyes.

This isn’t about information—it’s about identity, ego, and the quiet grief of revision. You’ll learn why adapting doesn’t mean admitting failure, and why those who thrive in research aren’t always the smartest—they’re the ones who can sit with discomfort the longest.

If you’re stuck between what you built and what they want, this episode is for you.

What if the dream you’ve been chasing your whole life—was never really your dream?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. About how much of what I’ve pursued was shaped by the environments I was raised in, the people I admired, and—most of all—the perception of value and scarcity I was taught to believe in.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a priest.

Then I met someone who studied engineering at a top school.

Then I chased the best PhD at the best school.

Then tenure. Then prestige. Then more.

Each step felt like it mattered—because someone, somewhere, told me it did.

Sometimes it was a formal institution.

Sometimes it was just word-of-mouth.

But almost always, it was a kind of marketing.

This isn’t a rant against ambition. I’ve benefited a lot from chasing those dreams.

But lately, I’ve started wondering:

How much of that desire was planted in me?

How much of it was real?

I walk through the difference between genuine growth and chasing manufactured scarcity. I don’t have the answers. But I do have questions that matter.

And I’ve found that when I take stock—my family, the sunshine, the quiet gift of breath—I start to want less. Or maybe… I just start to want differently.

If you’ve ever felt like your ambition is pulling you somewhere you didn’t choose, this episode is for you.

I used to believe that if I just perfected myself, people would love me. That if I worked hard enough — became successful enough — I’d finally earn their respect.

That belief drove me to get a PhD, to become a professor, to keep pushing every single day. But it never gave me what I really wanted.

I’ve learned something else. Something harder. No matter how much you try, some people just won’t like you. Some will quietly shut you down with looks you can’t describe — subtle moments of exclusion no one else will notice. Others will actively try to sabotage you. Most just won’t care.

This episode is about what happens when you stop trying to be liked — and start practicing how to let go. It’s about building a “heart barrier,” walking away, and saying “screw you” to a world that doesn’t see your worth. It’s not easy. It’s lonely. It’s a muscle you work every day.

But for the overachievers, the perfectionists, the ones who feel deeply — this is a practice in survival. You won’t change them. So create space. Protect your peace. And just keep taking steps.

Because maybe — just maybe — the ones who do care are the only ones that matter.

Take care, and have a wonderful day.

What if I’m honest and everyone finds out I’m a fraud?

This quiet fear shaped the beginning of my career in academia—and still lingers. It’s a feeling that cuts across disciplines and professions: if we speak honestly, we’ll be exposed as not good enough. But in academia, where truth is supposed to be the job, that fear is especially paradoxical. I’ve spent years training to be a scientist, only to realize that honesty—particularly about ourselves—is often discouraged.

This fear shaped why I created the Reciprocity Project. I didn’t start with a theory or a product. I started with a feeling: loneliness. After years of isolated research, I wanted to build something that brought play, connection, and conversation back into the work. But as I started documenting that process, I realized something strange—many people were afraid of me doing so.

They’d talk to me privately about it, but not in public. Others saw the work as irrelevant to the profession. And yet I was a professor of innovation, studying how new things are created. Shouldn’t building something new in academia be part of that story?

Apparently not.

It turns out, we’re comfortable studying “others,” but not ourselves. We train ourselves to explore the world, but not the system we live in. Physicians know this too—self-reflection is uncomfortable. But it’s also necessary. Otherwise, we perpetuate a strange norm: we praise curiosity in theory, but punish it when it questions our own structures.

This contradiction is personal. I’m not just talking about norms—I’ve lived them. The work I do is often considered taboo, even when it’s mundane. Sharing the truth that academic work is frequently lonely, difficult, and emotionally unglamorous is seen as a betrayal. I’ve been told not to say these things. That I’m harming my career. That no one wants to hear it.

But when I do say them, something remarkable happens: people connect. They open up. They say, “Yes. That’s exactly how I feel.” And they say it in whispers.

This whisper-network of truth makes me wonder: What are we so afraid of?

What if being open didn’t destroy our careers, but transformed them? What if struggling didn’t mean we were flawed, but human? What if loneliness was not a pathology, but a signal that something in the system needs care?

I built Reciprocity because I needed a place to feel less alone. I wanted to gamify the work, bring some joy back in, even if I had to talk to a robot instead of a person. But what I discovered is that the real innovation wasn’t the platform. It was the honesty. The audacity to say: “I’m a researcher. I’m often alone. I’m scared. But I’m trying.”

That’s the truth I stand by. Not as rebellion, but as care. We lose too many good people to silence and quiet exits. If naming the loneliness, the fear, and the struggle makes me an outsider, so be it. But maybe—just maybe—naming it can change things.

You’re not broken. You’re just doing something hard. And I’ll be here to remind you: you’re not alone.

Doing a PhD has nothing to do with coming up with better knowledge. I know that sounds wild. But I strongly believe this — and in this episode, I’m going to explain why.

We think science is about finding truth. But the truth is, science is doubt. It’s frustration. It’s being torn down, over and over again. It’s thousands and thousands of conversations with people who don’t believe in you — and never will. It’s building something when everyone thinks you’re crazy. And it’s doing it again tomorrow.

I’ve spent over 10 years building the R3ciprocity Project — and most days, I feel like a stray dog just trying to be trusted. I feel like an idiot. But I get up and do it again, because this isn’t about logic. It’s about trust. It’s about resonance. And it’s about telling a story that’s so strange, so outside what people expect, that they’ll only believe it after you’ve said it a thousand times.

I get these waves.

Waves of fear. Of doubt. At least once or twice a day.

Why am I doing this?

Why am I so public about something I don’t even understand myself?

I don’t want to mess up anyone’s life.

What if someone hears this and does something terrible because they misunderstood me?

What if I’m screwing it all up?

I feel like a buffoon most of the time.

A giant mess, walking around pretending to know.

Sometimes I think I might be the hero in my own life.

But mostly… I don’t.

I’m 46. And I still feel like the insecure kid on that dirt road — Ryczko Road — where nothing made sense.

None of this goes away.

The more I do this, the more doubt I have.

The more faith I need — and I’m not even a faith-kind-of-person.

But I’ve learned: you’ll never really know.

And that fear never disappears.

You just learn to live with it.

Take care.

I have seen a lot of people—especially in academia—try to ban ChatGPT outright. But the world doesn’t work like that. Banning tools like this doesn’t teach students how to live in a messy, shifting world—it just teaches them guilt and silence. I grew up in a strict household, so I get the instinct. But I also know what happens when people are told something is morally wrong: they hide. They feel shame. And they don’t know how to talk about it when they slip.

This episode is about building something better. Not rigid rules—but real conversations about how tools can be both powerful and flawed. We need to teach people how to think, how to ask questions, and how to live honestly inside a world that’s constantly changing. And that’s a much harder—but more human—lesson than just saying “don’t.”

So what if you work on something for two, three, five years…

You write the dissertation.

You build the app.

You post the idea.

And no one looks.

Your advisor doesn’t read it.

Your peers don’t respond.

The internet gives you five views and one pity like.

This is not a bug in research.

This is the game.

Dissertations go unread.

Projects die in inboxes.

New ideas get met with condescension, silence, or worse—indifference.

But you’re not trying to reach the world.

You’re looking for one person—

Someone playful enough to engage, curious enough to see potential.

Most people won’t.

They’ll never move a finger.

It’s not malice—it’s just how it is.

The work is in finding that spark.

One out of ten million.

That’s how momentum starts.

Ignore the rest.

Reframe the silence as signal.

Look for the spark.

Keep going—quietly, persistently—until it catches.

It won’t take a year.

It might take a decade.

Maybe more.

But those of us who build know the truth:

That’s the work.

This is just a one-minute thought—but it might change how you see yourself.

We’re told to be humble.

But the truth is, no one gets far without a little arrogance.

You need to believe you can do it—

Even when others doubt you.

Even when you doubt yourself.

At the same time, that belief can’t turn into self-importance.

You also have to listen. Stay open. Learn fast.

It’s not about choosing one or the other.

The people who go furthest?

They hold both: a quiet arrogance and a grounded humility.

I have a PhD. I’m a professor.

And still—some days, I can’t keep up.

There are emails I haven’t answered. People I haven’t followed up with. Promises I meant to keep but couldn’t.

Not because I don’t care. But because I’m human.

I wrestle with guilt. With fear. With the thought: “What will they think of me?”

I’ve always been shy, and when people take me seriously, it still scares me a little.

But I’m learning—slowly—to let go.

If they judge me, that’s on them.

If I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got, that’s enough.

Academia doesn’t always make space for that truth—but I will.

Today, I’m choosing to take a breath. To notice the beauty around me.

And to remind myself: I’m doing okay.

So are you.

What If You Picked the Wrong Career—And Can’t Fix It?

I think about this almost every day. I am sure you do, my friend.

What if I picked the wrong career?

What if I can’t undo it?

I’m a professor.

I have a PhD—with 15 years of experience.

But most days, I still ask: What the hell am I doing here?

This isn’t what I imagined.

I feel typecast.

Trapped.

Like I can’t change direction because the world already decided who I am.

I’m an old man.

But here’s the truth: those boundaries—those roles we think are fixed—they’re mostly made up.

Nobody really knows what they’re doing when they start.

You just figure it out as you go.

And when I see a 72-year-old training to be a lifeguard after 40 years as a programmer at my swimming pool (true story), I’m reminded: it’s never too late to start again.

If you’re stuck, forgive yourself.

I hear people say, “You just didn’t do your homework.”

F that. No one knows what they’re getting into. You figure it out as you go.

Say “screw it” to the expectations.

Try the thing. Muck around.

You don’t need permission. Just start.

And when people judge you? Build a boundary in your head.

Politely Say SCREW YOU. Keep moving.

That’s what I’m doing.

And if you’re a PhD who feels this way—know you’re not alone.

You didn’t mess it up.

You’re just living a story that’s still being written.

This is for every PhD who quietly wonders: “What if I chose wrong?”

If you need someone to hear this, share it!

I’m Still Not Over My PhD — 15 Years Later

It’s been almost 15 years since I ended my PhD. I graduated in 2011.

And if I’m being honest, I’m still not over it.

I came in strong—undergrad and master’s at one of the best engineering schools in the world. The first in my family to get an university degree told me I was no slouch.

I thought I’d accelerate through a top business school, graduate in four years, and be on my way.

Perhaps being a business professor or management consultant.

But that’s not what happened.

What happened was… grief, confusion, silence, rejection.

Two years of wandering at the beginning of my PhD program, trying to find mentors and figuring out me.

I eventually found extraordinary mentors that pushed me every day and were often there to listen to lement.

A job market that punished my pedigree— Canadian schools just don’t have the same cache in the market.

I can’t tell you the number of times I heard:

Waterloo what?

Ivey who?

I didn’t know about the US academic market, so I never applied to those programs. I WAS living my dream schools.

Endless ambiguity and crushing self-doubt.

I nearly quit. Perhaps, more than once.

I had a newborn one the way and a toddler. I was ready to work in a factory for nearly minimum wage if one more door closed.

Then, one opened at one institution. I’ve been here ever since.

But the scars linger.

The questions.

The bitterness.

The confusion over why some thrive and others feel like they never quite click.

Even today.

And the deep, unshakable sense that I had to figure it out alone.

That’s why I built the R3ciprocity Project—to help fix this broken system. I’ve spent embarrassingly amounts of money and time trying to build this platform because of it.

I get the same rejection. The same silence.

But, I keep going forward because I know that this is important.

I get the private messages and nods.

If you’re in it right now and struggling, you’re not weak.

I can tell you the majority of the professors out there feel the same way that I do.

You just don’t see it.

You’re not alone.

You’re living through what most of us never talk about.

Keep going.

We’re living through the biggest information shift in 100 years—and no one’s prepared. Institutions are stuck. Algorithms reward chaos. But there’s hope in something no one talks about: being a thoughtful, average, flawed, and kind person who still shows up every day. In a world built for extremes, the future belongs to those who build slow, human, and real.

There are days I feel like I’ve done nothing important since high school. Like the best is behind me—and I’m just slowly fading.

And I know I’m not the only one.

Even as a professor of innovation, I wrestle daily with the quiet fear that I’m falling short of who I’m “supposed” to be. The shame of wanting recognition. The guilt of not doing enough. The fear that others will take advantage of my vulnerability.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need to fix it all. You just need to do one small thing today. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unseen, or like you’re slipping backwards—this is for you.

You’re not broken. You’re human. And you’re not alone.

In academia, recognition isn’t just a nice bonus. It is the reward system. If people don’t notice your work, you don’t get the job, the promotion, the funding. But if you seek recognition too openly? You risk looking awkward, insecure, or self-absorbed.

It’s a strange paradox: we are judged by how much others defer to our judgment. But to earn that deference, others must be paying attention. And to get attention, we’re expected to self-promote—often in ways that feel deeply uncomfortable.

For me, this isn’t just professional discomfort. It’s personal shame.

I grew up in a Roman Catholic family where humility was everything. So when I see others promoting themselves online, or when I do it myself, I feel a wave of guilt. I think of all the people who might feel worse because of what I posted. I reflect on my own insecurities. I wonder if I’m good enough. And then I go quiet again.

But the truth is: silence doesn’t always serve us. And neither does shame.

If you feel uncomfortable with self-promotion, you’re not alone.

If you secretly crave recognition and hate yourself for it, you’re not alone.

This is the messy middle we live in.

There’s no right answer—only the daily effort to be honest with yourself, and maybe kind to others trying to figure it out too.

In academia, one of the biggest red flags I’ve learned to recognize is when someone proudly says they “outwork everyone.” It sounds admirable—until you realize it often signals transactional thinking, competition over collaboration, and a mindset that leaves no room for empathy or building something bigger than yourself.

Research is not a race. And outworking others isn’t the goal. The goal is to build something that lasts, something meaningful—with people who care just as much as you do.

If you’re trying to create anything truly new—especially in research or academia—you can’t do it alone. You need trust. You need support. You need people who show up for each other.

The ones who win at that game? They don’t say “I outwork everyone.”

They say: “Let’s build this together.”

Let me know if this resonates—or if you’ve seen this kind of mindset, too.

You’re not going to like this—but I’ve come to believe it’s true:

We’re not teaching people empathy.

Not in business school.

Not in PhD programs.

Not in most classrooms.

We’re teaching performance.

Frameworks.

Strategy.

Execution.

But not how to read a room.

Not how to ask:

“How is this person actually feeling right now?”

Or: “How do I show up in a way that helps, not harms?”

I used to think empathy was soft.

I now believe it’s the core skill that makes or breaks your success—

in research, in business, and in life.

The thing is… I’m naturally empathetic.

And for a long time, I assumed everyone else was too.

That people were good.

That they meant well.

That if I showed up with kindness, it would be returned.

That was wrong. Painfully wrong.

Empathy doesn’t work on everyone.

Some people take advantage of it.

Some people weaponize your kindness.

And the more you give, the more they take.

But that doesn’t mean you give up on empathy.

It means you learn to use it wisely.

Empathy is not weakness.

It’s not being a doormat.

It’s not endlessly giving.

It’s knowing when to give.

And when to walk away.

In my house, we talk about feelings.

We ask, “How do you think they felt?”

And I’ve seen the difference that makes with my kids.

A little empathy changes everything:

How you teach.

How you parent.

How you lead.

How you breathe in a room that doesn’t fully accept you.

But here’s the catch:

Empathy only works if you also protect yourself.

So if you’re the kind of person who gives…

Who senses everything…

Who gets crushed when you’re ignored or dismissed—

This is your permission:

You are not wrong. You are not soft. You are not naive.

You’re reading the world at a deeper level.

Just make sure you don’t burn out trying to fix it.

Empathy is your superpower.

But like all power, it needs boundaries.

At some point, you realize the climb they promised was never real. Maybe there isn’t a ladder. Maybe there’s no pinnacle.

You start to feel a shift—where you stop buying into this dream of “moving on up” and start accepting the world as it actually is. That doesn’t mean you give up. It means you embrace modesty. Simplicity. The birds and the bees. The tingly feeling when you realize: I’m doing OK.

It’s not about climbing anymore. It’s about finding peace with where you are and who you are. And when that happens—strangely—everything begins to change.

People will tell you it should be easier. They’ll say you’re doing it wrong. But until they actually stand up and do it themselves, they haven’t got a clue.

The truth is: it’s way frigging harder than you think it is. You will make mistakes. You will feel embarrassed. You will doubt yourself every single day. But your job is to keep going, to try your best, and realize that we all universally suck at this.

You have as good a shot as anybody else. Forget their noise. Get up. Try. Be willing to look foolish. That’s the only way anything real ever happens.

Ignore what other people expect of you. Reinvest everything into things that go up in value. That’s it. The trick is doing it for 30, 40, 50 years—even when nobody understands, even when it looks foolish. Get the boring degree. Drive the boring car. Make the ambiguous choices. Invest in yourself. In your family. In your future. You won’t see the payoff right away, but that’s the point. Keep doing it. Day in. Day out. That’s how it works.

I get it — I’ve felt it too. I grew up far from academic circles. I was the first in my family to go away, and it always felt like everyone else was just more polished, more confident, more… something. But after years in academia and building the R3ciprocity Project, I’ve learned that what looks like arrogance is often just insecurity, stress, and isolation. Most of us are introverts forced into strange performances. You’ll meet some kind ones, and some who act like they’ve made it. Just remember: everybody puts their pants on the same way. If you’ve ever felt small or out of place around someone with a PhD — you’re not alone. You are enough. You’re gonna be okay. Keep walking into those rooms and forgiving yourself when it feels awkward. You’re doing better than you think.

Nobody cares. You have to get to the moment where that’s just your thing. You walk past them. You say, “Whatever.” You don’t listen. You just keep going forward every day. Most people are deeply compliant. They’re in the here and now. They don’t get it. But you do. You’ve been humiliated. You’ve been broken. You’ve been ignored. And yet, you’re still going.

This isn’t about applause. This is about doing something for the greater good. It’s grinding. It’s expensive. It’s lonely. But if you’re still moving, still building, still saying, “I love myself for doing it,” then you’re doing something right.

Practice smiling from the heart. Practice wonder. And remember: every day, it’s a little bit of not listening. And every day, you get better at it.

I’m 45. I’m in the middle right now. I feel like I plateaued ten years ago, but I’m still moving up.” In this episode, I talk honestly about aging, the struggle with aging parents, and why I’ll never resonate with my mom. I share what it’s like to care too much, to realize that the roles have reversed, and to feel like your parents—your superheroes—no longer understand you. I open up about generational gaps, acceptance, walking as the happy pill, and the hard truth that “you can’t help people who don’t want help.” This is about learning to step back, love others as they are, and love yourself more.

I’ve been doing this for a long time—and I keep asking the same question:

Why do so many people disappear from academic research?

We tell ourselves it’s about intelligence. That people drop out because they weren’t smart enough.

But I think that’s a cop-out.

What I’ve actually seen is this: people leave because they don’t feel supported.

Yes, it takes grit.

Yes, it takes personal drive.

But the thing that keeps people going—year after year, failure after failure—is community.

And that’s exactly what’s missing for so many PhDs and researchers.

We burn people out.

We isolate them.

We make the process so cold and transactional that it breaks the spirit of even the brightest minds.

But what if we changed that?

What if the academic journey didn’t just leave people bitter and alone, but helped them feel loved, seen, and supported along the way?

That’s what I’m building with the Reciprocity Project.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a step toward something better—toward keeping more of us in the game for the long haul.

Because research doesn’t just need brilliance. It needs people who feel like they belong.

Someone reached out to me recently. They were interested in working together—but it became clear they hadn’t taken the time to really understand what I’m building.

This isn’t about ego. It’s about depth.

We’re taught to move fast, to skim, to pitch before we listen. But real innovation—like real relationships—requires a deeper dive.

Before we build something new, ask:

What already exists? What’s been solved? What’s working beneath the surface?

Most systems, ideas, and platforms are held together by years of invisible learning. When you ignore that, you don’t move faster—you end up starting from scratch and repeating old mistakes.

I’m not looking for quick wins or surface-level partnerships.

I’m looking for people who want to knead the dough slowly, fold in the right flavors, and build something that lasts.

If someone asks you to slow down and understand—don’t take it as resistance.

Take it as a chance to do meaningful work.

I’m super grateful for my parents. I know my mom listens to this—love you, Mom.

They taught me something really important: you don’t have to care about everything all the time. That might not sound profound, but it’s one of the most useful lessons I’ve ever learned.

There’s this pressure in the world to always be on—to always be pushing, performing, doing something big. But the truth is, if you care about everything, you’ll fall apart.

And if you care about nothing, nothing gets done.

So there’s this middle ground—this space between trying hard and letting go—and I think that’s where real life happens.

Some days, you push.

Some days, you rest.

And if you land somewhere in the middle? That’s more than enough.

That’s what I learned from watching my dad work in the garden. That’s what I learned from a life of quiet moments and thoughtful choices. And that’s the kind of wisdom I want to pass on.

Take care. And remember:

You don’t have to be on all the time.

It’s personal, quietly profound, and instantly relatable for anyone carrying long-term emotional weight—especially PhDs, professors, or high achievers navigating invisible pressure.

Most people never do anything important in their life—not because they’re lazy, but because they can’t stand feeling unimportant.

To build anything real, you have to walk through rejection. You have to be okay with looking like a fool, with people asking, “what the hell are you doing?” and you having no good answer.

I’ve lived it. I still do.

I’ve spent years pouring time and money into something that looks like a flop to the outside world. But I show up. I make it happen. I take the next step—even when it’s embarrassing.

That’s what it means to do good work. You push the needle by doing embarrassing things every day while people look away.

Not because you’re special. But because you’re willing.

Real life isn’t some magical moment where everything comes together. It’s the moment you stand up, ignore everyone else, and get crap done.

If you feel like an outsider, like you don’t matter—that’s actually the sign that you’re on the right path.

This is about the grind, the taint, the courage to matter when you feel like you don’t.

Every time I see a handwritten sign taped to a light pole that says:

“MAKE $10,000 A WEEK — NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED”

“TURN OLD MATTRESSES INTO CASH”

“CALL JERRY FOR A FINANCIAL FREEDOM HACK”

…I ask myself the same question:

Who falls for this? And more importantly: who’s out there posting these signs like it’s their life mission?

But here’s the thing—people do fall for it.

Because these scams follow a formula:

•Promise something absurd

•Target people desperate for change

•Hope that 1 out of 10,000 is desperate enough

This is the same mindset behind scammy financial influencers with no training, fake AI tools, “passive income hacks,” and every shortcut that conveniently skips over the actual hard, painful, years-long grind it takes to build something real.

Here’s the truth no scammer will say:

If it looks easy, fun, and instantly profitable—it’s either illegal, unethical, or completely made up.

The only path that works?

It’s boring. It’s slow. It’s painful.

It requires you to do things no one wants to do, over and over, for years.

If you don’t see the suffering, there probably wasn’t any value created.

Being experience essentially means that you know that not everybody does what they say, and say what they mean. It means that you have to live with and get up and keep going when you have a lot of disappointment.

Professor Jen Heemstra, Chair of the Chemistry Department at Washington University, shares her remarkable journey from being told she wasn’t “good enough” for science to leading in academia. This conversation explores navigating failure, building inclusive and psychologically safe academic spaces, and why leadership roles in academia are often misunderstood. Insights from her upcoming book, Lab Work to Leadership, offer actionable strategies for thriving as a leader in science. This discussion provides valuable lessons on mentorship, resilience, and creating positive change in academic culture.

I’ve been in the research game long enough to know that intelligence isn’t what I look for anymore.

It’s empathy.

It’s quiet respect.

It’s that subtle feeling you get when someone actually sees you—not as a stepping stone or a means to an end—but as a real person.

For a long time, I assumed everyone worked like that. That if you were kind, if you cared, others would too.

But I’ve learned the hard way: not everyone plays the same game.

Some people view empathy as weakness.

Some use it.

Some never had it to begin with.

That’s why now, my only real filter is this:

Do I feel safe, respected, and valued in your presence?

If not, I’m out. No drama. Just gone.

I don’t want clever.

I want care.

I want to work with people who feel things.

People who build slowly, trust deeply, and show up for the right reasons—not just to get ahead.

It’s rare.

But if you’re one of those people—if any of this resonates with you—reach out.

Maybe we work together.

Maybe we don’t.

But I’d love to know that you exist.

Because this world needs more empathetic researchers.

And I’m done pretending that’s a soft skill.

It’s the only thing that matters.

ResearchLife #EmpathyInAcademia #PhDLife #RealTalk #R3ciprocity

I used to believe in magical thinking—the idea that if I just worked with the right person, picked the right hot topic, or followed some “research success formula,” it would all come together.

But it doesn’t work that way.

What actually works?

Grinding. Rejection. Isolation. Picking yourself back up. Again and again.

It’s not glamorous—but it’s real.

I’ve accepted that no one’s coming to the rescue. So I’m trying to build something instead—a small platform called r3ciprocity.com. It helps researchers get feedback, build confidence, and stay motivated in a system that’s honestly stacked against them.

The idea is simple:

•Make research feel a little less lonely.

•Help people keep going.

•Give them tools so they don’t quit too soon.

But I can’t build this alone.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, overlooked, or like you were doing everything “right” and still falling behind—this is for you.

If you believe academia should do better by its people, please share this.

Let the presidents and deans see that we’re not asking for shortcuts—we’re asking for support.

We don’t need magical thinking.

We need better systems.

And we need each other.

Thanks for reading.

And if you’re still showing up every day—even when it’s hard—you’re already the hero in your story.

When I was younger, I thought if I just went far enough—got the degrees, did the work, built something real—I’d finally feel like I understood the world.

But the truth?

I’ve never felt more foolish than I do now.

The more I learn, the less I know.

The deeper I go, the more I wonder if I’m just doing it all wrong.

I’ve spent 8 years building R3ciprocity—a platform to help researchers create nearly non-rejectable research papers. I show up every day. Rain or shine. Quietly. Consistently.

And still—I question everything.

People ignore it.

Some laugh.

Some say I’m wasting my time.

And, honestly, some days I believe them.

But I keep going.

Not because I know it will work.

Not because I feel confident.

But because getting back up is the work.

This feeling—of making a fool of yourself and trying anyway?

It’s not failure.

It’s what building anything real feels like.

And if you’re stuck in that middle zone—feeling lost, doubting yourself, wondering if anyone cares:

You’re not alone.

You’re not broken.

You’re not behind.

You’re just in it.

So am I.

And tomorrow, we try again.

Yeah, so I’m always terrified of telling people the truth… because most people don’t give a blankety blank. Most people — many people — try to scam you. They will try to pull you down.

You will bump into 1,000 people. 950 will give you the dead look. 20 will try to take you down. 10 might want to help. One will actually help. That’s the game.

And you? You still get up and try. You still say, “I don’t have time. I don’t have resources. I don’t know what to do. I am a complete fool.” And then you do it again.

You tell people what you’re doing. They don’t care. They give you that total dead look. And a small group? They get upset — because they’ve benefited from sketchy behavior.

But you keep going. You say, “This is going to be the day everything changes.” And it never is. But you do it again anyway.

That is the story. That is the work. That is the world.

Welcome to reality.

Take care and have a wonderful day.

I’ve long thought that the biggest barrier to innovation isn’t funding or resources—it’s the fear of looking foolish. This feeling stops people from trying new things, from taking risks, and from pursuing ideas that might actually change the game. It’s a mystery why we let this fear control us, but it’s a universal experience. If you’ve ever held back because you didn’t want to look silly or make a mistake, you’re not alone. The truth is, every breakthrough comes from stepping into discomfort, from trying things that feel awkward and uncertain. The best ideas don’t come from playing it safe—they come from being willing to be weird, to be different, and to put in the work even when it feels messy. So, if you want to innovate, embrace the awkwardness. Be willing to fail. Keep pushing forward until something clicks—because that’s how real progress happens.

I grew up in a family where the default was just love. It wasn’t perfect — there was a lot of messed-up stuff — but no matter what, people were there for you. There was a deep respect for family and a deep respect for unconditional love.

I often think about how different life would be without that. A lot of people never get coached on right or wrong. But in our house, the default was you don’t harm other people. You build people up.

As I get older, I realize more and more how lucky I was. Despite the struggles, the default was love — and that made all the difference.

Why don’t we invest in our future selves? Whether it’s saving money, exercising, learning, or showing up for people we love, we often avoid what matters most—because we don’t respect the person we’re going to become. In this honest reflection, I talk about what it means to live differently today so that your future self can thrive. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about practicing quiet, daily acts of care for someone you haven’t met yet: future you.

There’s this message that frustrates the bananas out of me—when people say, “I made it, so can you.” It sounds nice, but it hides a deeper truth: most of what happens in life comes down to dumb butt luck. The country you’re born in, the parents you have, the people who give you a break they probably shouldn’t—it’s all chance.

We try to copy what others do, thinking best practices will lead us there. But when you actually try it, you realize: this is dumb—it doesn’t apply to me. Everyone’s story is different. Your path won’t look like mine. It might be harder, longer, slower—or maybe even faster. But that’s not the point.

The only thing I know that works? Get back up. Repeat. Over and over and over again. Keep going—not because it’s fair, or because it guarantees success—but because repetition and delusional optimism are the only real tools we have.

And maybe, just maybe, something happens when you do.

The Prayer of Saint Francis isn’t just a spiritual message—it’s a blueprint for how to lead, influence, and build something meaningful in business. “Where there is hatred, let me sow love…” That’s not weakness. That’s the foundation of lasting influence. Real leadership isn’t about control—it’s about presence, service, and building others up. Whether you’re running a company, managing a team, or just trying to make it through the research game, this prayer teaches the hardest, most important lesson of all: give more than you take. That’s how real leaders are made.

If you’ve ever felt like a mess in academia—like you’re supposed to be confident, polished, and certain, but inside you’re wrestling with doubt, contradiction, and confusion—this one’s for you.

I talk about how I’ve spent years trying to build something real with the R3ciprocity Project. I’ve done it in public. I’ve done it without a roadmap. And I’ve done it while constantly second-guessing whether I’m “doing it right.”

Over time, I stopped trying to impress people. I stopped believing the cheap talk. I started watching what people actually do. And I gave myself permission to say, “Screw the world,” when I needed to.

This episode is about letting go of the pressure to have it all figured out—and learning that not knowing is not a weakness. It’s the start of becoming yourself. If you’re in the middle of it—confused, stuck, or feeling off-script—you’re not alone. This is what growth looks like.

I used to care what everyone thought. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to impress. But years of building the Reciprocity Project—putting in the work when no one believed in it—taught me something deeper.

People say a lot. But if you watch their eyes, their body, the tension in their face—you’ll see the truth. Most of it is just cheap talk.

So I stopped listening to the noise and started believing in myself. Not because it was easy. Not because I had it all figured out. But because no one else was going to do it for me.

If you don’t feel that warm, real, supportive energy around you—walk away. Do your thing anyway. You’ll be surprised how far you can go when you stop trying to convince people and start taking steps forward.

We get it wrong—over and over again.

We chase the exciting, the flashy, the dream jobs we see on TV and TikTok.

Entrepreneurs, influencers, movie stars, pro athletes. The few that make it look easy.

But we rarely ask: what’s the probability of actually succeeding?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

As someone who’s built something unconventional, I know how seductive the dream can be.

But I also know how important it is to run the numbers.

If you multiply the likelihood of success with the actual return, you start to see the truth:

boring, predictable careers usually win.

Plumbers, nurses, corporate sales reps, mechanics—they’re often the ones with stable incomes and clear paths.

And if you’re strategic? If you keep learning, keep building, keep stacking skills—the upside is enormous.

Before you chase the hype, run a basic expected value calculation.

The return on boring is surprisingly high.

It just takes work, humility, and patience.

But over a lifetime, it adds up—quietly, steadily, and powerfully.

Doing the right actions that were result in good outcomes doesn’t always result in good outcomes.

We think if we just try harder, think more, or help more, things will work out. But the truth is—we can’t control much. I’ve had to learn that over and over again. Even with good intentions, even when I do everything “right,” things don’t go the way I thought they would.

We believe we’re in control of ourselves, of others, of the world. But real life doesn’t work that way. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of unexpected outcomes. Most of what we think we understand—especially as academics—is squishy. We explain 10%, but 90% is unexplained.

So I’ve learned to step back. Stay in my tiny world. Be humble. Walk forward anyway. Even if I look like the bumbling fool, I get back up and keep going. That’s the best we can do—accept the world as it is, and keep showing up.

How do you become a legitimate professor without getting an education? It’s an interesting problem. The only way is if you worked backwards and came up with a major discovery so important that people can’t look at the world the same way. But even then, legitimacy is squishy. You’d always be discounted by some.

Yes, it’s possible to make intellectual contributions without formal education, but it’s extraordinarily difficult. You don’t have mentors, guidance, or a path. The truth is, most people follow the route—PhD, publications, tenure—because it’s recognizable.

There are exceptions—people like the inventor of Ozempic or someone like MrBeast, but those paths are highly unusual. Unless you have extraordinary resources, create a lab, and produce real discoveries in the public domain, you’ll face an uphill battle. For most, the challenge isn’t brilliance—it’s legitimacy, and that’s hard to earn without the traditional path.

The more that I understand how the sausage is made, the more disillusioned I get with it. I used to have this sort of envisioned idea that if I simply just worked and I did a good job, I treated people nicely, I did everything that I was supposed to do, that it would work out. That was very naive. It’s often not what you thought it would be. The process is not what you think it is.

There is more to the story. There’s a tremendous amount of loneliness. You could be a very nice, well-intentioned person, trying to do your best—but it very often will not work out for you. There is very little rhyme or reason. Many things are outside of your control.

What people often present in the scientific game is not what happens. The stories that are told—there are stories, they’re narratives. The best way to understand science is more through a narrative lens. It is often vastly unfair and nonsensical. The idea that things are orderly, scientific, free of bias—it’s just complete nonsense.

The only thing that you can do is to accept the craziness of it all. Stop believing in this sort of “the more that you put in, the better off you get out of it” kind of idea. It’s narrative. It’s chance. It’s silly, goofy things that happen.

The only way that I know to deal with it is to dissociate every day a little bit—maybe it’s a lot. Figure out a way to remove yourself from all of it. Walk forward every day.

Fear is powerful—but it’s often used as a tool for manipulation. In this deeply honest message, we explore why fear is so primal, how it shapes our actions, and how bad actors—from the media to people close to us—exploit it to control behavior. But you have a choice.

Like firefighters, judges, and leaders in high-stress roles, you can pause. You can think clearly. You can take one calm step forward.

This reflection is a reminder that real strength is quiet, intentional, and grounded in principle. Each small action you take toward your goals chips away at fear’s grip. You don’t need to do everything today—just one thing. Hope is the antidote. And as Annie says, “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

Walk forward. The game isn’t over.

I grew up in a working-class family—blue-collar through and through. Now I live in a world full of academics, PhDs, and prestige. And to be honest, I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere.

Both sides have their own kind of snobbery. On one side, being “too educated” makes you the outsider. On the other, if you act like a normal human—go to your kid’s baseball game, show up at a PTA meeting, take time to just live—it’s seen as a waste of time.

There are unspoken rules about how you’re supposed to act, what success looks like, and who belongs. And most days, I feel like I’m doing a bad job at playing both roles.

But here’s what I’ve learned: most people are just figuring things out. Nobody really has it all together. And the more we pretend we do, the more we lose what really matters—connection, curiosity, and just being human.

There’s a pressure to “perform” that is deeply ingrained in research culture.

A norm of climbing the ladder, being cutthroat, doing more with less. But I’ve come to see how detached this is from reality.

Very detached.

I grew up in a very average, blue-collar family.

Now, I’m in a different place. I’ve made it, at least on paper.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the things that make me happiest have no financial value.

Going for walks.

Coloring with my kids.

Saying hi to colleagues in the hallway.

And the things that make me miserable?

They’re almost always tied to “performance” and “measurement.”

There’s this constant voice saying, “You must justify your worth.”

But I can’t. I’ve tried.

I can’t say my actions on any given day are “productive.”

Saying “hi” is just not.

And that is not a weakness. That’s the truth of being a researcher.

I’ve experienced a lot of failure. I’ve studied it, too.

And failure has taught me to detach from metrics.

It taught me to say, “Screw you—I’m good enough without proving it to anyone.”

This isn’t about giving up. It’s about living fully.

It’s equally good to take time off. It’s equally good to have tea with someone you love.

The problem isn’t you—it’s the narrow definition of success we’ve been taught to chase.

If you’re struggling in academia, know this: You are not alone.

And you are not weak.

You are doing the right things.

I was going to proclaim that blogging is dead. The traffic on the R3ciprocity Project blog has steadily declined since the rise of artificial intelligence. People get answers faster now, and it’s changed how we interact with content. But I keep thinking—what is the value added of humans over algorithms?

Computers are fast and accurate. But humans? We’re good at finding and fixing exceptions. We have a sense of what resonates. And we struggle. That struggle adds depth. Even if AI can process emotion or aesthetics someday, the pace of human experience is different.

The blog might be dying, but the combination of my voice, my struggle, and the tools I use still tells a story that’s worth sharing. That human story—amplified by algorithms—isn’t dead. It’s just changing.

One of the hardest things I’ve learned as a researcher is this:

If people can’t see the depth of what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter.

You could spend years thinking through a layered, nuanced idea. Build a framework that connects pieces nobody else has connected.

And what happens?

Someone skims your work in 30 seconds and says:

“Huh, seems basic.”

It’s crushing.

But it’s not because you did something wrong.

It’s because most people won’t ever read deeply enough to notice.

So you’re stuck doing the most paradoxical thing imaginable:

Make your work simple enough to remember, but layered enough to respect.

That tension? That’s the grind behind every “cute” idea.

That’s why your best work feels so invisible.

The trick is not to dumb it down—but to distill it.

And distilling takes more pain, time, and quiet struggle than anyone sees.

So if you’re in the middle of that painful space, trying to say something real in a way people will understand:

You’re not alone.

That’s where the real work is.

Academic research is built on knowledge—but not on community.

And that’s a problem.

Incentives in academia don’t reward cooperation.

They reward competition, individual credit, and winner-takes-all outcomes.

Even when we want to collaborate, the system quietly tells us not to.

Unlike companies, which reward people for building something together, academic research often rewards people for standing apart.

Here’s the truth:

Most academic “collaboration” is instrumental—I’ll work with you if I get something out of it.

That’s not real community. That’s strategy.

The only way this changes?

We need to start rewarding cooperation explicitly—not just with nice words, but with actual recognition, incentives, and resources.

Until then, if you want to do meaningful work and stay sane, you’ll need to:

– Disengage from local prestige games

– Focus on the long-term global impact

– And define success by the quality of your work, not how much applause you get

The academic game may be lonely. But we don’t have to play it the way it’s always been played.

Let’s reward people not just for being brilliant—but for being good to each other.

My tone changes when I talk about professional doctorates because many institutions are designed to extract a lot of value from you while providing little in return. It’s not just about getting a degree—it’s about ensuring that what you’re paying for actually adds value to your life. Some programs are legitimate and well-established, but many prey on people’s optimistic beliefs and desperation. Before committing, step back and ask: Do I really need this? Is there a less expensive way to reach my goal? Be practical, analyze the costs and benefits, and don’t fall for marketing tactics that make you feel like you have no other choice. A degree should leave you in a better position than when you started—not just financially, but in terms of opportunities and personal growth. The key is making sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, not just because it feels like the next step.

Venturing off into new knowledge—whether it’s a PhD, R&D, or building something new—comes with a strange, painful truth: you need a community, but you won’t know who that community is until after you’ve been completely alone.

You have to feel lost. You have to not know what you’re doing. You have to go through hard knocks, pain, and moments where you say, “What the hell, why is this happening?” And only then—when you’ve got your own story, your own struggle—do the right people start to show up. People who say, “That’s me. I’ve been there.”

You don’t find community first. You build it after. Not by pretending to have it all together, but by being open, honest, and brave enough to talk about the stuff that most people never do.

It’s painful. It’s lonely. But it’s the only way that works.

The more that you start looking at things, you start realizing that there’s just lots of moments where things break down and they don’t work as if you wanted them to actually work. We look at somebody else that seems really, really successful, and we try to mimic what they do, but we inevitably fail. There is almost always a ton of invisible infrastructure that you never see. I’ve learned this repeatedly with this whole R3ciprocity Project. So I simply choose now to simplify my life and do things as easy as possible. What is the most simplest approach? What can you do with just what you have to make sure it actually works in your favor?

What happens when you do everything right, yet the recognition never comes? In this deeply personal reflection, I share my journey from a lonely high schooler seeking validation through achievement to an academic navigating the brutal realities of the research world. The market never tells you you’re good enough—so how do you keep going? This is a story about detaching from external expectations, embracing self-worth, and taking one small step forward every single day.

I can guarantee this is how it’s going to play out for you—unless you’re one of the fortunate ones. You’ll spend a great deal of time building something, and when it’s finally out there, people will discount it. They’ll say it’s not good enough. They’ll pass over it.

It doesn’t matter what you’re working on—a new product, a research project, a PhD, or a business—it’s the same old story. You will have to convince people it’s legitimate. And the hardest part? It won’t be strangers telling you it’s a bad idea. It’ll be someone close to you.

That’s when the real test begins. You can either give up, like most people do, or you can keep going. Almost everybody quits—doesn’t matter if it’s a week, a month, ten years, or fifty years in. People stop. They say it’s not worth their time.

But look around. Everything that matters exists because someone pushed further, worked longer, and didn’t listen when people told them to stop. You can rely on luck, but I think most of us don’t have that option. We have to decide to keep going, even when nobody else believes in it.

Forget the beautiful story—none of that works.

The real secret? Do the boring. Repeat the boring. It’s the Toyota Camry strategy, the ordinary, the tedious, the thing nobody cares about. Every flashy move takes away from future success. The more boring you are, the better off you’ll be. Don’t fall for the fishing stories. Ignore the noise. This is what actually wins.

Some people think there’s a clear path to success in research—that there’s a small, elite group of people who always knew what they were doing. But that’s not reality. The truth is, if you feel lost, uncertain, or like an outsider, you’re not alone. That’s the defining feature of this career.

I know what it’s like to struggle to get into the research game. I had to change my identity completely. I had to let go of what I thought my life would be, and I know so many others who have had to do the same. There are incredible people out there—people who could revolutionize science—who are never given the chance because we don’t communicate the struggle well enough.

If you’re feeling like you don’t belong, you do. If you’re thinking that you’re not good enough, you are. The reality is, most researchers feel like they don’t know what they’re doing. Even the ones who act confident are often just covering up their own insecurities.

Here’s the truth: if you feel lost, you’re doing the right thing. It means you’re actually engaging with the world, actually trying. You’re not supposed to have it all figured out. Nobody does.

So if you’re doubting yourself, if you feel like an outsider, cheers to you. You’re exactly where you need to be. Just take a step forward every day. That’s all any of us can do.

Absolutely, academia is an industry—it has all the signs of one. If you look at the production and distribution of knowledge as a product category, it’s clear. But here’s where it gets complicated. The academic world is the ‘general purpose engine’ of the economy, fueling industries with new ideas that drive productivity and innovation. The challenge? Costs are immediate and easy to measure, but the benefits—more knowledge, better design, scientific progress—are amorphous and hard to quantify. This makes academia both incredibly valuable and vulnerable to people gaming the system. So yes, it’s an industry, but it’s also deeply complex, filled with politics, inefficiencies, and big questions about quality and investment. The question isn’t just ‘Is academia an industry?’—it’s ‘Can we make it better?’

What if reading and writing don’t come naturally to you? Can you still succeed as a researcher or a PhD? The answer is yes—but it takes relentless determination. I’ve struggled with reading and writing my whole life. I was undiagnosed with ADHD for years and likely have dyslexia, yet I’ve still built a career in academia. The key isn’t natural talent; it’s curiosity, persistence, and finding strategies to push through challenges. Success in research isn’t just about producing perfect papers—it’s about showing up, solving problems, and refusing to quit. Finding the right tools, support systems, and motivation can make all the difference. If you’re struggling, know that you’re not alone. In this video, I share my personal experience, the real struggles many researchers face, and the mindset needed to keep going—even when it feels impossible.

We only cheer for the winners, but that’s not what really matters.” Most of what determines success—body shape, genetics, where you’re born—is beyond anyone’s control. Yet, we act like effort alone defines outcomes. The truth? Some people work harder than anyone and still fall behind. What if we stopped celebrating results and started celebrating the courage to show up, day after day? Because in the end, showing up is the only thing that truly matters.

Hiring freezes in academia come and go, just like watching the stock market—if you focus on the day-to-day, it creates anxiety, but the long-term trend is almost always upward. The news thrives on fear, but in reality, opportunities exist if you keep taking steps forward. If you’ve lost your position, take a step back and regroup. It won’t feel good, but almost always, there’s a better opportunity out there—it just takes time to find. Whether you stay in research or move into industry, both paths can be equally fine. For most people, the best thing to do is ignore the noise, avoid panic, and keep moving. Stick your head in the sand if you have to. One little step after the other—that’s how progress happens. The world is always improving, and your job is to keep trying, keep going, and keep ignoring the nonsense.

Ever wonder why people don’t ask about your research? The truth is, most people aren’t interested—not because your work isn’t valuable, but because they’re focused on their own world.

After years as a professor, I’ve learned that the best approach isn’t trying to convince others of your research’s importance. Instead, live your life, stay curious, and wait for the moments when your expertise is actually needed.

I break down why research conversations fall flat, how to handle it, and why the most impactful insights are often the simplest.

You make your home. Other places will never be your home.

It’s insanity. The whole thing is insanity.You get rejected. You get ghosted. Nothing works. But you get back up and do it again. It won’t be perfect—it’ll be ugly, messy, awful—but you repeat, repeat, repeat. The people who actually build something don’t talk about success—they talk about the grind, the hard knocks, the struggle. The only force that matters? Repetition in the face of extreme negativity. Keep going. Something will give.

Being productive isn’t about perfect organization, efficiency hacks, or forcing structure onto everything. It’s about letting go of the idea that you need to be productive in a certain way.

It’s embracing the chaos. The disorganization. The messiness of pursuing something without a perfect plan. Productivity isn’t about following a rigid system—it’s about showing up and doing the work, even when it looks nothing like what you thought it should.

Let go of the need for a “proper way” of doing things. Pursue relentlessly. Move forward without needing everything to be neat, structured, or perfect. That’s where real momentum happens.

I realize the futility of what I’m doing. I put myself out there, and people don’t necessarily get it. Every day, I create videos, podcasts, and build this platform—pouring time and money into something that feels futile but important. If you’re listening, you’re probably going through something similar. The reality is, no matter what you’re working on—whether it’s law school, research, or any big challenge—it won’t feel the way you expect. It’s slow, painful, and filled with friction. But the key is to take steps forward every day, even when it feels like it’s not working. Success isn’t the goal—it’s about showing up, moving the needle, and detaching from the belief that it has to ‘work out.’ Because in the end, you do it because you do it.

What if we made research fun and enjoyable instead of a grind? The whole process could be a ‘fun, silly game’—just like how some of the most successful researchers already gamify it in their heads. Right now, the system ‘fundamentally sucks,’ built on the idea that if you don’t make it, you’re just ‘not good enough.’ But that’s not true. The problem isn’t talent—it’s that the journey is filled with roadblocks that make people quit. What if we flipped the system? What if we made research engaging, rewarding, and full of support instead of a brutal endurance test? Let’s rethink how we do this.

We all see it—inequalities in every system, from global politics to office dynamics. The solution seems obvious: even the playing field. But when you try, you quickly realize the resistance isn’t random—someone benefits from the imbalance. Change is slow, and the fight to maintain unfair advantages is relentless. So how do you move forward? This is a deep dive into the hidden incentives behind inequality, the forces that resist fairness, and the mindset needed to keep pushing for a better system—one step at a time.

Don’t believe the magical thinking that doing anything important in your life is supposed to be easy.

Don’t believe the magical thinking where people tell you this is a simplistic way or how you’re supposed to experience success.

Realize that the journey of doing anything important whether it is a PhD building a businessis a journey. It’s difficult and you will not want to do it.

But you do it regardless of how it feels because it’s important to you.

The rational choice model makes it seem like decisions are clear, alternatives are obvious, and we simply select the best option. But in reality, decisions are rarely made that way. Most of the time, there aren’t even real alternatives—things appear and disappear before you can fully compare them, and people don’t always know what they want.

There’s a fiction that choices are neat and structured, but real-world decisions are messy. You’re often pushed into something as much as you voluntarily choose it. Even when you do make a decision, the environment shifts, and suddenly, everything is different.

Instead of expecting certainty, the best approach is to embrace the ambiguity. Give yourself grace, keep moving forward, and recognize that no one really has it all figured out.

Know that you manage moments in your life, you don’t balance it. It’s knowing to take a step out when you need to, and knowing to not internalize the outside world.

I’ve seen this play out in two ways:

1.For retirement, I invest broadly. No single stocks, no market timing—just slow, steady growth.

2.With the R3ciprocity Project, I went all in. And I’ve learned the hard way how risky and unpredictable entrepreneurship really is.

The business press sells you the wrong message—that there’s a formula for success, that you can outsmart the market, or that entrepreneurship is a surefire way to wealth. But the truth? It’s mostly luck, survivorship bias, and a lot of failures you never hear about.

Feeling behind? You’re not alone. The one thing you need to know is that you’re doing better than you think. Every person feels lost at times, but progress is happening—even if you don’t see it yet. Keep going. You’re smarter, stronger, and more capable than you realize.

Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a perfect choice. You can strategize, analyze, and try to predict the future, but the reality is that most big decisions—whether it’s starting a PhD, switching careers, or taking on a major project—are leaps of faith.

You will never have enough information. You will always feel like you might be making the wrong move. And sometimes? You will make the wrong move.

But here’s the thing: once you make a choice, the only thing left to do is commit to it. You learn, you adapt, and you deal with the outcomes as they come. The worst thing you can do is stay stuck, waiting for certainty that will never come.

The truth is, most successful people don’t have a perfect plan—they just keep moving forward, even when they’re unsure.

In a world that feels increasingly polarized and chaotic, it’s easy to believe that things are falling apart. But is this really new, or are we just more aware of it? This reflection challenges the idea that innovation is dying or that society is uniquely divided today. Instead, it argues that we’re simply witnessing long-standing tensions more clearly in the digital age. Looking at history, we see that past generations faced immense hardship, yet people rebuilt, forgave, and moved forward. So maybe, as Taylor Swift reminds us, we need to “calm down” and listen more—both to others and to history.

Most of life is pretty boring. And that’s the problem. We chase distractions, looking for the next exciting thing, while ignoring the slow, unglamorous work that actually gets us somewhere.

I’m here to tell you the truth no one wants to hear: success isn’t about making a ton of money overnight. It’s about making small, painful decisions every single day—decisions that most people won’t make. Like saving before spending. Like planning 30 years ahead when everyone else is living paycheck to paycheck.

And here’s the kicker: even when you do everything right, you’ll feel guilty when you finally get there. That’s the paradox of success.

I don’t believe a lot of research now that I understand how it’s actually made. When you realize when you get into it is how challenging it actually is and how uncertain and frustrating it actually is. You’ll also realize that there’s no right answers.

You will tun into many people at all walks of life that will not want to learn from you. The only thing that you can do is say, bless your heart and move on.

People think going back to school later in life should be about learning something practical or current. But that’s missing the point. The real value of education isn’t in learning what’s trendy or immediately useful—it’s in learning things that seem irrelevant, abstract, and even useless at first.

Why? Because that’s what expands your thinking. It forces you to see the world from different perspectives, to engage with ideas you never considered, and to challenge your assumptions. Learning something “irrelevant” isn’t a waste of time—it’s a way to grow, to build empathy, and to train your mind to approach problems from new angles.

If you’re thinking about going back to school but worry it won’t be practical enough, remember this: the most valuable lessons often come from the things that don’t seem to matter—until they do.

I teach entrepreneurship and innovation, but here’s the truth: I wouldn’t recommend jumping in full-time. It’s extraordinarily risky, and you will inevitably get burned. Most startups fail, and even the ones that succeed take years of struggle.

There are only two approaches I’d ever recommend. The first? Take the tried-and-true path—get a solid education, build real expertise, and develop skills that no one wants to learn because they’re hard and messy. The second? If you must do something entrepreneurial, build your career first and work on your venture on the side. It will take longer, you will make countless mistakes, and people will tell you it’s a waste of time. But at least you’ll have a foundation to fall back on.

Everyone glorifies entrepreneurship—but few talk about the cost. So before you leap, make sure you know what you’re getting into.

So often, I find myself walking the line between rational thinking and sounding like a conspiracy theorist when I talk about how people strategize to get ahead. But the truth is, people are actually very predictable—we follow systems and social expectations almost without thinking. Look at how we drive; we don’t randomly swerve into the other lane, even though technically, nothing is stopping us.

And yet, so many of us hold back from doing things that could move us forward—not because others are actually thinking about us, but because we believe they are. That fear of judgment is one of the most powerful forces that stop people from being productive, taking risks, and doing innovative things. We spend so much time worrying about how others will perceive us that we don’t actually take action.

But here’s the truth: people are deeply preoccupied with themselves. No one is thinking about you as much as you think they are. And yet, that fear is so strong that it can keep you from doing anything that matters. The irony? Not taking action is still a choice. So why not choose to do something that moves you forward? If you’re feeling stuck, it’s probably not because you lack ideas or ability—it’s because you’re afraid of what people might think. But what if you stopped caring? What if you just did the thing? You’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you stop holding yourself back.

Productivity is overrated. The more you chase it, the more you burn out, stress out, and feel like you’re never doing enough. But here’s the irony: the less you focus on productivity, the more productive you actually become.

Instead of asking, “How do I get more done?” ask:

1️⃣ How do I create certainty? People work best when they feel secure and grounded.

2️⃣ How do I build belonging? A sense of community makes work meaningful and sustainable.

3️⃣ How do I cultivate love for the work? Productivity naturally follows when work feels purposeful and fulfilling.

When people feel valued, connected, and emotionally secure, they naturally become more engaged, creative, and effective. Real productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about feeling like you belong.

What you perceive are disadvantages are gifts.

The cruelest lie is telling people they can do anything when the system is designed to make sure they can’t. Talent isn’t just about skill—it’s about being sharpened in the right way, at the right time, in the right place. And yet, selection is broken. Not because we aren’t looking, but because the things that truly matter—humility, adaptability, the willingness to learn—can’t be measured.

The flywheel won’t turn if the wrong people are in the wrong context, no matter how talented they are. You see this everywhere—brilliant people stuck in environments where they can’t grow, while others rise because they fit a flawed selection process.

You can’t buy your way into a high-performing culture, and you can’t hustle your way out of a broken one. The only way forward is to keep trying, use available tools smartly—whatever that means—and push forward, knowing full well it’s an uphill battle.

Academia consumes everything—your time, your energy, your identity. You chase prestige, publications, and impact, but at what cost? If you weren’t a researcher, who would you be? I’ve wrestled with this my entire career. We’re trained to believe that anything outside work is a distraction, that giving back is a waste of time. But deep down, I know that’s not true. The real challenge isn’t just surviving academia—it’s protecting the parts of yourself that make life worth living.

Negotiating your salary doesn’t have to feel awkward, aggressive, or manipulative. The trick? Stop thinking of it as a battle and start treating it as a two-way exchange.

As a business professor, I’ve studied what actually works in salary negotiations. It’s not about fancy tactics or pushy demands—it’s about showing your value consistently and making it impossible for others to ignore.

✅ Why most people negotiate the wrong way

✅ How to confidently ask for more (without feeling sleazy)

✅ The one mindset shift that makes negotiation easier

✅ Why long-term value beats short-term wins

If you feel underpaid, unsure how to ask for more, or afraid of rejection, this video will show you how to negotiate with confidence—without the stress or sleaze. Let’s get you the salary you deserve.

The stress, anxiety, and overwhelm you feel? It’s not an accident. It’s engineered.

Every day, you’re bombarded with messages designed to make you feel like the world is falling apart. Social media platforms thrive on outrage. People manipulate narratives to keep you fearful, reactive, and stuck in a cycle of stress.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to play their game.

The best thing you can do is walk forward—peacefully, calmly, and with purpose. Train yourself to be more stoic. Focus on what you can control. Learn from the great leaders of the past who didn’t react to every noise but instead built something lasting.

The world isn’t as broken as they want you to believe. Step back, breathe, and move forward with quiet confidence. That’s how you win.

Fear is everywhere. It’s sold to you in academia, in the job market, in society—telling you to stay safe, stay small, don’t take risks. But here’s the truth: it’s not as scary as they make it seem.

The only way to prove this to yourself is by taking action.

•Take one small step today. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just forward.

•Live your life, not someone else’s expectations. Fear is designed to keep you stuck.

•Real confidence comes from movement. The more you do, the less fear controls you.

Fear will always be there, but you don’t have to listen to it. Keep going.

In academia, research, and high-stakes careers, one of the hardest lessons to learn is this: don’t trust too easily. You will have your expectations shattered, your norms violated, and your assumptions tested—often in ways you never saw coming.

The key isn’t to become cynical or bitter—it’s to protect yourself.

•Keep taking steps forward. No matter what setbacks you face, don’t stop moving. Progress is the only thing you control.

•Diversify. Your career, your income, your skills—never put all your bets on one institution, one person, or one path.

•Don’t internalize everything. When people let you down or systems fail you, remind yourself: it’s not about you. The game is rigged in many ways, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win by playing smart.

The world of research and academia can be harsh, but you don’t have to let it define you. Stay sharp, stay adaptable, and always keep moving.

So many PhDs and researchers hold themselves back—not because they lack ideas, but because they’re afraid. Afraid of looking foolish. Afraid of stepping outside the norm. Afraid of being seen as the problem instead of the expert.

But here’s what I need you to understand: we all feel like that.

The only way to break free from that fear is to step up and start anyway. Not with something perfect, not with something big—but with something small. Something experimental. Something that makes you feel insecure, but also curious.

I know, because I live it. People expect me to “look the part,” to have it all figured out. But I don’t. I feel insecure every day. I question whether I’m the right person for this. But if it’s not me, then who?

Who will stand up and build something for PhDs and researchers who feel trapped in competition, insecurity, and self-doubt? Who will create the space for people to do research without constantly proving their worth?

If you’re afraid, good. It means you’re onto something. The difference between staying stuck and making an impact isn’t about being fearless—it’s about taking action despite the fear.

I share my personal journey through the unpredictable world of research. I open up about the exhilarating moments when our work shines and the challenging times when it feels overlooked. I discuss how I’ve learned to adapt, grow, and support fellow scientists along the way. Whether you’re skating quickly or struggling to find your footing, this podcast is a candid, inspiring conversation about resilience, innovation, and the true impact of science in our lives.

I feel incredibly fortunate that my parents instilled in me the mindset that I didn’t need to keep up with the Joneses. Growing up in a big family with a single income, I heard “no” a lot—but that was one of the greatest lessons of my life. It shaped not just my financial habits, but also my career and personal growth.

In academia and business, there’s an intense pressure to impress, to climb the ranks, and to gain recognition. But what if true success isn’t about chasing external validation? What if it’s about defining success on your own terms and focusing on what actually brings you joy and fulfillment?

Resisting the urge to compare myself to others has helped me in my career, why social media’s version of success is misleading, and how to find role models who truly inspire you—not just ones who look impressive from a distance. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “keep up,” this message is for you.

Thanks, Mom and Dad.

We like to believe that we’re rational, that we can analyze the world and predict what’s coming next. But the truth is, we’re terrible at it.

Why? Because predicting the future forces us to confront uncertainty—and we hate uncertainty. It’s easier to assume the present will continue, that things will stay the way they are. We fall into herding effects, following what everyone else believes, and myopia, focusing on what’s right in front of us instead of what’s coming.

But here’s the paradox: the patterns are always there. Once you see them, they seem obvious. The problem isn’t that the future is impossible to predict—it’s that we don’t want to see it. Change is uncomfortable. It forces us to question our assumptions, adapt, and step into the unknown.

The challenge isn’t just forecasting trends—it’s overcoming the fear of seeing what’s possible before everyone else does. The future is already unfolding. The question is: are you willing to look?

Doing PhD research often feels like a perfect storm for sadness, burnout, and self-doubt. Ambiguous feedback, relentless rejection, and the endless cycle of working on projects that others might never care about—it’s enough to make anyone question their choices.

But here’s the perspective I’ve learned to embrace: research is hard, yes, but it’s also a privilege. It’s a rare opportunity to push boundaries, create something meaningful, and tackle challenges that matter to you. Even when it feels lonely, frustrating, or downright miserable, it’s a gift to be able to do this kind of work.

I share why seeing your work as a privilege, not a burden, can transform how you approach your journey as a researcher. It’s not about fame, money, or recognition—it’s about doing something that matters, no matter how messy, ugly, or misunderstood it may be. Because the hardest challenges in life are often the most rewarding.

Take a moment to reflect: What’s your privilege in the struggle? Let’s talk about why it’s worth it.

I want to end this book with one simple truth: the most important thing you can do when venturing into the unknown is to practice self-forgiveness.

There is no perfect way to navigate the nothingness. Even with all the tools and knowledge at your disposal, no one truly knows if the choices you make are the “right” ones. You won’t know either—not until you look back from a distant future. And even then, hindsight has its own distortions.

What matters most is not whether you did it perfectly, but that you tried. You took the step. You ventured into the uncertainty. You gave yourself permission to act in a world where no one really knows what’s right. That in itself is extraordinary.

So, forgive yourself for the missteps, for the moments you felt lost or doubted yourself. Forgive yourself for not having all the answers or for feeling like you could have done better. The truth is, there’s no singular “right” way to do any of this. The only wrong choice is never trying at all.

The key is to embrace the imperfection of the journey and recognize the courage it takes to try. Because at the end of it all, whether you succeed or not, you’ll know this: you stepped into the unknown, and you gave it your all. And that’s what truly matters.

Watch out for the tatted, steroid-pumped guy selling you lifestyle advice about making money and being successful. They’re not offering a real life that real people live—they’re selling you a product, not authenticity.

You don’t want that life anyway. It’s stressful, overwhelming, and requires far more management than most of us would ever want. True success isn’t about chasing someone else’s version of a perfect life; it’s about building a life that feels balanced, meaningful, and achievable for you. Don’t fall for the flash—chase what truly matters.

Venturing is often framed as a calculated risk, something that should follow an economic or rational formula. But the deeper truth is this: venturing is about romance, desire, and love.

When you venture into the unknown, there’s no way to justify it logically. You can’t explain to others—or even to yourself—why you’re doing it. There’s no feedback, no clear reward, no guarantees. And yet, you move forward. Why? Because you’re in love.

You’re romantically tied to the idea, the project, or the vision. It’s a passion that goes beyond reason, a desire that compels you to keep going even when the nothingness feels unbearable. This is not about outcomes or efficiency—it’s about the connection you feel to what you’re building, creating, or discovering.

True venturing isn’t fueled by logic or strategy; it’s fueled by love. Love for the process, for the possibility of what could be, for the sheer act of creating something out of nothing. It’s messy, irrational, and deeply human.

This is what makes venturing so powerful: it’s not just about what you’re doing—it’s about who you are. You do it because you can’t not do it. And that’s the only reason you need.

Popular narratives about success often emphasize habits and tools like waking up early, meditating, or eating gummy bears. But what if the truth is far simpler—and far less flattering?

Much of our success (or failure) comes down to sheer dumb luck, rather than the neat explanations we like to tell ourselves. Drawing from research on superstitious learning and randomness, I challenge the idea that we fully control our outcomes. From hiring decisions to life-changing events, many outcomes are shaped by factors outside our control.

By recognizing this, we can cultivate greater empathy for others and better understand the complexity of life’s circumstances. Don’t fall into the trap of attributing success to oversimplified advice. Instead, embrace the uncertainty, and let’s rethink what it really means to “earn” success.

You’ll only be recognized once you have a story to tell. It’s not the work itself, but the journey—the misery, the struggle, the isolation, the messiness—that makes people pay attention to what you’ve done. Recognition only comes after you’ve endured all the things nobody else wants to face.

The hard truth is that the story that matters—the one people care about—only emerges after you’ve done the work. And the work isn’t glamorous. It’s uncomfortable, lonely, and full of doubt. You don’t fit in while you’re doing it, and you’ll often feel like you’re getting nowhere.

But it’s this unglamorous grind that creates something worth noticing. If it were easy, everyone would do it, and because it’s hard, people often rewrite the narrative after the fact. Once you’ve succeeded, they’ll act like it was simple all along. But you’ll know the truth: it was hard, messy, and anything but certain.

The only way to build something meaningful—something that will matter to others—is through the repetition of doing things that are ugly and difficult. It’s in the grind, the discomfort, and the persistence that you create the story worth telling. And it’s only once you’ve walked that path that people will finally see what you’ve built.

Everything I’ve said so far might sound negative—like venturing is all struggle, uncertainty, and pain. And it’s true that much of it is hard. The challenges, the setbacks, the countless things that don’t work out—it can feel overwhelming.

But here’s the reality: this isn’t defeatism; it’s awareness. It’s recognizing that the idea we often hold—the one where we do things for profits, money, or predictable success—is rarely how life actually works. Most ventures, whether they’re raising kids, starting a business, or creating something new, don’t have a guaranteed payoff.

We don’t raise kids because we expect financial returns. We don’t invest in our dreams because we know they’ll succeed. Instead, we venture into the unknown for something much deeper: the possibility of rare, unexpected moments when everything aligns. Those moments, though fleeting, are extraordinary. They remind us why we take risks, why we endure the grind, and why we keep going even when it feels like nothing is working.

And beyond those rare moments, venturing is simply part of being human. We explore, create, and build not because it’s rational, but because it’s who we are. It’s what humanity has always done—pushed boundaries, embraced uncertainty, and ventured into the unknown.

There’s no perfect logic to any of it, but that’s not the point. You do it because you want to. You do it because it’s in your nature. And that’s all the reason you need.

The moments that test you the most—the messy, painful, and deeply frustrating ones—are almost always the ones that bring the most growth. They force you to adapt, think differently, and become stronger than you thought possible.

The problem? Most people avoid these moments. They shy away from discomfort and struggle, choosing the easy path instead. But by doing so, they miss out on something extraordinary: the joy and inspiration that comes when you overcome a seemingly impossible challenge.

Struggle isn’t just difficulty—it’s opportunity. When you face it head-on, you unlock personal growth and discover a profound sense of accomplishment. The moments that frustrate you the most often become the moments you’re most proud of later.

Don’t miss out on this. Embrace the struggle—it’s where the magic happens.

One of the hardest lessons you’ll learn when you venture into something new is that you’re not really in control of anything. The outcomes you envision, the results you hope to create—they’re often beyond your influence. What you’ll discover is that most decisions shaping your world have already been made long before you arrived.

The world is a web of pre-existing structures, systems, and forces far larger than you. Even when you take action, the effects often don’t show up for a long time, leaving you confused and uncertain about whether your efforts are working. Feedback becomes muddled, and you’re left questioning if what you’re doing even matters.

But here’s the thing: the lack of control isn’t the problem—it’s the expectation of control that causes the frustration. Once you accept that you don’t understand everything and never will, the pressure lifts. You stop trying to force outcomes and instead focus on what feels right to you.

The key is to act not because you’re guaranteed a specific result, but because the action itself brings joy or creates something beautiful in your life. You don’t write, build, or venture for control; you do it because it’s part of who you are.

When you embrace this mindset, the need for control fades, and you start to find fulfillment in the process itself. The beauty of venturing is not in mastering the outcomes but in creating a life that reflects your values, passions, and unique vision—regardless of what the world does in response.

When you venture into something new, the urge to be perfect is overwhelming. The negative emotions that come with creating something different—fear, doubt, and insecurity—make you want to stall or over-polish your work. You don’t want to feel the pain of trying and failing, of putting something imperfect into the world.

So, you hesitate. You postpone starting or stop midway, caught up in the idea that what you’re creating isn’t good enough. You tell yourself it’s not ready yet, that you need to refine it more, make it flawless before anyone sees it. But here’s the truth: nobody cares if it’s perfect.

The idea of perfection is a defense mechanism—a way to protect yourself from the discomfort of vulnerability. But trying to perfect your work is just another way of hiding. What really matters is that you do the work and put it out there, regardless of how it feels or how others might judge it.

The only way to overcome this is to keep going, to keep creating, even when it’s messy and painful. The monster you’re scared of—the judgment, the failure, the imperfection—shrinks each time you show up and try. Over time, you realize that perfection doesn’t exist. It’s just a story you’ve been telling yourself, a way to avoid facing the uncertainty of venturing.

What matters is not whether your work is perfect, but whether it reflects who you are. By doing the work and embracing its imperfections, you create something unique—something that couldn’t exist without you. And in that, you find your own version of “good enough,” which is far more powerful than the illusion of perfection.

When you invest in something ambiguous, something without clear outcomes, embarrassment is inevitable. People will question your choices, looking at you as if you’ve been foolish or reckless. They’ll ask, How could you spend so much time and energy on something that might not work? And when it doesn’t turn out as you hoped, the sting of their judgment feels sharp.

You can’t escape this reality. The only thing you can do is lean into it. Instead of running from the embarrassment, let it become part of your identity. Embrace the stigma of over-investing in something that didn’t work out. Make it part of who you are—not as a failure, but as someone willing to take risks and explore the unknown.

The challenge, though, lies in knowing when to stop. At what point do you pull back and decide it’s time to let go? The truth is, there’s no clear answer. No metric or formula will tell you when it’s the right time to stop investing. You simply have to live with the uncertainty.

This is the essence of venturing: accepting that the path forward is filled with unknowns and that the embarrassment of “getting it wrong” is just part of the journey. The more you embrace this discomfort, the more you realize that it’s not about being perfect or avoiding failure—it’s about owning the process, leaning into the nothingness, and continuing to move forward, no matter how it feels.

When you choose a path of venturing—whether it’s starting something new, taking risks, or stepping into the unknown—you’ll quickly realize how lonely it can be. This is what people mean when they say, “It’s lonely at the top.” It’s not just about success; it’s about the isolation that comes from doing something different, something unproven.

The truth is, this loneliness is a natural part of the journey. To move forward, you have to accept people as they are, even if they don’t fully understand or support what you’re doing. You have to recognize that this path is yours—no one else’s. That realization can be both freeing and heavy, but it’s essential to making peace with the process.

Over time, you learn to see yourself not as the only one struggling in the wilderness but as part of a greater group. There are countless others out there—people venturing, experimenting, and trying to discover something new. When you start to imagine yourself among them, the loneliness softens. You’re not isolated; you’re part of a vast, unspoken community of people daring to create and explore.

The more you embrace this mindset, the more it shapes who you are. You stop expecting the journey to be easy or crowded with companions, and instead, you find strength in the shared struggle. Venturing isn’t just about reaching the destination; it’s about learning to thrive in the isolation and finding connection in the broader, invisible network of explorers who are doing the same.

Ever wonder why researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators spend years working on ideas others dismiss as pointless? In this video, I dive into why so-called “useless” pursuits often lead to the biggest breakthroughs—and why embracing failure, risk, and uncertainty is the secret to real success. If you’ve ever felt like you’re wasting your time, this one’s for you.

Innovation #ResearchLife #R3ciprocity #BigIdeas

In a world obsessed with metrics and measurable progress, venturing into the unknown feels like stepping into an uncharted void. Modern culture thrives on quantifying success—grades, sales, views, followers—but when you trade off the known for the uncertain, those metrics often don’t exist.

If you’re investing in something new, whether it’s an entrepreneurial venture, your children, or a creative idea, you have to accept that there won’t be clear metrics to validate what you’re doing. Most of what matters in these pursuits is invisible. The effort, the impact, and the growth are things you can’t easily quantify or measure.

Loving the invisible means finding joy in what can’t be explicitly calculated. It means understanding that some of the most meaningful investments—like raising a family or building something from scratch—are guided by intuition and love, not spreadsheets or charts. These are the kinds of pursuits where trying to impose metrics would feel strange, even absurd.

To thrive in this space, you have to shift your focus from external validation to implicit rewards. You do it because it matters to you, not because there’s a clear ROI. You do it because you believe in it, even if it’s hard to explain or justify to others.

Learning to love the invisible is about letting go of the need for tangible proof and trusting in the process itself. It’s not easy, but it’s liberating. Because once you embrace the unseen, you realize that the things you love don’t need to be measured—they simply need to be lived.

Certifications and formal knowledge feel like milestones, like proof that you’re ready to take on the world. But here’s the reality: they’re just the entry point. No matter how many certifications you earn or how much you learn, they’ll never fully prepare you for what you’ll experience in practice.

The real challenge—and the real growth—happens when you show up every day and do the work. Improvement doesn’t feel like progress most of the time. In fact, venturing often feels like you’re stumbling around, unsure of what you’re supposed to be doing. You’ll feel like a bumbling fool far more often than you’ll feel confident or capable.

But that’s okay. That’s how it’s supposed to feel. The key is to keep going, to keep showing up and applying yourself, day after day. It’s not about achieving perfection or feeling like you’ve mastered anything. It’s about putting in the effort, trying, and learning through the process itself.

Certifications are just the starting line. The real work—the messy, uncertain, unglamorous work—comes after. And that’s where the magic happens, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. Keep practicing, keep trying, and trust that the act of doing will create the improvement you’re looking for, even if it’s hard to see right now.

In venturing, you’ll always feel like you’re running out of time. It’s inevitable. You’re constantly trading today’s known and understood for tomorrow’s unknown and ambiguous. The alternatives aren’t clear, and because you don’t fully understand what you’re working toward, it’s tempting to believe that investing more time and effort will resolve the uncertainty.

The seduction of “just a little more” is powerful. You think, If I work harder, push longer, or give more, I’ll figure it out. But here’s the truth: sometimes it’s not your fault. Sometimes the complexity and ambiguity of the environment make it impossible to fully understand what’s going on, no matter how much effort you pour into it.

So, what can you do when the clock feels like your enemy?

1.Set Boundaries: Create limits in your life—not just for time but for energy. Decide how much you can realistically give without sacrificing your well-being.

2.Violate Social Norms: Be willing to say “no” or step away, even if others don’t understand. People might question you or think you’re doing it wrong, but those boundaries are essential for survival.

3.Practice Self-Forgiveness: Learn to forgive yourself when you fall short of your expectations. Tell yourself, I’ve done enough. This isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about recognizing that perfection and endless effort won’t always bring clarity or results.

4.Embrace Imperfection: Venturing is never about feeling like you have everything together. It’s about learning to live with the chronic feeling of being behind, of not quite achieving what you hoped for—and being okay with that.

The reality is, you’ll never feel like you have enough time because there’s always more you could do. But success in venturing isn’t about achieving perfection or understanding everything. It’s about making peace with the messiness of the process, forgiving yourself when you need to stop, and finding satisfaction in doing the best you can with what you have. That’s where true progress begins.

When things get hard—and they always do—you’ll find yourself seduced by the idea that it must be easier for other people. Whether it’s seeing your peers seemingly breeze through challenges, hearing success stories sensationalized in the media, or watching others appear to find effortless solutions, the allure of “easy” becomes impossible to ignore.

This seduction happens because deep down, you want it to be easier. The grind, the ambiguity, the uncertainty—it’s exhausting. So you search for shortcuts, hoping to solve your immediate pain, to escape the messiness of the moment.

But here’s the truth: there is no “correct” path, no one-size-fits-all solution. The world is far more complex than we’d like it to be. The easy path is an illusion, a distraction from the real work that needs to be done.

What you can do is keep moving forward. Take one step at a time. Focus on carving out your own path, even when it feels messy and unclear. Along the way, gather bits of information, test out ideas, and allow yourself to explore new directions when they present themselves.

There’s a point in every venture, every project, every journey, where you hit the grind. Nothing about the experience is fun anymore. All the excitement, all the emotional highs you once felt, are long gone. You’re left with nothing but the daily struggle. At this stage, it’s not about performance or ambition anymore—it’s just about survival.

What makes it even harder is the uncertainty. When you’re trading today for some future you can’t see or predict, there’s no clarity. You don’t know if you’re making the right choices or if the sacrifices you’re making will even pay off. And in that fog, the question looms: Should you keep going, or is it time to quit?

I’ve been there many times. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and isolating. And honestly, the only way I’ve found to push through is to change how I think about it. You have to let the grind become part of your identity. It stops being something you fight against and starts being something you own.

For me, that means telling myself a new story. The grind isn’t just the boring, soul-sucking part of the process—it’s the part that defines who I am. It’s the proof that I’m willing to do the work, even when it feels pointless. The grind becomes the thing I stand for, the thing I take pride in.

So, when you want to quit—and you will—remember this: the grind is not the enemy. It’s the test. It’s what shapes you into the person who can get to the other side. It doesn’t feel good, and it never will. But if you let it, it will teach you who you are and what you’re capable of.

The key is simple but not easy: make the grind part of your story. When you do, quitting stops being the only option. Instead, you keep moving forward—not because it feels good, but because it’s who you are.

In our pursuit of ambitious goals, we often construct an idealized vision of the future—a destination where all our sacrifices culminate in ultimate fulfillment. We trade the comforts of today for the promise of a better tomorrow, investing in alternatives we scarcely understand. Yet, upon arrival, we may find that this envisioned future is not the utopia we imagined.

It is the illusion that achieving a specific goal will lead to lasting happiness, only to discover that reality falls short of expectations. 

The reality is that life remains fundamentally unchanged; the external world mirrors its former state. The internal transformation we anticipated may not materialize, leading to feelings of disillusionment and emptiness. This dissonance between expectation and reality can be jarring, prompting us to question the value of our sacrifices.

To navigate this disillusionment, it’s essential to recalibrate our expectations and find contentment in the present moment. Embracing the journey, rather than fixating solely on the destination, allows us to appreciate incremental progress and derive meaning from daily experiences. By aligning our aspirations with reality, we can mitigate the psychological impact of unmet expectations and foster a more sustainable sense of fulfillment.

Almost always being serious prevents you from trying anything that is worthwhile. Everything is a growth process, and you have to start with an open heart.

Venturing means that you do things that nobody else is done before and as a consequence, you have to feel isolated alone.

By simply changing the conversation from you feel isolated in the alone and scared to. I have courage and I’m doing something that nobody else is done before, you become the hero in your own story.

A simple change in the way that you are communicating. The story makes an enormous difference in how you feel about the activities that you’re doing every day when you venture.

The R3ciprocity Project didn’t come from following a conventional path. It began with an attempt to create a university spinoff in the traditional way, but over time, I realized I needed to abandon the conventional approach entirely. No one was going to do it for me. Few people believed I could succeed. The weight of doubt was heavy, but I decided to build it anyway, staying true to what I believed in—even when it looked crazy and felt completely wrong.

Leaning into the nothingness became the defining aspect of this journey. The trade-offs I made—taking from today to invest in an uncertain tomorrow—felt impossible to justify in the moment. But I kept going because I believed in the project. It became part of who I am, a reflection of the world I wanted to create, even if few understood why I was doing it.

This chapter explores what it means to commit to something that feels like an uphill battle, to embrace the void of uncertainty, and to keep building in the face of doubt. Because ultimately, it’s those choices—made in the nothingness—that define what we create for the future.

Venturing often leaves me emotionally exhausted. The constant trade-off between today and tomorrow, between immediate comfort and uncertain future gains, rarely feels good. At the end of the day, I don’t feel triumphant—I feel drained.

The only way I’ve learned to cope with this exhaustion is to change how I view the work. I treat it as play, refusing to take what I’m doing too seriously. I ignore the weight of my surroundings and approach each step with humor or detachment. I try to see every small action as something that doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme, allowing me to block out the difficulty of the moment and keep moving forward.

There are no right answers. There’s no perfect path. But by reframing the journey as playful and lighthearted, I find the strength to invest in every single step—one after another—without letting the exhaustion defeat me.

The Importance Of Psychological Safety In Academia

Much of the world is ambiguous, and it always will be. You’ll never know the “right” answers until many years down the road. You won’t even know if the choices you’re making now are correct or what your alternatives truly were. Most people feel this uncertainty deeply, and when you venture into something new—whether it’s a project, a career, or a personal challenge—you’ll feel the weight of that ambiguity.

These moments are filled with strong emotions, often negative ones like fear, doubt, or frustration. How do you deal with it?

First, you acknowledge those feelings. They’re real, and it’s okay to have them. Pretending they don’t exist doesn’t help. Second, you focus on what you can control: the repetition of action. Repeating small, deliberate actions is the only way to transform ambiguity into reality. Through these repeated actions, you create something concrete.

It’s only after the fact—sometimes years later—that you’ll be able to look back and say whether your choices were right or wrong. But without taking action, you’ll never know. Ambiguity is inevitable, but learning to act through it is what moves you forward.

We glamorize big life decisions—getting an education, starting a family, launching a venture. These choices are celebrated as bold, exciting, and life-changing. But the truth? Doing them is far different from the stories we’re told.

The reality is small, mundane choices, made over and over again. You repeatedly take away from today to invest in an uncertain tomorrow, unsure if you’re making the right decisions or how much to sacrifice. It doesn’t feel grand or heroic. It feels exhausting, difficult, and sometimes downright empty.

The problem is that the media and society rarely tell us the truth. They show us the highlight reel—moments of excitement, success, and fulfillment—while skipping over the mundane grind it takes to get there. But in the real world, the process is far less glamorous. It’s uncomfortable, repetitive, and filled with doubt.

In this chapter, I challenge the illusion of glamor in big decisions and explore what it really feels like to commit to creating something meaningful—one small, unremarkable choice at a time.

Entrepreneurship, innovation, and even education are often celebrated as inherently positive pursuits—acts of courage, creativity, and vision. At their core, they are simple in theory: taking something away from today to invest in tomorrow. Yet beneath this idealized view lies a far more unsettling reality.

The truth is, we don’t know if we’re taking too much or too little away from today. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, nor do we know what will pay off in the long run. The real outcomes? They’re invisible, sometimes unknowable, for 30 years or more. That uncertainty creates a void—a deep, lingering nothingness—that rarely feels good.

Instead of optimism, these decisions can feel terrifying, negative, and profoundly isolating. You wonder: Am I wasting today? Am I investing in the wrong tomorrow? The answers don’t come right away. And the absence of immediate feedback makes the journey feel aimless, like you’re floating alone in the dark.

But here’s where experience changes everything. The more you practice living in this ambiguity, the more you learn to lean into those uncomfortable feelings instead of running from them. Those feelings—fear, doubt, loneliness—aren’t enemies. They are feedback. Not the kind you get from a mentor, colleague, or customer, but the truest feedback of all: the nothingness that forces you to listen to yourself.

This silence, this void, is where the process reveals itself. It teaches you to pay attention to the subtle signs, the quiet whispers of your instincts. Learning to deal with this nothingness—this emotional uncertainty—is what allows you to make wise choices in the face of ambiguity.

The real work of entrepreneurship and innovation lies here: balancing today’s sacrifices with tomorrow’s possibilities, trusting yourself when no one else is watching, and accepting that you won’t know whether your decisions were right for a very, very long time. It’s not a process that always feels good. In fact, it rarely does. But it’s in learning to sit with those emotions that you grow strong enough to keep going—and to choose wisely.

Research, especially at a high level, can feel like a deeply thankless job. You work alone, face endless struggles, and rarely get recognition. But over the years, I’ve learned to push through by reflecting on how fortunate I truly am.

I come from an immigrant family. My parents didn’t finish high school. My grandmother, an orphan, raised her family in the harsh conditions of Northern Ontario just to survive. When I think about this—about the sacrifices that led to where I am—I feel a deep sense of privilege and responsibility to change the world for the better.

What keeps me going is knowing that the work I do has meaning. I’m building something—through the R3ciprocity Project—that helps others push forward with their own research. Knowing that I can improve people’s lives and support their journey has changed who I am. It’s no longer about impressing anyone; it’s about leaving something behind that matters.

Remembering where I came from gives me pride, purpose, and the drive to keep building. The struggles of research are real, but so is the impact we can make. For me, that’s enough to keep going.

Most people won’t take the time to truly understand what you’re about. They only see a few words, a few actions, and then get angry or frustrated when it doesn’t fit their expectations. What they miss is this: you do things with good intentions, because they matter to you—not always because they’re rational or about success.

Loving what you do often lacks rationality, and that can make others uncomfortable. But the real challenge is finding balance—doing work that matters to you while also navigating the realities of financial and personal success. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

To make significant change, you must first believe that the world can be changed. Change isn’t instant—it’s like waves wearing down rocks on the beach. Over centuries, those rough, jagged rocks are transformed into smooth stones, not because it was easy, but because the waves were persistent and resilient against physical limits.

The lesson? Be like the waves. Keep showing up. Be resilient enough to wear down the rough edges of a problem, slowly and steadily. Change happens not through force, but through persistence, patience, and the belief that even the hardest, most unmovable things can eventually shift.

Growing up with nothing can actually give you a significant financial advantage—if you’re taught the right skills. When you start with less, you learn to save aggressively, spot opportunities that others overlook, and perform “arbitrage” by doing things others won’t. Unlike those born into wealth, you’re not bound by expectations, standards, or lifestyle inflation that hold many people back. With the right mindset and basic financial skills, starting from nothing can be the foundation for building extraordinary wealth and success.

We know the flashy depictions of wealth and success—fancy cars, private jets, and entourages of scantily dressed followers—are pure fiction. Most successful and wealthy people live unassuming, quiet lives. And yet, time and time again, we fall for these cartoonish, comical depictions of success. Why do we buy into this fantasy land, even when we know it’s not real?

In the tech industry, everyone talks about co-founders and collaboration, but being a solopreneur—running the show on your own—can actually have major benefits.

Chasing publications, citations, and tenure often defines success in academia, but this relentless pursuit can leave you feeling empty and unfulfilled. The truth is, the most meaningful work in research and innovation often lies in doing things that are hard, messy, and underrewarded—work that doesn’t immediately get recognition or pay off. Real fulfillment comes from finding purpose, setting your own metrics for success, and committing to meaningful research that matters to you, not just the system. When you focus on purpose over prestige, you build a career—and a life—that’s far more rewarding in the long run.

Fall of Syria reflections.

The implausible can become plausible, you simply often just have to wait enough time.

Doing research during a #PhD can feel like being in a toxic relationship—it’s seductive and abusive at the same time.

It’s like the “hot” guy or girl that tells you that you are terrible, but love bombs you periodically.

It’s a slot machine where most of the time you get goose eggs and every once in a while, you get a home run.

Just when you’re ready to give up, it pulls you back in, convincing you that success is just around the corner if you work a little harder.

Many realize that this cycle isn’t for them and choose to leave.

It’s not just about skill or capability; it’s about learning to navigate the invisible barriers of managing life, time, and the constant pressure to keep going.

The PhD journey is as much about resilience as it is about intellect.

my biggest advice is to always learn how to manage this boundary, so that you can live a healthy life.

It’s OK to take breaks.

It’s OK to spend time with family and friends.

It’s OK to screw up.

It’s OK to not submit papers all of the time.

It’s OK if somebody is upset at you for not performing.

Learn to practice, smiling and have a spring in your step, even though you know that there is a pile of work sitting on your desk.

Learn to not feel a desperation, and realize that you’re extremely talented with many options in any industry.

Learn to realize that you choose to do what you do, and you could choose to do something else.

Give yourself bargaining power with the walk of quiet confidence.

In our household, we’ve decided not to give allowances. Instead, our kids earn money by working. This approach has taught them resilience and given them a sense of control over their own financial decisions. By working for what they earn, they’re learning valuable skills, like independence and making thoughtful choices—skills that will serve them well later in life. It’s not just about the money; it’s about preparing them for the real world.

After years as a #strategy professor, I no longer believe in most of the frameworks I once taught.

The idea of “getting ahead at all costs” feels hollow to me now.

I’ve found that the less I think like a strategist and the more I act like a “human being”—kinder, more thoughtful, and less fixated on outcomes—the more fulfilling my life becomes.

Instead, in my strategy and innovation courses, I teach about empathy and being kind to others.

I teach about the fears you feel when you try something for the first time.

I teach about courage. You have to have courage to do things no one believes in.

Thinking like a strategist often left me feeling empty and afraid, but embracing humanity has brought me a sense of purpose and peace.

Ironically, the students better understand themselves and the world.

They perform far better.

It is time we stop focusing on silly outcomes, and start modeling our courses towards the world we want, and can have.

I’m fascinated by what motivates us to tackle tasks that seem hard, miserable, or even pointless in the short term. Why do people voluntarily pursue challenges like earning a PhD, climbing mountains, or doing chores like washing dishes? These are things most would avoid, yet many of us find meaning—or even pleasure—in them. Is it curiosity, purpose, or something deeper that drives us? I want to explore why we choose these paths and what it says about the way we find fulfillment in life.

Focusing solely on performance can destroy someone’s heart and spirit. True improvement comes from emphasizing effort, resilience, and the process itself. When people are encouraged to get back up and try again, their performance naturally improves as a result. Performance should never be the primary focus—it’s a byproduct of refining how things are done and how they feel during the process. Whether you’re building a culture or helping someone grow, the key is to improve the underlying elements, not chase an ambiguous and uncontrollable end goal.

Every day you see the stock market climbs makes you nervous. However, you can’t predict where the stock market will be.

If you believe it will crash, and you stay out of the market you’ll miss out on many opportunities that you cannot predict.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is learning how to not care so much. Learning how to say no and learning how to feel like you’re disappointing others.

You have to learn how to do this in order to grow as a person into create a space for yourself.

Building an online community is entirely different from making sales through traditional methods like radio ads. Online, the focus is on creating connections, fostering engagement, and discovering unmet needs—often by accident. It’s about providing value and letting the community grow organically. In contrast, radio sales are more direct, often intrusive, and rely on grabbing immediate attention. These approaches require completely different mindsets and strategies, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities of each.

I can never understand things that we have done in our past.

I've learned that many people simply aren't nice, and that's a reality we all have to face. The challenge is learning to navigate this without hardening your soul. I believe in being generous, even when others may not appreciate it or might try to take advantage of it. The key is finding a balance—staying kind and open without letting others' actions change who you are. It’s about protecting your heart while continuing to act with integrity and generosity.

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple mindset shift to make today a good day.

No matter what challenges lie ahead, choosing to approach the day with positivity and purpose can transform how we experience it.

Today is a chance to move forward, no matter how small the step.

We're still using noisy, gross diesel power generators because viable alternatives often don't exist for consumers. The real issue lies on the supply side—there's a lack of entrepreneurs willing to innovate and disrupt this outdated market. To make meaningful change, we need to encourage entrepreneurship and support innovators who are ready to take the leap. Transforming this market won’t be easy, but it's necessary if we want to move toward cleaner, quieter, and more efficient power solutions.

While everyone else focuses on immediate gains, I'm investing years into tasks that seem mundane or beneath me. People might think I'm wasting my time or falling behind, but I know that this commitment is essential to start a business and make a real difference in the world.

what is the key secret to writing a good research paper? It’s just but in seat. It’s making sure that you continuously put in the effort every day and sustain that effort for as long as you possibly can. If you’re able to do this, you’re able to build a good research paper, that will make a difference.

Saying 'no' used to be hard for me until I understood the importance of boundaries. By prioritizing sleep and time with loved ones, I created a healthy separation from external demands.

If you want to have a healthy life filled with innovation and a lot of joy, learn to disregard anybody in anything that wants to stifle your joy.

Institutionalized self-enhancement in academia pressures us to showcase only our successes while hiding our struggles and failures. This culture can be overwhelming, making it difficult to stay true to ourselves. In this discussion, I share my thoughts on navigating this environment by focusing on who I want to be and where I want to go. If your goal is to strategize and get ahead at all costs, that's a path you can choose. However, if you believe there are more important things, consider embracing authenticity and aiming for personal happiness. By making conscious choices about our values and goals, we can find a way to thrive in academia without losing ourselves.

I've learned to be cautious around those who feel the need to project confidence prominently. These displays can sometimes mask deeper insecurities or hidden motives. Instead, I prefer to surround myself with individuals who are genuine and don't rely on overt confidence to demonstrate their capabilities.

Setting boundaries allowed me to step back and focus on what's truly important—my health and my loved ones. By creating this separation from the outside world, I found a new level of happiness and fulfillment.

There's a significant oversight that often goes unaddressed: the existence of bad actors within and around organizations. We tend to adopt a Pollyannaish view of firms, focusing on positive aspects like innovation, collaboration, and growth. While these elements are crucial, ignoring the darker side of human behavior can undermine our efforts and leave organizations vulnerable to corruption, fraud, and unethical practices.

Despite its proven benefits, patience is the investment strategy most of us avoid. I was guilty of this myself. I'll discuss why patience is so hard to adopt, how it can make up for the frustrations you feel, and the substantial rewards that come with it.

Conventional economics urges us to compete relentlessly, emphasizing efficiency and productivity above all else. I used to subscribe to that mindset, constantly comparing myself to others and chasing an ever-elusive benchmark of success. But this approach left me anxious and unfulfilled, trapped in a cycle where no achievement was ever enough.

I decided to break away from this traditional way of thinking. Instead of fixating on competition, I began focusing on continuous learning and personal growth. I realized that by improving upon my own past efforts, I could make genuine progress without the constant stress of measuring up to others. This shift didn't eliminate the presence of competitors who might be wealthier or more powerful, but it changed how I viewed my own journey.

Embracing this perspective, I've made significant strides over time. By dedicating myself to consistent effort and valuing my own development, I've built something truly impressive—not because it outshines others, but because it represents my authentic work and passion. Letting go of the relentless pursuit dictated by conventional economics has allowed me to find satisfaction and purpose in what I create.

When I'm on the brink of giving up, I remind myself that negative feedback often comes from just one person's subjective opinion. They don't know everything, and their words don't have to dictate my path. By keeping a long-term perspective and continuing to work, I've discovered that opportunities often arise when I least expect them.

I've realized that by embracing two key principles—"it's not my problem" and "you can't make others like you"—I've cultivated a healthier and happier life.

Establishing a boundary between myself and the external world has been crucial.

By protecting my inner self and ensuring my internal world remains healthy, I've found that I can thrive and perform better in all areas of life.

This approach echoes Goffman's concepts of backstage and front stage, highlighting the importance of nurturing one's private self to effectively navigate the public sphere.

Make your backstage shine!

I once believed that focusing solely on performance and efficiency was the key to success.

This relentless pursuit led me to a frazzled career and a life that felt empty.

Despite achieving short-term productivity, I was burning out and becoming someone I didn't recognize.

I needed to address the conflicting identities and objectives within me.

Am I a good husband?

Am I a great scholar?

Am I a great leader?

By learning to deal with these aspects (not balance), I found a more fulfilling path that aligned with who I truly am.

But, it requires me to push back against the world.

When I take a step back and compare where we are today to 30, 60, or even 90 years ago, it becomes clear that the world has fundamentally transformed. From technological advancements and medical breakthroughs to social progress and increased connectivity, I realize how privileged we are to be living at this moment in history. In this reflection, I highlight the remarkable changes that have shaped our modern world, emphasizing the unprecedented opportunities and comforts we often take for granted. Today is not just another day—it's a testament to how far we've come and a reminder to appreciate the extraordinary times we live in.

Everyone thinks I'm wrong—my peers and even the experts in my field.

My ideas about R3ciprocity are misguided, and that I'm wasting my time chasing illusions.

But guess what?

I keep going.

The logics of science and innovation is about dealing with doubt and a constant external pressure.

When I am being told I'm wrong, it’s a sign that I'm pushing boundaries and challenging outdated thinking.

R3ciprocity — a platform for non-rejectable research papers is a stupid idea.

But, what if?

If you've ever been the outlier, the one who doesn't fit the mold, or the person everyone thinks is off-track, you are doing just fine.

Keep going.

I'll NEVER be a Research Superstar—“Oh Well.” Screw that if the career doesn’t reward me being “ME.”

I’m always going to try to give more than I take in research.

That means doing committee work, lots of reviewing, and actually reading the papers.

This is a mistake.

It will always make me far more behind then if I simply maximize on “producing pubs.”

I should not be in the career.

I don’t especially like writing or reading.

It makes me grumpy and I am slow.

I will always be chronically behind.

I am a problem.

But, think it’s an important part of who I am.

Oh well, so what if people don’t like me in academia?

I’m far behind, and never will be a research superstar in the profession.

Screw that.

I will always work towards making it a place where people want to stay, and be around me.

At all costs.

And, what a mistake it is not to be “productive.”

I've realized that getting rich quick is a long-term game. To me, 15 to 50 years is a short period when it comes to building wealth. By learning to control my impulses during this time—even though it's challenging and sometimes goes against my nature—I've found it's worth the effort. It may not be easy, and genetics might make it harder, but focusing on long-term goals has made all the difference.

It is difficult to know if and when tenure actually advantages universities and researchers.

I open up about my journey towards acceptance and the powerful lesson of learning to say, "Well, let's move on." I've realized that I often can't change the external environment the way I wish I could—and that's okay. Much of how we process the world revolves around acceptance. By admitting that the world is often imperfect, I've discovered that true progress comes from changing myself, not from asking the world to change around me.

The notion of a "free market" suggests an economic system operating without government intervention, where supply and demand solely dictate the flow of goods and services. However, in reality, truly free markets don't exist. There's nothing inherently "free" about them. Markets often involve a complex web of actors, institutions, and regulations that ensure they function in a way that aligns with our idealized perceptions. Governments, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions play significant roles in shaping market dynamics, setting rules, and providing oversight. This discussion delves into the intricate structures that underpin markets, challenging the traditional concept of a free market and highlighting the necessary frameworks that support economic stability and fairness.

Conquering the fear of failure in academia, research, and innovation often starts with taking small steps that push you just beyond your comfort zone. By consistently practicing tasks that make you feel slightly uncomfortable, you begin to normalize the feeling of uncertainty and realize it's a natural part of the growth process. Over time, this practice not only reduces the anxiety associated with failure but also fosters resilience and adaptability. Embracing these moments of discomfort becomes a catalyst for personal development and paves the way for meaningful breakthroughs in your academic and innovative pursuits.

it’s important to make a serious effort not to be so serious so that you can get up and enjoy each day. More importantly, other people can enjoy you each day as well.

As an innovation and entrepreneurship professor building my own startup, the R3ciprocity project, I recently participated in Y Combinator's Startup School online program. While I found the program to be highly valuable and led by confident, knowledgeable professionals, I believe it's about 80% of the way to being truly comprehensive. In this review, I discuss the strengths of the program and highlight areas for improvement, particularly in providing guidance for entrepreneurs who are building their startups solo and need strategies for long-term sustainability without external support.

Entrepreneurial decision-making requires a unique balance between the sane and the insane. In the short term, you need to think rationally, weighing trade-offs and making clear-headed decisions. But in the long term, successful entrepreneurship often requires a touch of madness—pursuing a path driven by passion, desire, or pure curiosity. Balancing the rational, like smart investments, with the irrational, like personal passions or even hobbies, is essential. This blend of reason and boldness not only fuels a healthy life but is also key to surviving the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

Producing research isn’t just about writing a paper—it’s a complex, often misunderstood process that involves much more behind the scenes. That’s where the R3ciprocity Project comes in.

We’re working to simplify and support every step of the research journey, making it more accessible for everyone to create impactful work.

If you’re feeling desperate during your PhD, you’re likely to make poor decisions because you believe you have no bargaining power. Viewing the world as if research is the only thing that matters can lead to mistakes driven by fear of others' judgment. But if you realize that you have options and can approach your opportunities as playgrounds for growth and exploration, you’ll not only make better decisions but also thrive in your research career. Embrace your flexibility and see your journey as one full of possibilities, not constraints.

The things we can measure—like salaries and success—often overshadow the things that are harder to quantify, like love and laughter. When we focus too much on what can be counted, we risk losing sight of what truly matters. Be cautious about what you prioritize and value, because not everything important can be measured.

Fight against the toxic culture in academia that tries to convince you that you’re flawed, weak, or a problem.

Laugh a lot and encourage.

Stand up and declare, “I am freaking remarkable.”

Don’t focus on supposed weaknesses or flaws—focus on the incredible opportunities in front of you.

You are privileged to be here, and your potential is limitless.

Don’t buy into the negativity that’s embedded in academic research culture.

Believe in your value and the possibilities that continue to grow in your life.

I’d recommend checking out HopDoddy Burgers. The fries are unique and always fresh, and the burgers hit the mark with their juicy goodness. They can be a little greasy. If you’re looking for a place with delicious fries and a burger that won’t disappoint, this is a solid bet.

There’s two ways to view life. One way is gold directed, and will lead you feeling not great about yourself.

Another way is to play, explore, realize that whether your gold directed or not, you often end up in the same place anyways.

To encourage people to make more mistakes, we need to shift the focus from avoiding failure to embracing it as a critical part of growth.

Mistakes mean people are experimenting, pushing boundaries, and exploring new ideas—all of which are essential for learning.

The key is to provide clear guidelines and a supportive environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, rather than something to fear.

It’s about teaching people not just to learn from their mistakes, but to see mistakes as a necessary step towards improvement and success.

Researchers need to stop acting like they’re above everyone else and start connecting with people in a genuine way. Yes, you’re busy, but that’s no excuse. The problem today is that pseudoscientists are gaining influence because they’re making the effort on social media to reach people, while real scientists are too focused on their own self-importance to engage. People don’t understand the challenges and rigor of real science because we aren’t making the effort to explain it. If we want to reclaim the narrative, we need to get out there and start connecting.

Keep being weird as long as you possibly can and don’t let others push you around.

#Researchers: I’m living this reality alongside you.

My own life is extraordinarily boring, and academic research often feels like an isolating, lonely grind.

Nobody talks to researchers about the mundane parts of life—only about big successes or how tough it can be.

But here’s what I want you to know: being boring and feeling stuck is normal, and you’re doing okay.

I’m not here to tell you the glamorous stories or make it sound like it’s all terrible.

I’m here to say that if you’re just taking small steps forward, you’re doing the right thing. And even if nobody else says it, I’m in your corner, and I believe you’re on the right path.

Boring is good.

You will never have your life together, so stop believing people that you need to have your life together. Start embracing the maziness of a normal exploratory life.

This morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. because I couldn’t wait to share how much you matter. Before the Reciprocity Project, I felt so alone and isolated in the world of academic research. But as I built the platform, I realized that talking and connecting with others was what I needed—it changed everything for me. Now, after eight years of doing this, I’m still excited and grateful to be a part of your journey. So many people in academia feel isolated, and sometimes, all we need is to hear that we’re doing okay and that we matter. You’re not alone in this, and I’m here to remind you of that.

As a leader, balancing kindness and empathy with being tough is one of the hardest challenges you’ll face. If you’re too empathetic, people may take advantage of your good nature, driven by their own self-interests. But if you’re too ruthless, you risk creating a culture that feels cold and uninspiring. The key is finding a balance between being firm and setting clear boundaries while also encouraging and supporting others. It’s a constant struggle, but embracing this balance is what ultimately defines your leadership and the impact you make.

if you innovate and do anything that is novel, people will have no idea what it actually takes. They will think that they know what it takes based on what they saw on TV and they will make strong assumptions that you are not successful.Get used to people patronizing you, but you smileand you say I’m terribly sorry, but you don’t understand.And then you walk by them giving them a wink. You know that in a decade, they will wonder how you did it.

I have to push against the constant desire for status.

I desperately struggle with this.

It’s an incredibly difficult skill to master.

I deeply want people to “like” me and to prove that I’ve ‘made it’ in some way.

But to do good research, I have to remind myself that those things don’t matter, and I need to slow down to do the right thing.

This involves treating others with respect, and looking at the bigger picture.

Creating a fairer, more supportive academic environment requires time and resources, and it’s often painful to put in that effort.

Trust me, it never gets easier.

You learn to tolerate the hard decisions:

But choosing kindness , respect, and integrity over trying to impress is the only way I can contribute to making the world of research more just and meaningful.

Each day, make things right.

#Academic research creates both misery and enjoyment. The joy comes from the misery.

There’s something deeply satisfying about being dismissed by others.

“Screw you, I will show you to all of you who dismiss my work or ideas.”

That disregard fuels my drive, turning spite into energy.

Spite is incredibly powerful.

I want to quit “exercising” everyday — running and swimming sucks, but I say “screw you to the world, and do it anyway.”

I will never prove to you my worth, but I certainly can use your snobbish ways to fuel me.

Each time someone looks down on me, it just fuels me even more, like a big monster.

I will see you in a decade.

You will have to eat some crow.

When should you give up on your trees? Truth is we really never know it never makes sense to anybody else.

There’s no financial calculation that exists that tells you that you should stop. And there’s always waves to pursue entering indefinitely.

In academia, we often measure ourselves by arbitrary standards: the school we attended, our accomplishments, or how others view us. It creates a world of winners and losers, where some are always seen as better based on superficial traits. The truth is, you can’t fix that system. Others will always see the world this way, and you can’t change their perspective.

But what you can do is take time. Very few people take time for others, and when you do, even though it may seem like it harms your career, it enriches who you are as a person. Spending time with family, sharing a smile, or having a genuine conversation might not make you a “winner” in other people’s eyes, but it will make you happier and more fulfilled with who you are.

Life’s complexities don’t fit neatly into extreme categories, and trying to force them there is exhausting. Focusing on nuance and the gray areas is far more meaningful than living in polarized extremes. It’s time to embrace the fact that most things in life can’t be simplified into either/or—there’s so much more to understand in the messy, complex middle.

After two decades as an academic researcher, I understand that I will never be a good researcher.

I’ve come to realize that I’m not cut out for the opportunism and ruthlessness that seem to drive success in this field.

I’ve always felt a step behind, out of sync with what’s required to get ahead.

I am more out of place than anything.

Academia is an emotional career.

The longer I stay, the more self-doubt I have.

I “should” have left already, or should I?

While the only thing that will allow me to keep going, every day is to go for a swim, eat dinner with my family, and do a little bit of homework with my kids.

I wish there was a better way, but I had more confidence in who I was when I was 23, then me now at 45.

The only thing that I know that works is going for a swim, and listening to my breathing.

No one is coming to rescue you, especially when you're striving to make things happen. You'll often find yourself wishing for support that never arrives, and when you do take action, not everyone will appreciate it. The key is to push forward, relying on your own determination to keep going, even when the path feels lonely.

Being too productive in academia often scares me. Academic productivity for its own sake often leads to various issues.

What is too productive? I don’t know, but I know that there are many choices that are made to get there.

To truly understand what productivity means, you have to look behind the scenes.

It's not just about hitting numbers; it's about understanding the context, what those numbers represent, and the hidden dynamics at play.

Without that deeper insight, it’s easy to misjudge what success in academia really looks like.

I’ve reached a point where academia no longer fascinates me as it once did. Now, I feel ready to step back and focus more on becoming an academic entrepreneur. The fear of stepping away to fully commit to the R3ciprocity Project has faded, and I no longer feel the need to play the academic game to impress others. My true calling lies in making the Reciprocity Project a meaningful tool for those struggling in PhD life. Research is tough, and without a platform like this, many will continue to struggle without real support.

If you're inside the academic research profession, it often feels like you're working nonstop, leaving you puzzled about how successful people in the field manage it. From the outside, people often think academic researchers don't do much beyond teaching. Both perspectives are completely off the mark. To truly understand the demands of academic research, you need to step into the field and experience it firsthand. Empathy and direct involvement are essential to making accurate inferences about what this career really entails.

The expectation isn’t thoughtful reflection—it’s output. If you believe the job is about deep thinking, you’ll be disappointed. The reality is simple: your career is measured by how much you write, not how much you think. Success hinges on producing an enormous amount of written work. Knowing this upfront is key to surviving and thriving in academia. You get paid for publications, not contemplation.

The reason most of us don't become billionaires is rooted in our very humanity. While the potential is there, and we can choose that path, many of us don’t because we are pulled by diverse human desires and needs that often lead us in different directions. Our emotional, social, and psychological drives shape the choices we make, sometimes steering us away from the relentless pursuit of wealth in favor of more immediate, personal satisfactions.

As a business professor, I've come to realize that progress begins with acknowledging where we stand and understanding what the world expects from us. Embracing this truth has not only helped me feel more grounded but has also fueled my personal and professional growth.

How do I know that I'm doing the right thing in scientific research and development? The honest answer is—I often don't. Understanding what's truly valid and reliable requires an extraordinary amount of effort and even then, certainty remains elusive. I've come to realize that science isn't so much about uncovering absolute truths as it is about convincing others that what I've done is legitimate.

It's less about finding the "right" answer—which may be impossible—and more about continuously demonstrating that my approach is better than the alternatives. This means embracing the ugly reality of uncertainty and focusing on persuading others of the validity of my work.

In this journey, I've accepted that I may never definitively know if what I'm doing is the absolute right thing. But that won't stop me from putting in the effort to advance my field, challenge existing ideas, and contribute to the collective understanding—even if it's all built on the art of convincing rather than undeniable truth.

Most people are afraid to act because they're terrified of what others might say, or they believe they don't have time, or they cling to any number of excuses. It's always the same old story. I used to be one of them.

But if you want to make significant progress, you have to push through those moments when you don't want to do it, when it doesn't feel easy, and keep repeating every day. Building competence takes tens of thousands of repetitions. I learned that you'll never know if you're good at something until you've done it 10,000 times.

I stopped letting fear dictate my actions. I realized that worrying about others' opinions was holding me back from achieving my true potential. By embracing the grind and committing to relentless practice, I began to see real progress.

It's not easy. There were times when I wanted to quit, when the fear and self-doubt were overwhelming. But I made a choice to be different, to not let excuses define me. And through persistence, I discovered that extraordinary results are possible.

Don't let fear and excuses keep you from pursuing your dreams. Take action, even when it's uncomfortable.

As a business professor, I feel increasingly nervous when I see students with undergraduate education solely in business and economics. If we want to train good decision-makers, we must teach them that there's a bigger world beyond self-interested individuals and profit margins. We need to encourage students to pursue goals not just for profit but for the greater good.

We are all just tiny parts of a complex system, and our actions have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, most business and economics classes fail to depict this complexity, focusing instead on narrow, self-centered perspectives. This limited approach makes me concerned about the outcomes when graduates enter the real world with such a constrained understanding.

because leadership is about influence, not control, and people's needs and reactions constantly change. While you can't always know if you're being effective or just, focusing on consistent intentions and adaptability is key. By staying grounded in your values and continuously reflecting on your decisions, you can navigate those multiple demands while striving to make a positive impact.

We often get mixed up in our level of analysis, believing that our local situation is the primary cause of the issues we face. In reality, it's the broader market forces or institutions that are creating these problems. This perspective shift encourages us to take a deep look at our circumstances and recognize that challenges we attribute to our immediate environment may actually be rooted in larger systemic dynamics. By understanding the true sources of our difficulties, we can better navigate and address them effectively.

Every first-year PhD student needs to hear this. If I could go back, I wouldn't change what I did, but how I processed my experiences while learning how the world actually works. I would have given myself more forgiveness, been more patient, and continuously reevaluated where I stand and what I want to do.

Realizing I Was a First-Generation Student Changed Everything.

I didn’t even know the term "first-generation student" until a few years ago, but understanding it made me see how different my life experience has been from others.

Your life will likely be different too.

There will be moments where you think you have the world figured out, but in reality, it’s always shifting.

As we learn, we see the world differently.

The way you see things today will evolve, and in a few years, your perspective will be completely different.

Embrace the change—it’s part of our life histories.

When you are 80, people will say “wow! You life was so strange to mine.”

Yup. It was.

I’ve learned that life after 25 is filled with potential, new opportunities, and growth. My greatest accomplishments are still ahead of me—and yours can be too if you embrace the journey and keep pushing forward!

As a top business professor and academic entrepreneur, I've witnessed countless academic entrepreneurs chasing the illusion of "free" government grants to fund their startups. The notion that you can easily secure grant funding without significant strings attached is a delusion that wastes more time and effort than it's worth. In reality, these grants are rare, highly competitive, and often come with obligations that can hinder your entrepreneurial freedom.

You'll find yourself spending precious time navigating bureaucratic red tape instead of focusing on your venture. The truth is, you have to come to terms with investing your own money and resources to bring your ideas to life. Moreover, pursuing entrepreneurship within academia can be a thankless endeavor, often undervalued by your peers and institutions.

Despite these challenges, you embark on this journey because you believe it's important—not for financial gain or external validation.

But be prepared: free government grants without significant commitments are virtually nonexistent.

Success in academic entrepreneurship demands personal investment, resilience, and the acceptance that the path is fraught with obstacles that no amount of "free" funding can eliminate.

Why can't we create modular cars that interconnect? Why don't we design homes in a modular way to make them much more efficient? Often, the way we design and think about things is influenced by social dynamics rather than pure efficiency. If we could combine social considerations with efficient design, we might be able to create completely new systems that allow us to be both unique and more efficient.

This idea explores the potential of modular design in cars and homes—systems where components can be interconnected, reconfigured, and adapted to individual needs. By challenging traditional design norms and addressing the social dynamics that shape our preferences, we can innovate solutions that are not only efficient but also cater to our desire for uniqueness. Embracing modularity could revolutionize how we live and move, leading to a future where efficiency and individuality coexist seamlessly.

This is a message to all venture capitalists over 50, especially the partners at established firms. It's time to reconsider the traditional teachings of business schools, which emphasize having the perfect message and value proposition. The reality is, you'll never truly know what the "right" message or proposition is in advance. True innovation requires embracing the ugly—the raw, unpolished process that makes people uncomfortable.

Entrepreneurs often navigate uncharted territories, facing challenges without a clear roadmap. They seldom feel like they're doing the "right" thing, and that's okay. As venture capitalists, it's crucial to encourage and support them during these uncertain phases. Instead of expecting polished perfection, we should value the messy journey that leads to genuine breakthroughs.

By accepting that discomfort and uncertainty are part of the process, we can better support innovators who dare to challenge the status quo.

How come we level the playing field in entrepreneurship?

I talk about one simple trick that allows us to have a more level playing field.

We often think of CEOs as having all the answers, but even they need help navigating the complexities of leadership. That’s where executive peer groups come in—or do they? In this episode, I sit down with Bob Carrothers to discuss the real value (or lack thereof) of executive peer groups. Are they truly beneficial, or just a waste of time and money?

I often wonder why I continue to do things and don’t quit. For the most part, it makes the most amount of sense to often quit hard problems.

There’s no explanatory value and why you continue to build and push the envelope.

You get up and you do things because they’re important. How do you know they’re important? Because because.

I wanted to give a shout out to Eric Morse.

I remember having conversations with Eric about academic life. He told me that he wished he would have waited to publish more before he took leadership roles.

I am glad he didn’t.

The world did not need another #entrepreneurship paper that was not going to be read.

Eric—you did the right thing.

This week Ivey saw the opening of the new entrepreneurship building at Ivey. GaryVee attended.

I know that lots of people are involved in these things, but without your willingness to get up everyday for years is one of the central reasons entrepreneurship grew at Ivey and more broadly.

You legitimatized it.

I am so happy the world has people that are willing to stand up, despite it telling them what they are doing is not quite right.

Eric—you are a true entrepreneur.

In a world facing its most significant and seemingly irreversible problems, maintaining optimism about the future is more important than ever. This piece explores how these immense challenges are not just endings but the starting points for something brighter. By shifting our perspective and embracing hope, we can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth and innovation. Join me as we delve into why staying positive isn't just beneficial—it's essential for ushering in a better tomorrow.

I've reached a point where I feel bored and uninspired by my PhD research area. This happens to everyone who stays long enough.

But rather than abandoning it, I've discovered that changing my perspective can reignite my passion.

By looking at your work through a different angle or lens, you can uncover new and interesting facets you hadn't noticed before.

Don’t be afraid to abandon questions and ask absurd new ones.

It's about being willing to adapt to your environment and circumstances, and finding flexibility in your approach.

What do you do to keep inspired?

Everything you've read or heard about entrepreneurship—the success stories, the overnight successes, the glamorized hustle—is a complete lie. The true nature of entrepreneurship is much more like academia: it's about struggling to make ends meet, not knowing how to create what you envision, and often being wrong. It's a continuous journey of working on something that nobody believes in except for yourself.

Real entrepreneurship is about discovery, and discovery is messy. It often clashes with what everyone else wants or expects. Entrepreneurship teaches you the harsh realities of research and development and sometimes makes you wish you had never begun. But it's within this chaos and uncertainty that true innovation happens. This is the untold story of entrepreneurship—the one that needs to be heard.

Your education is not done when you take your last class.

This only means that you have a lot of life yet.

You’re just beginning on the journey.

If you feel like you’re behind, you have unbelievable amounts of giving yet.

If you feel in your ahead, remember that you’ll get a lot more knocks more yet .

As a professor who has achieved everything I ever wanted, I reached a turning point.

(I realize how self-important that sounds)

I have accomplished most of what I set out to do—publishing papers, mentoring students, and making my mark in academia.

But, I realized that the weight of self-importance was heavier than any accolade.

I bought into the system. I thought I was someone important.

But, ultimately to continue to walk forward, I have to acknowledge that I’m really NOT that important.

I have to step back from the notion that everything depends on me.

I learned to say, "It's not my problem," and began to release the constant urge to intervene or help.

This shift wasn't about “apathy”, but about understanding that the world continues to spin without my constant input.

By removing the feeling of self-importance, I found a newfound freedom and peace.

It allows me to embrace humility, accepting my small place in the world—if any.

Letting go can be the most profound way to move forward.

I can take a picture of something random—realizing that my playing and thinking has little to do with who reads this.

People that have not been in my position won’t understand what I’m talking about and will get upset.

Ultimately, you have to acknowledge you are just moments from no one even remembering who you are.

In the relentless pursuit of a PhD, many of us strive to impress others by working harder, hoping to prove that we're good enough. Yet, there comes a point when we realize that no amount of hard work can fill the void or bring the fulfillment we seek. This is a story about that realization—a journey where we discover that true meaning isn't found in endless labor but in the aspects of life that make us feel whole.

It's about shifting our focus from external validation to internal growth, understanding that becoming more complete is an ongoing process. By embracing other sources of meaning and continuously working on ourselves, we find a deeper sense of purpose that transcends academic achievements. This narrative invites you to reflect on what truly matters and encourages you to seek fulfillment beyond the expectations of others.

I often find myself in peculiar moments where I openly share just how insecure I am. These conversations become even stranger when others respond with surprise, saying, "You feel that way? I thought it was only me." It turns out we all feel lost. Despite being a professor—someone who's supposed to have answers—I frequently wonder what exactly I'm meant to profess. The truth is, we're all a bit messed up inside.

If I had everything figured out, I'd gladly share the secret. I'd probably be wealthier and feel more together than I do now. But since I don't, I want to remind you not to be so hard on yourself. You're certainly not alone. The only guarantee I can offer is that you're one of many who feel insecure and broken. And maybe, just maybe, that's something we can all find comfort in.

We often default to blaming others or external circumstances for our challenges, overlooking our own role in navigating life's complexities.

This perspective ignores the multifaceted nature of reality, where unlimited causes and levels of analysis intertwine.

Stoic philosophy is right.

You have to accept the world as it is.

You can’t control it.

By adopting a pragmatic approach and stepping back to embrace both ourselves and the surrounding world, we learn to accept ourselves.

This shift from fault-finding to acceptance empowers us to live a healthier life, feel better, and live more authentically.

While unkind individuals and negative behaviors exist in academia—as they do in the broader society—we have the power to mitigate their impact. By serving as a first line of defense and embracing a collective approach akin to the Swiss cheese model, we can ensure that everyone feels supported and valued. This method involves overlapping layers of support where the gaps in one layer are covered by another, creating a strong network of protection. Inspired by younger generations who have successfully fostered safe, bully-free communities, our goal is to cultivate an academic environment rooted in mutual support and well-being. Through conscious effort and community building, we can make academia a place where everyone thrives.

When building new software or products, the most critical challenge is simplicity. You need to design something so intuitive that even a four-year-old could use it—because if it’s too complex, very few people will. You risk wasting time and money on a product that fails to resonate. Simplicity isn't just an aesthetic choice; it’s at the heart of whether your product will succeed or fail. Balancing the need for innovation with making your product simple enough for people to actually use is the ultimate trade-off every creator faces.

The only reason why I get up and I try every day is because of the R3ciprocity project.

I think the only reason why people exist and thrive are for reasons that we never talk about in education or other people think that you’re crazy to pursue.

I often think about what would my kids think? The answer is that by doing this publicly that they will see how to build some thing from nothing.

As an innovation professor, I’ve seen firsthand that true innovation is not glamorous—it’s humiliating.

It’s filled with failures, doubts, and embarrassing moments that no one talks about. This is the raw reality of pushing boundaries when everyone else is too afraid to even try.

I discussed how I will send you look up and you realize that you don’t have something in your life for me. It’s egg salad sandwiches. That’s the nature with technological change.

Things happen and you don’t even realize it until it’s not.

Real success isn’t about sudden breakthroughs or miraculous moments. It’s about the steady grind of addressing problems from the past and learning to handle new challenges as they come. The key is taking small, consistent steps each day, knowing that growth comes from persistence, not perfection. Whether you see immediate improvement or not, that’s okay. What matters is living to the best of your ability, without chasing unrealistic expectations. It’s about embracing the journey, knowing that progress is built over time through the daily effort you put in.

I’m not where I want to be yet, and that’s perfectly fine. Building something meaningful takes an enormous amount of time, energy, and patience. Along the way, it’s easy to lose faith in what you’re working on, to feel like you’re falling short, or that progress is too slow. But those moments of doubt don’t mean you’re failing—they mean you’re trying. It’s part of the process, and it’s what separates those who give up from those who ultimately succeed. So, while I’m not there yet, I know I’m on the right path, and I’m embracing the journey, no matter how long it takes.

In #academia, everyone wants to attach their name to the work, but few are willing to actually put in the effort.

Including me—I want a free ride too.

The truth is, this happens everywhere.

You can either play the game, or you can choose a different path—one where you do the best you can with the resources you have, without getting bogged down by the politics.

Frankly, wondering why that happened or this happened can drive you crazy.

By shedding the emotions that come from others’ actions and focusing on doing the work every day, you can achieve a sense of peace and integrity.

Instead of worrying about who’s getting credit or what others are doing, I’ve learned to go home at night to my family, feeling good about what I accomplished.

The more I focus on being a good person and doing my best, the more I become that person.

It’s not about winning the political game—that ends in folly.

Always.

You try to smile at the nonsense.

There are countless reasons to be optimistic about the future, but my hope doesn’t come from the leaders we see today or the speeches they give.

It comes from the leaders who don’t exist yet—the ones nobody has heard of, but who will step up when the world needs them most.

These are the people who see a massive global problem and decide it’s their problem to solve.

They start small, fixing something in their community, and then figure out how to scale it to the rest of the world.

They almost always shock us and how important the things that they build become.

Yet, we can’t imagine them right now.

My favorite ride that Walt Disney ever created was the Carousel of Progress. It tells the story of how things change over time.

Every moment of despair creates an opportunity for someone to rise up and tackle a challenge.

It’s not the speeches or promises that give me hope—it’s the untapped potential of those who haven’t even stepped into the spotlight yet.

The future belongs to the unknown changemakers who see opportunities in adversity and decide to make the world a better place, one step at a time.

Innovation Means Looking Weird. It hurts.

Innovation requires doing what others won’t.

If you’re truly creating something unique, be prepared to stand out, face skepticism, and look strange for a long time.

Convincing others? Forget it.

Instead, persist.

Keep pushing forward, and eventually, you’ll cross paths with someone who shares your vision and dreams.

Until that moment, it’s a lonely road, where most people will either ignore or reject what you’re doing.

Nobody will believe in your idea except you.

Your job isn’t to convince everyone—it’s to keep moving forward, even when you have no clue what’s coming next.

If you’re willing to endure the discomfort and stay true to your vision, you’ll eventually break through.

Or, at least you believe that.

How do we change the scientific incentives so that people feel open and encouraged?

It’s often how we teach and making sure that everybody feels safe to speak up.

Is this possible? possibly. You have to begin by being open yourself.

Being financially responsible is important, but sometimes, a little financial irresponsibility can add immense value to your life. As a business professor, I believe it’s crucial to allow yourself those moments of indulgence—like buying ice cream just because it makes you happy. These seemingly irresponsible decisions can bring joy and meaning to your life. Instead of feeling guilty about every financial choice, focus on strategically adding pleasure to your life. Balancing responsibility with moments of joy is key to living a fulfilling life. Sometimes, spending a little on what makes you happy is the best investment you can make.

Focusing solely on short-term goals may provide immediate satisfaction, but it often comes at the cost of long-term success. While short-term productivity is easy to measure and rewarding, it can overshadow the crucial, yet often invisible, benefits of long-term planning. To achieve true success, we must balance both perspectives, recognizing that the greatest rewards often come from the patience and discipline to prioritize the future.

The traditional notion of productivity doesn’t align with most aspects of our lives. It’s a crude measure designed for high-level analysis, but it fails to capture the complexity of our human experiences. Productivity metrics can’t fix the real issues, like available technology, access to diverse teams, or organizational dynamics—factors that truly impact productivity. Contrary to popular belief, motivation often has little to do with it.

If you compare it to a production plant, the flaws in the concept of productivity become clear. Just as you can’t measure a plant’s output without considering the tools, workers, and processes involved, you can’t measure human productivity without acknowledging the broader context. It’s time to rethink how we define and measure productivity and recognize that it’s not just about working harder or faster, but about understanding and optimizing the systems we operate within.

As a business professor building a platform, I’m not here to tell you about incredible successes or glamorous achievements. The reality is much more raw. Building something meaningful isn’t about hitting home runs or having a great story to tell. It’s about waking up every day and doing the work because you feel a deep need to make a difference.

There are days when it’s tough, when you don’t want to continue, and when progress feels nonexistent. But you get up and do it anyway because you believe in the importance of what you’re doing. The true challenge isn’t in the big wins; it’s in the daily grind, the persistence to keep going even when it’s hard and unenjoyable.

This is what it really means to build something that matters: it’s the courage to push through the hard times, the dedication to stick with it, and the passion to keep doing it every single day. That’s the raw, unfiltered truth of entrepreneurship.

I was at the doctor's office for a routine check-up when it hit me: I am incredibly lucky. Looking around, I noticed how many people had far more to worry about than I did. It made me realize how often we take our health and mobility for granted. The truth is, just being able to go about our day, to explore the world, is a privilege many don’t have.

We get so caught up in our daily struggles that we forget how fortunate we are simply to be able to move, to act, and to live freely. Many people are stuck—physically, emotionally, or financially—unable to experience the simple joys we overlook. It’s easy to complain about our lives, but we need to recognize that our worst days might still be better than some people’s best.

Let this be a reminder: Gratitude isn’t just about being thankful for the big things; it’s about appreciating the small, everyday moments we often overlook.

my priority is always my family and friends. Despite the tendency to want to work more, and the encouragement to work all of the time, I will always prioritize going home and having a dinner with my family and friends.

They’re the only reason why I do the things that I actually do.

Learning how to deal with yourself in the images that you have in your mind is an important, nice skill.

Once you realize at your actually a very good person inside, and you’re not chronically late and under will begin to have a lot of growth in your journey.

Look beyond the surface. You’ll often see a much more richer world than simply in knee-jerk reaction to things that seem unrealistic.

Anything truly worthwhile in life defies explanation.

People may see you as crazy or narcissistic.

They are right.

If you aim to make a meaningful impact, you must pursue what others can't understand.

This often means venturing into the unknown—it’s never been done before, making decisions that seem irrational to everyone else.

Economics and financial accounting is perhaps the least natural thing we do as humans.

The most important choices—like finding a partner, climbing mountains, innovating, or even choosing to live on your own —rarely make logical sense.

Marriage, having kids, vacations, or running marathons are all just about the worst financial choices you can make.

Getting an #education often ends in financial ruin for many.

It’s ALL terrible ideas. You should never do it.

DON’T DO THEM.

They can never be justified or rationalized, and that's precisely why they matter.

They are the best choices you will ever make.

Even if they never work out.

No matter your intentions or missions in life, you’ll never fully understand the impact of your actions. There will always be positives and negatives to whatever you do. If someone tells you there’s a single, clear answer, they’re inherently wrong—because there never is one. Whether you choose to act or not act, both choices can be right, and both can be wrong. Life is complex, and embracing that complexity means understanding that certainty is an illusion. The key is to make choices that align with your values and accept that the outcomes will always be a mix of good and bad.

In the world of PhDs, it’s common for people to chastise those who dare to admit there are real problems. But let’s be honest: there’s a tremendous amount of loneliness, and many of us are insecure overachievers, constantly striving to prove we’re remarkable. Here’s the truth—you’re already remarkable, just as you are. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

I’m not ashamed to talk about these issues openly, and neither should you be. We need to work on this collectively. It’s time to stop pretending everything’s fine and start addressing the loneliness and insecurity that so many of us face in PhD life. Together, we can create a more supportive and understanding academic community.

Stressors in your life are often illusions—either imposed by others or internalized by you. We tend to push ourselves to go at 110% all the time, thinking that it’s the only way to succeed. But here’s the truth: if you take a step back and allow yourself to slow down, you’ll actually do better. The anxiety, the pit in your stomach, and the tension you feel are all products of the pressure to be fast and efficient at all costs.

Consider this: most machines in manufacturing plants don’t run at full capacity; they operate at 80% or 90%, with downtime built in to prevent breakdowns. The same applies to you. You don’t have to run at maximum capacity to be effective. In fact, you’ll achieve just as much—if not more—by allowing yourself to take breaks and forgiving yourself for not being perfect. Learn to be okay with who you are, and you’ll find that the stressors you once felt start to fade, making room for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

One of the hardest questions that are asked of you is, what do you want to be when you grow up? For me it’s not about who or what I want to be when I grow up. Rather, it’s how other people feel around me how I impact their lives.

We often overlook the world we live in, but many simple technologies are truly glorious achievements. Take the digital clock in front of me—it’s the result of centuries of innovation and countless hours of effort. The precision and reliability we now take for granted would have been unimaginable even a few decades ago. This everyday marvel is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of progress. It’s a reminder that even the simplest technologies around us are the culmination of incredible achievements.

I’ll never fit in with academia, and I’ll always feel like a failure in that world. But that’s not a bad thing—it’s a sign that I’m destined to carve out my own space, one that truly fits who I am. Most of the world doesn’t align with who I am, and that’s a gift. If you spend your life following what everyone else says you should do, you’ll wake up one day and realize you’ve lived someone else’s life, not your own. Don’t fit in; instead, follow the path that makes you who you are, not what others want you to be.

How do you really know when you've achieved product-market fit? It’s not just about the money or capturing an audience. The true marker is more profound. It’s when you can talk openly about your product and feel a sense of pride and fulfillment. It’s when your story resonates, and people genuinely want to listen. It’s that magical moment where your journey becomes bigger than just a business venture—it becomes a narrative that others care about, and that’s when you know you’ve truly made it. Product-market fit isn’t just a business metric; it’s when your story connects with others on a deeper level.

The hardest things in life are meant to be that way. The struggles, the challenges, the moments when you thought about giving up—they all have a purpose.

When you're 80 or 90, you'll look back and realize that those difficult paths were the most important ones you ever took. You won’t remember the easy wins, but you’ll treasure the tough battles that shaped who you are.

It was harder than you ever imagined, but it was worth every moment. Embrace the struggle now, knowing that your future self will thank you.

In business, your career, or any entrepreneurial venture, certainty is a myth. You’ll work hard, you’ll strategize, and yet nothing will go as planned. The connection between your actions and the outcomes you anticipate simply won’t exist.

Instead, opportunities will emerge from nowhere—unexpected, unplanned, and entirely beyond your control. The journey is lonely, filled with moments of doubt and feeling like an outsider.

But here’s the secret: one day, everything changes. It won’t be gradual; it won’t be predictable.

It will just happen, and when it does, you’ll realize that the path was never straight, but it was always leading you to this moment.

Embrace the uncertainty, for that’s where true success hides.

Why waste time chasing people who don’t believe in your vision?

As an entrepreneur, you can spend your days begging for meetings, or you can choose the harder, more rewarding path: building it yourself.

Yes, you’ll face countless resource constraints, and yes, you’ll stumble and fumble. People will mock you until they see what you’ve truly created.

I’ve already built a platform that surpasses what’s currently out there, but it’s still not enough. I’m committed to perfecting it, to pushing forward until the world recognizes its true value.

This is the game of the innovator—creating something remarkable with limited time and endless passion.

You make it happen, no matter what.

Don’t ever expect to get immediate rewards for what you’re doing.

There’s most often no connection between your actions and results.

Most of your life the things that give you meaning little connection between actions outcomes, or you can’t see them.

It’s your job then to continue to get up and do things that offer little reward, but, you do it because you think it matters.

At some point in this future, things may turn around.

Your job is to keep doing it, despite things working out in the immediate term.

Go on hope.

We often think that competition is an important aspect of life. However, we have to be very aware that competition generates a lot of negative feelings that can turn into not so great behaviors.

Remember to balance competition so that everybody can compete and encourage to compete, and everybody at all levels feel like they can get a little bit better every day.

it’s completely normal to feel exhausted and grumpy at the end of your workday.

The goal of what I’m trying to do with the rest Prty project besides build this platform, is to share on a daily basis that you’re doing just fine. You may feel grumpy, and you may feel that the world is negative, but is it?

Every day I am a grumpy grump, but I get back up and do it again. Telling the story that building something is long and difficult, and you could do this every day.

You just have to try to get back up and do it again.

Realize the simple fact that if you can imagine and think about the system that it is a privilege to be part of.

Whether you're a parent or a manager, real leadership means allowing others to fail while being there to support them. Join me as I explore how embracing failure and providing guidance can foster growth and resilience in those you lead.

To achieve scalable innovation, abandon the obsession with scalability itself. The primary objective is to captivate your audience's interest. Begin with the assumption that indifference is the default response. Your mission is to craft strategies that compel engagement and foster genuine interest. Master this art, and scalability will naturally follow.

Discover the strategies that every academic researcher needs to balance life and maintain joy, even amid the uncertainties of research. This pod offers practical tips for managing anxiety, detaching from work pressures, and focusing on what truly matters. Learn how to minimize stress, ignore the ambiguity, and prioritize your well-being while still achieving academic success. These insights will help you lead a more fulfilling and balanced life, allowing you to thrive in both your personal and professional endeavors.

it’s OK to not fit in. Find the stride that best fits you to that you can do incredible things, that the rest of the world would never think or imagine to do.

When you feel like a failure in your career, you’re exactly where you should be. It means that you’re actually trying and you’re doing well.

You will never have enough time in any given day to make much of a difference. However, your goal is not to move the dial in a day, your goal is to move the dial over a decade.You’ll be surprised and what you can do over a long period of time, but you’ll be certainly disappointed in a short period of time.

I could tell you all of the successful things that are going on in my life and emphasize all of these beautiful things, but that’s not real life. I can tell you about how the rest of the world is toxic, and things are falling apart, but that’s not the real story. We live in a very mundane world that continuously gets better every single day. The world we live in today is phenomenally better than what it was, and yet we have to practice a lot of humility and acceptance of the fact that a lot of things that we do are very mundane . But you also have to get a lot of joy from the small moments. They are the things that actually matter.

are you willing to take productivity steroids so that you can reach past. Or are you more interested and just living your life?

if you’re looking for the answer to whether you should do some thing or not, that will never appear. No amount of rationalizing and thinking about something will change the answer. Raph, you either know or you don’t know, and that just depends on how you’re thinking about it.

You will have to make up the answers and questions as you go.

I talk about the reality of trying to disassociate yourself from perception, so you can live a healthy life as a researcher. When you realize is that you will never live up to market expectations, and so it’s up to you to define yourself and that you can live healthy life outside of research.

Often define ourselves by the outcomes we achieve. But here's a tough reality: most of life is about not receiving those expected outcomes. You can put in the same effort every single day and never reach the 'success' as defined by popular culture. You can follow all the right steps, lead a healthy routine, and still be just an ordinary person.The key is to find happiness in the daily actions themselves, rather than constantly chasing an elusive definition of success.

figure out what allows you to take, rather than focusing on being an enormous success focus on figuring out how you can connect with just even a few people.When I was little my mom used to talk to everybody, and now she’s made a habit to knit socks and just give them out to random strangers. This likely does not affect most people, the odd person. It greatly affects.Figure out how you can create your own socks because you never know who it will be that will need the socks.

Ever felt like you're either insane or a visionary when pursuing something entrepreneurial? You're not alone. The entrepreneurial journey is filled with confusion, uncertainty, and moments of feeling like you're screwing everything up. There are no clear-cut answers, and it often seems like you don't know what you're doing, even when things are going well.

Should I quit building the R3ciprocity Project when nobody apparently is believing in it. I can’t get it to fund itself, do you think it is getting close to stop building it.

Consider sponsoring the R3ciprocity Project to make the development happen, and allow this to be a thriving sustainable platform. Help create something that is innovative by sponsoring R3ciprocity.

Practice building the fort that protects you from the outside world. Many people are not in your corner and they don’t want to see you do well.In my experience, you have to build your tribe and that tribe might be just you. The fort protects your tribe. Realize that the rest of the world might want to tear that tribe and fort down.It’s OK. Let them. The problem is on them, and you can’t fix it. Just distance yourself and keep building.You keep going forward knowing that you’re trying your best every day.Your job is to keep trying to create a healthy and happy environment for you and your tribe.

There’s often not a single cause or single factor about why something actually works. If you believe that there is a single cause, you’re often very naïve of the complexity of the world that’s around us.Rather than boiling things down and having “cookie-cutter”simplistic views of the world, we need to be more open to complicated and painful world that we often cannot explain.The more we wrestle with a complex world, and appreciate that there’s not a single answer, better off we will be.

my life will always be a messed up and chaotic, and there’s nothing that I can do about it.The only thing that I can do at any given moment is to learn to love myself or who I am and spend a little bit of time with other people that are trying to do the same thing. I am in perfect and that’s OK.

I am not the problem. Neither are you.One of the things that I’ve learnt as I’ve gotten older is that sometimes you have to accept yourself and other people “as they are.”We push ourselves to get better, faster, stronger to run away from who we actually really are. The sooner you accept yourself and all of your wonderful traits, the sooner you will have self forgiveness.

Your life is not over, even at 90. You still have a lot of life to live and you might as well make something of yourself.Go get after it regardless of what people think about you.

Is it just me, or is the hypocrisy among academic researchers very real? We study what boosts human performance and well-being in organizations—like taking breaks and fostering healthy relationships—but then we fail to practice what we preach.Despite knowing the importance of self-care, many of us push ourselves to the brink, doing the exact opposite of what our research recommends. This contradiction needs to change. Instead of solely relying on studies and others, we need to discover what truly works for us individually.

Is pushing yourself to the limit really the best way to achieve success? The idea that more effort always leads to better performance and rewards isn't just flawed; it's unsustainable. Ask Olympians how long they were in the Olympics for?Those who prioritize longevity over peak performance at all times are the ones who truly excel over the long run, and perhaps even enjoy their lives.

Lately, there's been a shift in the academic conversations around me. For years, the emphasis was squarely on performance and succeeding—how many papers you publish, the grants you win, the impact factors. But I've noticed a welcome change in the narrative: it's moving from just succeeding to finding true meaning in what we do as professors.This shift is profound and necessary. It challenges us to look beyond the traditional metrics of academic success and ask ourselves what really matters. Why do we teach? Why do we research? Is it just for accolades, or is there something more fulfilling at the core of our professional lives?Embracing this perspective has been liberating. It encourages us, academics, to find joy and significance in our work, even if it doesn't always lead to a tangible 'win.' This mindset fosters a healthier, more sustainable approach to our careers, where personal satisfaction and impact on students and society become the real measures of success.Let’s explore why seeking meaning in our academic roles can be more rewarding than chasing performance metrics. It’s time to redefine what success looks like in academia and prioritize what truly enriches us professionally and personally.

Here's something you might not hear often: true financial success isn’t about having the most; it's about mastering contentment. I’ve learned that the pursuit of more can often lead you astray. Instead, understanding the value of patience and acceptance is key to securing your financial future.Many believe that aggressive tactics and quick fixes are the paths to wealth. In reality, the ability to be content with what you have and where you are in your journey is far more powerful. This mindset not only keeps you grounded but also shields you from making impulsive decisions driven by dissatisfaction.Contentment teaches you to wait, to evaluate, and to act wisely when the time is right. It’s about realizing that not all financial issues can be immediately resolved, and that sometimes, the best action is calculated inaction. With contentment, you learn to appreciate your current assets, to minimize unnecessary spending, and to plan for the future without panic.Embrace this approach, and watch how a calm and content mindset leads to a robust financial life that's not just about wealth, but about well-being and wisdom.

I won’t help. True growth doesn’t come from comfort. If you’re looking for shortcuts, hacks, or someone to hold your hand every step of the way, you won’t find that here. Success demands more than just wishful thinking; it requires you to embrace the “grind,” and face the hardships.In my experience, the most rewarding achievements are those fought for. That’s why I won't just give you the answers. You need to navigate the challenges, explore the complexities, and learn from each setback. This process is crucial.When you’ve truly tested your limits and started making real progress, that’s when you’ll be ready to engage in deeper conversations. That's when you'll find mentors who are eager to guide you, not just ease your path. Until then, you’re missing the point. The things in life that truly matter are the ones you work hard for, the ones you earn.Let’s get real and start this journey—the right way.

I've realized that my career passion shouldn't overshadow the things that truly matter in life—family, friends, and the joys that bring genuine happiness. Here's why you should reconsider where your passion lies.

Let's get one thing straight: I'm not here to hand you a job on a silver platter. If that's all you're after, you might as well start handing out resumes at the nearest fast-food joint. As a Business Professor, my mission goes way beyond just 'getting you a job'—that's the easy part. I'm here to challenge you, to change the way you view the world and your place in it.In my classroom, we don't just fill out job applications; we embark on a journey to uncover the career you're truly passionate about.

Being a professor with a learning disability? What’s it like?My disability is not seen and you will never know when you talk to me. Unless you ask me to remember, or put sentences together. I call people “buddy” or “pal.” I will never remember your name. I can’t remember how to spell my middle name or even sister’s name.Words used to be so jumbled for me. They still are, but I have lots of practice.But, I still want to, and have been able to do a lot.The truth is that the “market” ultimately doesn’t care, and you still have to get back up despite your adversities.Here is the thing, we often overlook the profound lessons hidden in our setbacks. I’ve come to understand that not securing the top spot is not just acceptable, it’s advantageous. I’m not at the “pinnacle” of my field, nor do I expect to ever be. This realization isn’t born from a lack of ambition, but from a deep appreciation for the resilience and gumption that come from navigating adversity. Having a learning #disability has always been my superpower.Every challenge and apparent failure has been instrumental in shaping my approach, honing my skills in ways that victories could not. Success isn't solely measured by being the “best;” it's gauged by our capacity to endure, adapt, and thrive despite what you have.Let's reassess what it means to be successful. It’s not about always leading the pack.It’s about being a “contender,”respected on any stage. Recognizing that you might not be number one, but still pushing forward with unwavering determination, transforms potential setbacks into stepping stones.

do you play the credit card points game? You’re likely going to lose, and the amount of time and effort that it takes to play that game will be far larger than it would be to gain any benefit from it.Remember that these companies have a team of status Ians making sure that it works in the favor of the firm, and not you.

instead of thinking about accumulating things, think about how you can simplify your life when you get access to more money.

Once you deconstruct what most people do on a daily basis, you realize that there is a lot of humanity across all of us.What does it mean to be successful? Really, nothing.You are projecting and playing success.The actions that a CEO will take are often very similar to somebody else in an organization. You get up, brush your teeth, have some breakfast, you go off to work, and then you come home. You eat, drink, and talk like anyone else.The more I live life, the more I realize that who you are, and where you become is more to do with circumstance, than your own efforts. Other words, success is manufactured.Once you realize this humanness, it often strips away all of the crap that people believe what it means to live a good life. Instead, there is a lot of humility that comes by looking at our humanity, rather than focusing on the rules that you take.You don’t need to impress anybody.

Many people think it’s wrong to come across as unassertive and meek on email communications. I think this is a blessing and we need more people being kind and generous in every possible way they communicate.

Have you ever wondered why the path to achieving your dreams feels so tough and unrelenting? I share my personal experiences and insights on why the journey to success often seems so grueling. The truth is, everything that truly matters in life requires immense effort and perseverance.I explain the reasons behind the struggles, the importance of showing up consistently, and how I push through the challenging times. Discover why the grind is essential to reaching your goals and how embracing the difficulties can lead to ultimate success.

As a #professor and in most #careers, you have to learn to detach to figure out how to keep going. Realize that the ups and downs do not matter. Whether somebody recognizes what you’re doing or doesn’t has a little consequence on who you are as a person.Your goal is to learn how to detach so you can keep taking steps forward regardless of the #progress that you’re actually making.I think we incorrectly suggest that making progress means that you’re always going in a linear path. We believe that making progress always has #incremental returns. Instead, what it feels like is that incremental returns never amount.What happens is that you have very little returns, and then one day you look back after a #decade and understand that what you were doing was worth it.given the structure of reality, you have to be more detached from any outcomes and what people will suggest. It doesn’t matter if you feel like you’re #failing.

We'll dive deep into the reality that financial success requires not just hard work but also patience, resilience, and a willingness to keep going even when results are not immediately visible.Join me as we discuss the highs and lows, the moments of doubt, and the ultimate rewards that come from investing your time and effort into something you believe in. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, or simply curious about what it takes to achieve financial independence, this podcast will offer you valuable perspectives and actionable advice.Remember, wealth isn't built overnight, and the journey is just as important as the destination. Let's embrace the uncertainty together and find inspiration in the perseverance it takes to turn dreams into reality.

To build anything of substantial importance in your life, you must have unwavering faith in yourself. Most things that truly matter require unbelievable amounts of dedication, the kind that makes others give up. Stay committed, keep believing, and you'll achieve greatness where others fall short. #SelfBelief #Dedication #Success #Inspiration

Making career decisions often feels overwhelming, but here's the truth: most of the time, we're just speculating. We overthink before we even have real choices. The key is to experiment and explore—get hands-on experience and learn what you enjoy. Only then can you make a genuine decision. Until you try, it's all just guesswork

We often believe that being a good parent means having everything together. But what if true parenting success is less about perfection and more about personal growth? Embrace your mistakes, forgive yourself, and lead by example. It's not about being perfect for your kids; it's about being the best version of yourself and letting them join you on that journey.

Discover the untapped power of digital platforms and how having a voice online can lead to influence, monetization, and societal change. Learn why staying silent costs you more than you think and how speaking up can turn you from ordinary to influential. Embrace digital technologies to amplify your message and make a significant impact in the world.

I'm David Maslach, an Associate Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, and today I'm thrilled to interview Sean Donohue, a seasoned Family Coach with 25 years of experience.Sean shares his incredible journey from a struggling dad to a successful parenting coach. Through years of learning, observing, and practicing positive parenting techniques, he transformed his family life and has since helped thousands of other families do the same.We delve into the highs and lows of parenting, the importance of having the right tools, and how Sean's insights can help you create a harmonious home. We also touch on the demands of high-stakes careers and how to balance professional success with family life.Join us for this insightful conversation and discover practical advice, personal stories, and valuable lessons on parenting and career management. Don't forget to check out Parenting Modern Teens and R3ciprocity for more resources.

This message is for #professors and #executives in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, especially those who have achieved their life goals. YOU WON.Now is the time to pull back and do something absolutely crazy, something only you believe in. This moment of aimlessness and frustration is your chance to pursue something spectacularly unreasonable. Your success deserves a reward, and that reward is doing something that doesn't make sense to anyone but you. Amazing things happen when we pursue what others see as unreasonable!Share this if you agree these folks should do more crazy things that make no sense to others.Walt Disney was crazy. Why can’t you be?

We never seem to have enough time to innovate. The key is to embrace tasks that scare us and to dream big about the future. Keep working on these things, even if it feels like you never have enough time.

I explore the unsung hero of all great achievements: the simple act of bothering. From groundbreaking inventions to monumental discoveries, I've found that history is filled with examples of individuals who persevered when others would not. These trailblazers didn’t always have clear reasons or immediate rewards to justify their efforts, but they pushed forward nonetheless. Their stories remind us that sometimes the most significant advancements come from those who simply decide to bother.I delve into why the greatest accomplishments often stem from relentless effort and persistence, even when the reasons to continue are unclear to others. By examining case studies and historical examples, I uncover the mindset and determination required to achieve what seems impossible. This episode highlights the crucial role that time, effort, and an unwavering commitment to a cause play in bringing about extraordinary results.Join me as I celebrate the spirit of those who bothered, uncovering the hidden power in dedication and the extraordinary impact of simply doing what others won’t. I discuss how this principle applies not only to historical figures but also to modern-day innovators and everyday heroes. Tune in to discover why bothering can be the key to making a significant difference in the world and how you can harness this power in your own life.

The mentors and role models you see online, flaunting private jets and perfect lives, aren't reflecting reality. It's crucial to embrace the messiness of your own life and recognize that your struggles are normal. If your life isn't picture-perfect, you're genuinely living. You are alive!!!Idealized online lives are often just a fairytale. Choose your imagery and role models wisely, and remember that authenticity and imperfection are part of a fulfilling journey. Let's embrace the reality of our lives and find strength in the everyday messiness.;-)

Ever Since I Became A PhD, I Always Feel Not Good Enough. Why?Everyday, I feel like I wanna quit or I don’t belong.Every day, there is a voice in my head that is telling me that I’m not good enough.let’s change the conversation in science, and let other people know that they are good enough.Let’s change the conversation in science from exclusion to inclusion.Let’s start listening to all of the journeys that everybody goes through in science.Remember, you’re not inferior, you’re just different. These differences are the key to why you have something to say.

You've been told that putting in the time is the key to success, but what if that's only half the story? It's not just about clocking hours; it's about how you use that time. Discover why simply surviving isn't enough and how persistent effort transforms both your chances of success and your actual performance. Don't miss out on understanding the real power of dedication and the incredible results that come from investing unbelievable amounts of time and effort. This could change the way you approach your goals forever.

Often, the most groundbreaking ideas emerge not from extensive planning but from brief moments of openness and willingness to try something new. I’ll delve into real-life examples and practical tips on how you can create these moments in your daily routine, breaking free from the ordinary and sparking creativity.

It's a journey familiar to many PhD students and researchers: working tirelessly on something often discounted or ignored by others. Yet, it's this very perseverance that leads to groundbreaking moments of recognition and success.I'll explore the reality of pushing forward despite the silence, the importance of believing in your work, and the strategies for creating mental boundaries to keep going. Whether you're in the early stages of your research or on the cusp of a major breakthrough, this episode is a reminder that YOUR work matters. Join me as we celebrate the resilience and determination that drives innovation and discovery in #academia.

Hearing the simple words "I am proud of you" can transform who you are. There is something profoundly validating about having your struggles acknowledged. When someone recognizes the challenges you've faced, it can change you in significant ways. I'm convinced that receiving this acknowledgment, no matter what you do, is essential for everyone. It validates our efforts and strengthens our resolve to keep going.

You can dwell on the negative, but it’s going to happen anyways. Instead, focus on the opportunities and try to make positive things happen. In my experience, success often comes from concentrating on what you can control and creating a simple plan to achieve it. Work towards your goals every day. Focusing on the negative only brings the same results, but you'll feel terrible the whole time. Make the choice to focus on the positive and watch how your outlook and outcomes improve.

Create a nurturing support system during the uncertain PhD journey. In academia, where uncertainty and challenges abound, having a circle of empathetic and encouraging people is crucial. I'll share personal insights on how to identify and nurture relationships with those who uplift you, and why it's essential to distance yourself from negativity and drama. Join me as we discuss strategies for building your community of support, ensuring you're surrounded by positivity as you navigate the complexities of PhD life.

I often feel the internal pressure to respond to emails and tackle work tasks outside of my working hours. But I've learned that to lead a fulfilling and balanced life, I have to intentionally switch off from work. Spending time with family and friends, and focusing on my personal growth, are essential for my well-being and longevity. These are the activities that create core memories, unlike work, which rarely does. Join me as I share my experiences and strategies for prioritizing what truly matters for a long, joyful life.

Do we need to be at 100% efficiency and think about success all the time?The truth is, striving for constant top performance isn't achievable or sustainable. Instead, real long-term success often means operating at 80% and sometimes not doing anything at all. It's about stepping back, giving yourself grace, and understanding that a healthy, balanced life leads to true, lasting #success. How do you be okay with imperfection? What do you do so you can get back up and keep going day after day. The “contentment” is muscle that needs to be trained.

Despite its glamour in popular culture, entrepreneurship is often a risky financial choice. Statistically, investing in established, large companies tends to yield better returns. So why do many still choose to start their own businesses? For me, it's about looking beyond the financials. It's about a larger purpose and valuing other aspects of life more than just money. In this video, I'll explore how embracing non-financial rewards can redefine success in entrepreneurship.

It’s important to remember to keep yourself being embarrassed every day. These emotions that you feel often prevent us from doing things that are important. Seek out embarrassment, so that you can grow and learn how to forgive yourself when things don’t go right.Because things never go right.

One comment that I have to hear is that people are unwilling to trade off their youth for the future, but they don’t realize is that everything is a trade-off. In order for you to improve who you are, you have to trade off and make some sacrifices.But the process is not about feeling bad about the sacrifices, but it’s about enjoying each sacrifice you make along the way. It’s about training yourself to realizing that the journey of making sacrifices is the journey of life.

Why your first job isn't going to be your last, and that's a good thing! We often stress over landing that perfect first job and shy away from roles that seem less glamorous or 'beneath us.' But here's a secret: those jobs can be stepping stones to amazing opportunities, as long as you're willing to keep learning and reinvesting in yourself. Join me as I share why embracing these beginnings and continuously developing your skills can set you up for a fulfilling and dynamic career.

What initially attracted me to business with the sense of sensibility and orderliness to it. There was an algorithm nature, but I’ve since learned that may not necessarily be the case.

Ever dreamed of turning your academic genius into a billion-dollar empire? Join me as we uncover the jaw-dropping journeys of PhD holders who defied all odds and transformed their doctorates into obscene wealth.In this mind-blowing podcast, I will dive deep into the strategies, mindsets, and relentless determination that propelled these scholarly rebels from the hallowed halls of academia straight into the billionaire's club.You'll discover how the critical thinking, problem-solving prowess, and sheer grit honed during their PhDs became the ultimate weapons for building colossal fortunes. From shattering industry norms to disrupting entire markets, these PhD billionaires will shatter every preconception you've ever had about the limits of academic success.Whether you're a current PhD student, an aspiring scholar, or just someone who dreams of turning knowledge into unfathomable riches, this podcast is your ultimate guide to unlocking the secrets of the billion-dollar PhD.Prepare to have your mind blown as we reveal the untold tales of academia's wealthiest rebels. Subscribe now and get ready to redefine what's possible with a doctorate!

I am diving into a common concern: Will AI replace our jobs? It's a topic that stirs up a lot of speculation, especially with rapid advancements in technology. However, the integration of AI and machines in industries is often slower than anticipated. This lag isn't just about technological challenges; it's deeply rooted in human nature and our responses to change.While the fear of AI replacing jobs is prevalent, the real impact of AI in the workforce isn't about job elimination but transformation. In the long run, AI is unlikely to replace a significant portion of what we do in the foreseeable future. Instead, it's set to enhance our capabilities and open up new avenues for creative work. AI promises to make our work life more interesting and fun, shifting our roles rather than eliminating them.So, what does this mean for you? Whether you're in a heavy industry or a creative field, understanding the pace and nature of AI adoption can help you better prepare for the future. Let's explore how AI is currently being integrated across various sectors and how it can be leveraged to enhance, not replace, human effort. Stay tuned as I uncover the exciting possibilities that AI brings to our professional lives.

It’s either you drop one ball today, or all of them in the future.Taking time out for “Me Time” is as important as “work time” and “family time.”Remember to keep some time for yourself, and protect it with all of your might.Despite the pressure to run as fast as we can “all of the time,” it’s OK to drop some balls once and a while to focus on yourself.What’s the alternative? Become angry at the world and lash out?Taking a step out is what healthy parenting and healthy management looks like.

Education often measures people based on their outcome. But, in reality, we should be measuring people based on their action.This is a simple problem. Success in one’s life has a little to do with how you perform on test. Success is everything to do whether you are willing to show up, and being a kind and generous person every day.This is a simple problem. success and one slice has a little to do with how you perform on test. Success is everything you do are you willing to show up and being a kind and generous person every day.

Welcome to “Academic Affirmations: Unveiling My Need for Validation,”* where I explore why I constantly reassure others of their worth in academia. In each episode, I'll share personal stories and delve into the psychological reasons behind these affirmations. Join me as I uncover how this practice not only impacts those I praise but also mirrors my own quest for validation and acceptance within the high-pressure environment of academia. Tune in to gain insights into the dynamics of validation, understand the emotional undercurrents of academic culture, and discover how we can foster a healthier, more genuine approach to support and recognition in our professional lives.

What’s important is that you keep working through things, and continue to make positive changes in your life. Eventually, when you make enough positive changes in your life, people start noticing, and they make positive changes in their own life.

You will not listen to this because I talk about money. People either think that money doesn’t relate to them or their hyperfocused on getting ahead.If you talk about money in a calm fashion, where it’s part of your life, nobody cares. If I talk about it in the sense that, you will gain “success,”only a small group of people will listen to it, and it’s likely the wrong group of people.Just open, honest, and authentic conversations about money, and you’ll be surprised where it gets you.

If you focus on the negative and the cost of things, you will never see just how wonderful it actually is. There are miracles happening every day, and people are making them happen, you simply have to be the person to see it.Focusing on just the cost in the negative side will prevent you from ever seeing the world of possibilities that are closer to you than you think.

I offered $10 to 4 people FOR FREE. ZERO people have taken me up on the offer.A very generous person gave me $20 to give to $10 to two people so that they would log onto the #R3ciprocity platform. I added another $20. Another generous soul said they would pitch in $20. Exactly 0 people have taken me up on that offer since I posted it on social media. The post got 1000 impressions— a reasonable amount. This is a fascinating commentary on what it’s actually like to build a #platform. You can literally give away free money and people will ignore it. It reminds me of the well-known joke about economist that continue to walk over $100 bill because they believe it does not exist.What is this say about human nature? It reminds me of this funny video about what it’s like to sell something on Facebook marketplace. You should watch it, (but you won’t):https://youtu.be/n4bRd0Zx1KU?si=tvh9RXrykPMFN5RZThis is precisely why I think cooperation, in a niave sense, will fail.This is precisely why I never talk about the “technology” behind the #R3ciprocity platform. You won’t pay attention. You will discount it because you don’t know how difficult it is to build things on a shoestring budget.You will say the software is terrible.You are right. There is always room for improvement.How do you sell a new product?I tell stories, and I try to capture your heart, not your mind.This is precisely why I no longer “teach” in the conventional sense in the classroom, but story-tell and encourage. I teach about practicality, not about theory. This hurts me to say, because I believed in theory for so long. But, theory, money, technology, and anything else rational does not stick.People don’t believe in the technology, they believe in “you” or “what you stand for”. You have to meet people where they are, and realize that a lot more to the problem then simple economics.If it was simply about technology and economics, many of the problems we see with things, like retirement planning and college debt, would not exist.You have to capture people’s hearts before they will believe.By the way, the offer still stands. If you want free $10, simply comment below.

There is a dramatic difference between theory and the practical environment and the key issue is because the practical environment contains context that is unique to each individual participating in that context.

I just want to say thank you to the good Samaritan in my life.

You often need to accept people as they are. Despite clear evidence, not everyone is open to accepting it. There are many reasons why people may feel uncomfortable with evidence, and it's important to recognize these factors. Your role is to connect meaningfully with a few individuals and hope that those who don't accept the evidence still lead long and healthy lives.

Keep moving I’m feeling good about yourself well into your 100s. If you don’t make it there, at least you spent a lifetime smiling and playing.

"I don't know how to say no," often stems from fear and judgment about their past decisions. You may feel shame about how things turned out.Remember, you can't control all the outcomes in your life; many factors are beyond your control.From my experience, it's better to focus on how you felt when you made the decision, rather than the outcome. Often, making the decision was a positive moment in your life.Consider ways to assert yourself or find compromises where you can be more proactive without feeling guilty about your actions.Be lighter—saying yes or maybe is a beautiful thing. Let go of the guilt associated with decisions that were meant to have positive results.How things turned out was not because of you.

Persistency is key—just keep moving forward, one step at a time, day after day. Often, the difference between those you complete their goals and others is simply the ability to rise each day and persist. BLOCK OUT distractions and stay focused.Progress might seem slow; most days can be frustrating, and it often feels like nothing is changing. However, it's the cumulative effort, consistently applied, that eventually transforms your endeavors.

having a career outside of your career is healthy, and it allows you to continue to grow as a person.It allows you to continue to do great things for yourself, while other people are standing on the sidelines.

Starting and growing a #business, doing #phd research, or any idea is a challenging journey for everyone. It begins with a simple step, acknowledging that the path ahead will often make you feel inadequate and filled with self-doubt. Doubt is a natural part of the process.You may never feel fully prepared or confident. You to feel like a failure.You’re never gonna feel good enough.Self-doubt is common, and external criticism can exacerbate these feelings. Remember, if someone looks down on you, the issue lies with THEM, not with your age, size, or intelligence.Often, these negative perceptions are shaped by limited interactions; perhaps a ONE individual whose opinion has weighed heavily on you. So?!Initiating your #venture opens opportunities to meet like-minded individuals who will offer the encouragement and support you need, cheering you on with a resounding 'hell yeah!'Don’t let yourself get in the way of a good idea.

I used to wonder why people often give up on tough tasks. It's not about their productivity. In fact, focusing too much on productivity can actually backfire.The real issue is how they see themselves. If people feel good about themselves, they're more likely to keep trying day after day.Simple solutions like getting up early, rewarding productivity, or using productivity hacks might actually make things worse.

It truly is amazing to see older people that do things together as a couple. It’s important to have somebody to share your life with, and to get out of the house as much as he possibly can.

we talk about how to change research with the R3ciprocity Project, and what might that look like.

The #1 lesson I learned from creating the #R3ciprocity Project: YOU DON’T CARE.What you must understand with all things in your life is this: Ultimately, you are on your own. It is solely up to you to rise again and persevere.When I embarked on the R3ciprocity Project, I naively believed that rallying support would be straightforward. Given the project’s significance—creating a platform to help create non-rejectable #research papers and grants, I assumed diverse groups would eagerly contribute.#Scientists, #researchers, #universities, and #students would be driven by the universal struggle with research papers and grant proposals.Yet, I was vastly MISTAKEN. While these issues are widely acknowledged, I’ve learned that people primarily look out for their own interests; they are not as eager to change the world as they might claim. The reality is that many shy away from being part of the solution.You get simple responses, “You are a nice guy for doing that,” or the most common, the hollow stare.Faced with this hard reality, you have two choices: Wallow in frustration or adapt to meet people where they are.I choose #resilience. Screw ‘em. I will see you in a decade.I will continue to stand strong and push forward. Persist in your efforts and release any expectation of assistance. It’s up to YOU to forge your path and make things happen.

Making sure that you always win at all costs can lead to problematic behaviors. It is very easy to want to impress other people as there is often a lot of benefits that come from these positive impressions.However, it often leads to challenges in the long run where you do not match with what is expected of you.Keep being you, my friends!

Help me thank a #PhD today by rethinking what success means in academia. Traditionally, we view success through a narrow lens, often defining it in ways that favor our personal achievements. This perspective can lead to significant biases, particularly when we choose benchmarks of success that highlight our strengths and ignore the broader spectrum of academic contributions. Furthermore, we often base our evaluations on the actions of individuals whose circumstances or attributes differ markedly from our own, skewing our understanding of what success truly entails.Instead of fixating on these conventional metrics of success, let’s shift our focus towards being genuinely good individuals. It’s about putting up our blinders to the relentless “competition” and reframing our definition of “success.” By emphasizing #kindness and generosity, we redefine what it means to be successful in academia. It's not the accolades or the recognition that truly count but the positive impact we have on others through our work and interactions.Let’s celebrate those who contribute meaningfully to their communities and fields, not just through groundbreaking research but also through acts of kindness and mentorship. Let’s redefine success to reflect the virtues of compassion and contribution.This is a call to redefine academic “success” to encompass the full breadth of what it means to contribute to society and to each other’s lives with generosity and kindness.

Educators: Live Authentically To Be Happy in #Academia. Stop Listening To The Metrics & Criticisms!One critical lesson that has profoundly influenced my approach to personal and professional life is the realization that you don't need to prove your “worth” to anyone. This mindset, grounded in the pursuit of authentic living, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one's happiness and health over the validation of others.When I was younger, I had the profound sense of wanting to be liked, and perfecting myself so that I would be accepted.Now, I say “screw em.” Engaging in environments where the expectation is to impress others, or where you're made to feel inadequate, fosters unhealthy dynamics. Frankly—it is flat out wrong.In contrast, relationships that nurture support, psychological safety, and affirmation for one's true self are foundational to well-being.This perspective advocates for a shift from seeking “external approval” to embracing one's genuine identity. Emphasizing this shift can lead to a more fulfilled life, both within and outside academic circles, where the pressure to conform and impress is prevalent but often counterproductive.In essence, the journey to a happier, healthier life in academia and beyond lies in the courage to be oneself—to say “screw em”, dismissing the urge to seek affirmation from external sources. Be being you! You are already remarkable.

We almost always default the thinking that our time is actually worth something. The truth is is that it’s only worth some thing when you reach out and begin something that makes no financial sense in the first place.

Think about the things in your life that you’re just doing because of impression management. Is it OK to do impression management? Absolutely.But, you have to learn to control it so it doesn’t get away from you. It’s easy to get caught up in the competition of life, and we all struggle with it.

It’s OK to realize that many things in life actually do not improve with experience. Not everything is malleable and not everything can be learntThat’s where you have to learn to love yourself regardless of the fact that known everything can be learnt, or that you will change.

Have a healthy dose of walking past people that do not want to support you in the first place. They know that they can support you, but they choose not to.Remember that.You just smile and nod as you walk past in your journey in life. You can accomplish a lot, with a wink and a smile.

You will mess up, and things will not work out as planned. If you assume this is the case, you will be a lot more humbler about the future.Always bet on the fact it’s not gonna work out, but work towards the fact that it might.

do things in your life that other people won’t understand and have no economic value in other peoples lives.Most things that matter in our lives would not be considered rational to anybody else. Those are the little things and big things that allow you to get up every morning to do the rational things in your life.

I’m excited to talk about some of the interesting features that we are currently working on with the R3ciprocity platform for 2024.

How do you deal with an #academic #career that is unfair? How do you deal with a career where you will inevitably push a rolling stone uphill?You can either accept that you are a #failure, or you can either try to fight the system.I choose a third alternative. I choose to focus on how I can feel grateful for myself and other people near to me. I choose to encourage other people that are going through the same feelings of failure everyday.I choose to ignore outcomes as much. I never want to overvalue the success, because the failure hurts more.Learn to laugh at the silliness of pushing a rolling stone up a hill, just to have it roll back onto you.Learn to smile at those who idolize the stone.It is just a stone.You never push that stone to the top, but you can laugh as you try.Enjoy marching uphill today. 😂

If you want positive #change in your life, it often requires a great deal of effort. It requires collective agreement that you are going to put an effort to do the challenging thing that you’re thinking about.Change is not an easy thing, and it requires you to be uncomfortable with uncertainty. If you want to change to happen, you WILL have to make it happen. If you don’t, nothing will happen.

How can I make others feel better inside?

Identifying the effects of education is very difficult, and I would be skeptical, if anybody outlines that they can see a one-to-one relationship between education and performance.What does this mean? For many people education is going to be a bad idea, however, for some people it’s going to be immensely important.We will just never know who will actually benefit from education, and who will not.And, you’ll never know at what point education is actually gonna matter for you.

Doing things right takes an awful lot of time. Don’t worry about whether the external world things that you’re making progress, rather focus on doing things right.It’s one of the harder lessons I’ve learned, but doing things right is slow. The outside world will not appreciate or think about all of the small steps along the way.But, you do.

You are already #remarkable—You don’t need to “perfect” or improve anything.Rather than look for ways to be more productive, succeed, or any other performance metrics.Look for ways to leverage who “you” are and continue to be you.Despite what the outside world says, you are already remarkable.

Negative events will happen in your life. The more that you disassociate and detached from these negative events, the more likely that you’re gonna laugh them off.Disassociate as much as you possibly can and don’t take yourself so seriously. I’ve learnt to better laugh off the seriousness that we assigned to ourselves.You are just not that important.

Don’t forget that you need a lot of positive self-talk and a supportive group to allow you to be successful.Doing well is not just about getting things done, but also feeling good about yourself and others.You will surprised how much it matters.

Finding support is often challenging.

Life's unfairness doesn't ask for permission; it just shows up, throwing obstacles in our path that seem insurmountable. The world of #academia is no stranger to this reality, with its own unique set of challenges and inequities.But here's where your power lies: in your response. You might not have control over the injustices that come your way, but you do have control over how you stand up to them. The resilience to get back up, the determination to keep putting in the work—that's entirely up to you.The only actionable strategy to change your situation is to consistently outwork the challenges. It's not about outworking your peers in a competitive sense but about outpacing the very obstacles that life throws at you. And if you maintain this relentless pursuit long enough, the scales of fairness begin to tip in your favor.The unfairness of life might not disappear overnight, but your continuous effort, your unwavering commitment to your work, can and will make a difference.So, to every researcher and academic facing the uphill battle, remember: the unfairness you're experiencing is not the end of your story!!It's a story that you tell that makes what you did interesting in the future.Let's #changescience by embodying the resilience to keep moving forward, no matter what life throws our way. Your strength lies in your response, in your ability to rise, time and again, dedicated to your purpose.

Despite the fact that I don’t want to get up and do this yet again, I will try.It’s one more time that I put something out that only a few people are going listen to.I’m going to get back up and do it again. It’s about telling the story some day that you lived life to the fullest. Nothing that matters is ever easy. From relationships, to wealth, to losing weight, it’s the same process every day.It’s getting back up and doing again, despite the fact that you don’t want to.You can do this.

Don’t compare apples to oranges. Just because they are round, doesn’t mean they are the same.

we often think that our job is to move the dial in the next year. And almost all of my experience, that dialed does not move that much in a given year.In fact, the dial moves about 10% for the top performing companies in the entire world. this means that if you make $10,000 this year, a good outcome for you is to make $11,000 next year.What does this mean? Don’t expect a lot of change, and you will rarely see the change happen before you.However, over the course of decades, you will look back and you will see that a miracle has happened.

We are often taught from a very young age that there is a single solution to a problem, yet this is rarely the case in that solutions come from many different angles.Most problems are extremely difficult to solve and have a complex array of factors that are leading to it occurring.

What can you actually do about it? Most people will not care about the thing that you’re thinking about, a small fraction will be so upset that all they do is sit and argue about it endlessly.You will be the one that will actually do something about it. What can you actually do?Here is what I think: What is the problem that you’re facing? And how can you tackle it, such that people don’t even realize that you’re actually tackling it.For those that can see through what you’re doing, you can give us “wink and nod.” They understand that you’re tackling a larger problem.But, everybody else will be too self-interested or arguing over a irrelevant things to even notice.By the time, they think about it, they will say “remember when we used to…”

There are many moments where your work will not get rewarded. This is a fact of life.Your job is not to focus on the outcomes, but the focus on your actions. This logic of focusing on outcomes inevitably will lead you astray.What you can do is work on you being a kind and generous person regardless of the outcomes that happen.There are many moments where your work will not get rewarded. This is a fact of life.Your job is not to focus on the outcomes, but the focus on your actions. This logic of focusing on outcomes inevitably will lead you astrayWhat you can do is work on you being a kind and generous person regardless of the outcomes that happen this takes a lot more work, and it’s more important in the long run.

I’ve been increasingly convinced that starting incredibly small is far better for entrepreneurship than starting bigger.

Often you have to work within the constraints that you are given. You might not agree with these constraints, but it’s a part of making hard decisions.One has to comply with these constraints.It means that you’re making difficult adult choices and that even though that it may be inferior at the moment, in the long run, you can make better choices as the environment changes.

Are you missing out on digital changes in the economy?We tend to default to what we know when there are macro changes that are going on.The digital economy is revolutionizing and democratizing much of our life, and instead of participating in it, many of us are deciding to tune it out because it is foreign or challenging the process.Many of us will default to consumers of the digital information, rather than realizing that we can be active participants in it.This is a kin to the introduction of public libraries in developed countries. We have, unbelievable access to books in every public library that is free and available to all.These books are so knowledgeable that wars are often fought over ideas.Except, we choose not to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Knowledge does bring opportunities, and the #digitaleconomy is going to become increasingly more important. But, we choose to not participate.Why is that the case? It’s often a lot of personal reasons where we feel like it is not their job, it is foreign, or “what would other people think?”It takes a lot of personal development to be “public.”Telling your story is scary.Where do you stand? Do you see these opportunities?

Analyzing all data is difficult, and until you get the experience of looking at data and trying to make sense of it, you will always under appreciate how challenging it is.I encourage you to look at real world data and see if you can make sense of it. You’ll often come to the terms that you just don’t know what you’re looking at.It is completely normal to feel frustrated and anxious when you look at data.

I grew up with the smell of tanning beaver pelts in our basement, eating moosemeat, and snaring rabbits.Then, I became a business professor.When you explore life, expect a lot of inconsistencies with your identity. This is something that few people discuss, but by default, you often have identities that you will never be able to reconcile when you explore the world in different ways.You may not want to reconcile any of these identities, but they play very real role in terms of how you understand yourself.For me, I’m part country-bumpkin with a blue-collar family, and sophisticated business professor. Both are true, and neither of them are correct.This tension that you will feel will always be part of your life, and you’ll never really be able to explain who you are. You will never be able to re-create these past histories, and even most of my family in the north don’t do these activities anymore.Just be sure that you’re well aware that each moment in your life may be the last one.Live and appreciate how wonderful your life is.

Living below what you make is always a challenging thing for all of us. We have challenges of social comparison, the pain of giving up joy today, and the inability to see the future. All of us experience this.If you are struggling with this, you’re absolutely normal.However, in order for you to do well, you have to be willing to give up some of your joy today. What you’re giving up (around 10 to 20% of everything you make) will provide unbelievable dividends in 30 years.I would love for everybody to get into this habit, but I recognize that the behavior of doing it is far different than the mathematics of it.In order for you to get practice, work on small things where you are in congruent with the world around you. This will give you practice to being able to withstand the pressure of living at your “maximum capacity” today.

Most things are really slow and you can’t change that. Many things in life are simply a slow step-by-step process that you can’t hurry up.There’s no system or processed, just slow work overtime.If you come into life, realizing there’s a certain slowness to it you often make a lot better choices.You can’t rush anything, and you will know that you eventually get there.

how many people can you get to feel happy inside? What might that look like if you work with the premise that you are going to try to make other people, feel happy, and your self feel happy with his much of your energy as possible.Why don’t we create an experiment in your life where you go about doing that. Can you affect many people as possible in as deep of way as possible?What are simple tools that are free in an expensive that you can use to have a positive and changing impact and people around you?Why don’t you change that and see if you can implement these simple things.I wonder what would happen in your life.

Every project that is meaningful to you will result at some point where you lose faith in yourself. Losing faith is a fundamental and important part of “doing good work.”Just know that if you are losing faith that it’s natural. It likely means that you’re on the right path.Keep going when it does not feel fun anymore.

I worry about our lack of understanding of the day-to-day in the business world. We tend to discount things that are ordinary, and that are representative of real people doing real things.Much of the business scholarship focuses on large multinational, corporations, and we seem to think that, much of the real world is not important. We think things like mergers and acquisitions are more important that wouldn’t means to do business as a homeless person.We think alliances are more important then how a single parent thinks about how they’re gonna get their kid to achieve in school while they work.The problem is is getting people interested in these types of problems is a challenge with the incentives we have in academia. People want to default to easy problems, and problems where there is easily accessible data that is already been used before.unless somebody is waking, they will likely never study these hard problems, and we will ignore much of society.

Take advantage of the little time that you have. That means taking care of yourself, spending time with family, and looking for moments to work.My algo is different than most. I try to maximize self-forgiveness. I know I will be guilty for something every day. I won’t be a good enough scholar, teacher, parent, and husband.I ask myself to forgive myself each time that I mess up. It will happen.It helps me get through, so I can try again tomorrow.

Constantly putting in the work often get you further along then thinking about putting in the work.Where are you end up in life often is dictated more from the actions that you do on a regular basis and your endowments, then your actual strategy and choices that you make.If you want to change your life, get an education, and keep working regardless of what others tell you.Ignore that little person in your brain that says to quit.Put in the work another day.

Our predictions are often very poor, and we have to make do with these poor predictions.Knowing that we’re not gonna be good at making good predictions of the future, the only thing that you can do is have patience and empathy for others.

Focus on the fact that you’re doing “something,” rather than any of the outcomes that you’re ever going to get from it.Focusing on “outcomes,” almost always recipes for “crazy making.”If you focus on your actions, you can control that. You will be much more at peace, when you realize you’re actually doing the actions you should be doing.

explain some of the challenges of why we often don’t see some businesses being represented in business research. We need to more openly talk about these factors.

Why can’t you? I have learned that most of us talk ourselves out of great things.Before you start, you say “ that would be a great idea, but…”Then you never do it.I spend much of my time telling people to “screw the world.” Much of the reason is for you to have enough courage in your own mind to be able to say “I can.”Somebody at some point has discouraged you and got you thinking that you are not good enough.I just have one simple question: If one silly person has done it before, why can’t you?

Do Cringey Things. It is only after a while that you realize that they are not cringey after all.

I am convinced that there’s zero to negligible correlation between effort in outcomes in academia.This allows me to focus on other things that give me pleasure, such as spending time with family and wishing people well.

Many moments you wake up, and you have a very negative view of the world.I want you to remind yourself, and just how fortunate that we actually are. Destitute #poverty has been on the decline for a long time, and more and more people are getting access to water around the world. Many of us are getting access to technologies and education that we wouldn’t of had access to even a few decades ago.Despite the fact that at any given time, it feels like the world is falling apart, remind yourself:“I’m just how fortunate we are to be living in this messed up place called Earth.”

Most people do not understand the #fragile nature of data. I often don’t think it’s on the data analyst or author’s side that we need to worry about.We need to be more concerned about how editors, reviewers, and the general public understand data.I am more surprised by “perfect results” than messy results.Perfect rarely—if ever—happens.We need to get people away from thinking about perfect results and get people interested in “honest results.”

Two distinguished scholars, Dr. David Maslach and Professor Karim Lakhani, engage in a dynamic conversation about innovation, science, and mentorship.Maslach introduces his R3ciprocity Project, aimed at revolutionizing scientific collaboration through a peer-to-peer sharing model. Lakhani, a renowned Harvard Business School professor, delves into his research on the science of science, exploring how communities collaborate and compete in scientific endeavors.Their discussion uncovers insights into biases in resource allocation, the importance of mentorship, and the need for democratizing opportunities in academia. Lakhani advocates for a lottery-based funding system to encourage more diverse research avenues.Reflecting on their personal journeys, Maslach and Lakhani emphasize the value of mentorship and the joy of discovering new ideas. They highlight the importance of integrating diverse interests to foster innovation and address complex societal challenges.Ultimately, their conversation inspires viewers to embrace curiosity, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue innovative pathways in their academic and professional endeavors.

Many days you’re not going to feel good, and you can’t change those days and can’t change your environment that makes you feel like that very quickly.What you can do is pause, detach, and get back up again. It’s one step every day. Nothing else.No one is coming. It’s on YOU.Take a bit of a pause, grab a coffee, and get going one more day.Today might be a bit better.

“Are you serious? Are you serious about #research?”This question is seared into my brain, and still rings in my ears. I remember one of my advisors, asking me if “I was serious.”The truth is, I didn’t really understand what he meant, but I said yes.Doing research is a lifelong commitment, and it’s almost a religious affair. I can almost always spot people that are not taking the religion seriously, and they view it more as a game, or a way to advance their career.When you’re serious, you’re more willing to put up with being an outsider for a long time. You will realize that you will be discounted, and you will feel like a #failure for longer than you wish.If you’re interested in doing research, ask yourself, are you serious?Stop playing around, and get to work. If you can prove yourself that you can do something for a few months, that is just grinding work, you’re just proving that you’re “playing around.”If you can do grinding work for decades, then maybe I can consider you that you are serious.Until then, meh…This kid is not serious.

Learn how to attach from things you want. It’s not a matter of whether you can get them, it’s whether you should get them right now.

We need more people telling others to have patience, be nice, and don’t take #shortcuts.Most role models today are focused on doing things quickly, cheaply, and trying to screw over other people.Let’s reverse this trend.Encourage someone to slow down and take the difficult path of doing something right.Have patience! Treat others right!

stop, making excuses, and get at it.

The puppy bowl is absolute genius, marketing. They took a channel during an event that would have had poor ratings, and perhaps turned it into the most important viewing session of the channel of the year.Kudos to all of the people that invent puppy bowls and shark weeks. They turn insignificant things into cultural phenomenons.

Do not communicate your message directly! No one cares about you.I have repeatedly learned about the importance of what I call “sideways communication.”Directly presenting a message often results in limited #engagement. No one cares!However, embedding the message within a context that holds significant value for the audience can lead to greater #receptivity. This strategy involves understanding and addressing the specific emotional states or needs of the target audience. By focusing on alleviating or amplifying these feelings, the core message is conveyed more subtly, yet effectively. This approach not only enhances message reception but also facilitates a deeper connection with the audience. Spend time thinking about them and not you.

We all suck. Don’t forget that.

making sure that you’re working towards financial stability. Will allow you to walk away from everything that you do, and allow you to give some peace in your mind that worst case scenario you will be OK.And highly recommend for you to work on the basics, where you have insurance is to prevent financial catastrophe, working on wise choices that allow you to contribute a lot financially to your long-term personal wealth.Living frugally and education choices will help you!

I spoke to one of the world's leading scientific experts on oil spills. Chris Reddy, an oceanographic, is one amazing person, and understands the culture of science. Christopher Reddy talks about his experiences as a scientist and why it is important to set boundaries in work, why it is important to find a bigger why in science, and dealing with family life in #science.He also talks about why it is important to get a team around you to keep you mentally sharp, and to deal with the ups and downs of research life.

Get a financial planner to do well in your career.

Be at peace with who you are. My whole life I have wanted “people to like me” and to fit in.That is why I got into education and #scienceandtechnology. I thought education was my ticket to earn acceptance from others.I don’t fit in today. I feel ackward and strange, just like I did in grade 9.I never really had friends in early high school.It never goes away, no matter what you do.Accept yourself. Realize that you’re a good person and that’s all that matters. Quit trying to impress everybody around you, you’re already impressive.For me, a powerful moment of my day is very I simply just to say “I’m good enough.”I don’t need to get other people to like or accept me.I can walk away and be good enough.It is a powerful thing to remember.You just do your work, and that’s it.The rest of “who you are” speaks by itself.

As a #professor, I need to get to where I’m going often too quickly. I don’t know “where” I’m going, but I need to get there fast.If I told you, you wouldn’t understand.Learning to say I don’t need to get there “today” is one of the most powerful things that has released me from a lot of the baggage that comes with my career.You might get “there” tomorrow.If I say patience, you’re going to discount that. Nobody puts enough weight on patience.But, if I say it is letting go of what people expect of me, you may pay attention to what I am saying.More importantly:It is learning how to give the world the middle finger in my head.Saying no, and getting patience requires you to say “screw it” so much that it becomes your mantra.It’s learning how to set boundaries where I say “it’s not my problem”, I need this time today.I need this excerise. I need this time.I need this hallway chat.The most important thing that you can ever do is to take a step back and give yourself a freedom to give the world a “middle finger.”The world will keep going around, and you’ll just love yourself a little more.

I was never meant to do this. I strongly believe that if you have those feelings to embrace them and try to figure out what you’re actually about. Try to find how you can blend what you’re doing with your own sense of self.

PhD students in business are taught to #strategize in their career. I think it’s the worst thing we can do. I have grown frustrated with the neoclassical economic model. I was enamored with it early on during my PhD, and took a whole bunch of extra PhD #economics classes.It is similar to “pure math,” so it is a simplified world.While it is pervasive, and it is a relatively easy model to work with, it’s assumptions often lead us a stray.You must pursue your objectives, and economize on all of your resources. Those that are best at economizing and strategizing will rise to the top.It often made me feel very hollow inside to think about people strategically, and getting ahead is the only thing that mattered.This is often what is taught in most PhD classes, because science is often so cutthroat. You must #strategize to get ahead. Otherwise, you will not get a job.My model of the world has greatly pivoted towards thinking of how can we encourage more people to smile, despite the fact that smiling does not fit in with the neoclassic economic model.Smiling consumes resources. It is a net cost.There are many things that are a net cost and society, and they offer no economic value. In the #academia, community building and reviewing is deeply discounted. Yet, the system does not function without it.Many people will never be economic agents, from those with severe disabilities to those who care for others. Right now, parenting and family life have no room in business.That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. The one action that allows us to sustain our civilization is not explained in mainstream #business ideas.I think about how we can encourage more people to take time and say hi to other people.Stop with the strategizing, and start with making time for others.

most major moments of your life, and even within each day, just require you to slow down and not get panicky. The analogy that I like to give is that this is a kid to swimming.Swimming is just controlled drowning. And you have to slow yourself down to realize that you’re going to be OK and to get through it to the other side. the more that you can slow yourself down the faster off, you will be..

I am not the best, nor will I ever will be.We define ourselves by being the “best” in any particular category. Once you’ve been living life long enough, you’ll realize that these categories are pretty arbitrary, and they most often ignore all of the things that you don’t excel at.When you openly talk about the things that you’re not best at, people will ask you “are you OK?” Or, they will just say “he’s a complainer.”Rather than thinking about how you’re the best, why don’t you simply just think about the actions and behaviors that get you to be a better person. Becoming the best is an arbitrary categorization that you’ll never be able to achieve. And if you do it achieve it, it will be so narrowly defined that it’s going to ignore many of your other wonderful traits that you are describing as not best.This is a subjective opinion. That thing that you are the best at is likely because of an abnormality, just like the things that you believe are not so good.You cannot replicate that abnormality, and ergo, it is nothing you should focus on.Just be YOU, and take one more step today. You don’t need to be the best, but you need to take that step.If we focused on performing the actions and behaviors, rather than the actual outcomes, you’ll likely far exceed any of these categorizations anyways.Be you, because you are remarkable.

Everybody has something that they used to fill their tank. What do you use to fill your tank?For me, I’m learning Italian, exercise, and watch TV with my kids. I am also building R3ciprocity.Most of the economic and #management models of life exclude those impactful elements. they are excluded, and humans are treated as machines.In my own life, having these important elements are the reason why I work. They are the fundamental reason.Why should we ever think about excluding them?What is it that allows you to live a relatively #healthy life, while dealing with the mundane nature of what we do?I think the key to remember is to find things that allow you to be joyful, And, if you really want to, allow you to grow. But, that is not necessary.None of these things add to productivity in your life, but they improve who you are they make you feel more complete, and fill the voids where other temptations may sneak in that are less fruitful.We need to have more open conversations about every day life. This IS the reason for economic productivity.

Life requires you to often manage #negativity in your life. One of the things that has been important to me is realizing that my thoughts are often in my control, and I can choose to actively manage how I engage with the world.If I don’t feel well, I work towards feeling good.I can choose to see all of the negative aspects, and that is easy to do. Or, I can choose to view positivity and the opportunities that are not yet there.Actively work at becoming OK, and managing the world around you.Ultimately, you are a remarkable person, and you have a great deal of opportunities ahead of you. It just takes some time to achieve those opportunities.You are the person that manages just now remarkable you see yourself.

This is how we tackle an application to a foreign researcher, so that you have far better odds of getting into graduate school then what is happening by a straight up ask.

Don’t be so shy, and change your life out and being yourself. All of those things you’re afraid of you’re not as serious as you think they are.

you don’t understand. I need to get this done.Those are the words that I often hear by people that are not centered. Many people that feel more centered have more time in the day, and will make time for anything that happens.You will never have enough time. And you will always feel like other people don’t understand.It’s up to you to decide to make time in your life.

My default will always be choosing an environment of love and compassion. I was privileged to be part of a family that had that.

How does one navigate #uncertainty in a market? Honestly, there’s no right way. We presume that there is a strategic way, but in most cases, it just involves self-forgiveness.If I knew the right way, I think I should get paid more than what I do, have more friends, and live longer.For every choice that has the expected outcome that you preferred, there are N others that result in outcomes that you don’t prefer.Instead of thinking that you have to do things right and that there is a right strategic way, how about we assume that you will do things wrong more often than not.I think a lot of it has to do with self-forgiveness with dealing with alternatives that are uncertain outcomes.Our default should be that we will be a mess most of the time. Being a mess and trying seems a lot better than having certainty, and not taking a leap. Take that leap. Admit your flaws.Let’s go!

in school, we thought that we’re gonna get feedback almost every day. You do an assignment, a teacher, and you get to see how you did. You get regular few almost every dayMrs. mom reflection of reality. Most of us waiting for that validation and approval that we did something. Most of us want to know that we are good people.You’ll never get that information in the real world.Likely you will get, if you get feedback, will be something 10 years down the road. This feedback would be very intermittent, and Austin can be negative or positive. Never quite know what you’re supposed to do.conception, that we get feedback, that there’s a market, that’s an external reality is made up construct.Instead of waiting for that validation, realize that your validation is all of the privileges and access to right now. Drinking water, warm food, and somebody smiled at you yesterday.Your validation and your feedback is settled. You get the opportunity to thinkYou get the opportunity to read and say something. Not everybody gets that opportunity.Just remember how much of a remarkable opportunity that actually is.

we all have traits that we feel bad about. If you have strong negative emotions, and you can’t openly talk about it, it means that it has power over you.Don’t let things in your life have power over you. You may be unable to talk about things like money, your relationship, and other things because of the power that these feelings have over you.Such strong emotions that we often have adverse reactions to them and do things that are not positive in our life, or in the life of other people around me.Rather than letting those silly emotions dictate your life, have some conversations and try to figure out why you’re having those emotions.

“Follow your passion” they say. I don’t have a passion, and neither do “they.”#Academics are supposed to have a #passion for research.#Managers are supposed to be passionate about people.Your supposed to be a top passionate performer.The idea that we have have to “follow your passion”, that we have one direction in life, is a bit of a misnomer. Newsflash: Passions die and others may dwindle your passion.Real world people are not nice and often actively work towards diminishing others’ passion.Most people are a mess, and if you have a passion for two weeks, that is fantastic!Don’t be upset if you don’t have anything that you’re driven by, and live your life as if you want to.Honesty, I see “following your passion” often leads to #burnout and poor behavior.Passionate people are often not fun to be around.You may never have a passion and that’s OK.Be flighty! Do things that are YOU at the moment.Yes, you get specialization effects from being single-goal oriented, but be human.Humans are a mess.That is okay.You are okay.

Much of modern management, and the outcome-based focus of management is an economic logic of management by fear. If you’ve done things, right, then you’ll get the right outcomes. If you’ve done things wrong, then we need to select a different person for the job.An alternative logic, is a logic of love and understanding. It’s a logic of being curious about why somebody might’ve made an error. It’s a logic of asking multiple whys for the deeper reason. It’s a logic of saying you’re OK, and I have your back, let’s work on this together.What logic do you prefer?

“#Strategy #Professor” is an ironic oxymoron.I am a Strategy Professor. This implies that I must “profess” some understanding about the world. Strategy implies that we know how to live a better life because we understand the key strategies of success. Surely, what we know applies to the organization of families?I’m sitting here laughing and smirking as I write this.Last night, I ate ice cream, watched TV with my kids, and was irritated by someone in my family.I am wearing sloppy old ripped jeans, and often cut my own hair. I shake uncontrollably and turn red if I have to give an important public speech.Does this sound like someone who has their “shit together?”Of all of the things that I’ve learned in my life, I could tell you that kindergarten teachers were more influential in my life then my strategy professors. (Sorry to my colleagues and mentors).My elementary school teachers taught me more about how to live a good life and become successful than any strategy paper I’ve read.I don’t know, nor should I know, what the “strategies of success”are. I don’t know anything more than beyond my own experiences, and I don’t think that that is legitimate to profess.It’s easy, actually.I can tell you I am f-ed human that could not read in front of a class even in high school. I was dead last in every sport in elementary school. (Read this message closely and you will find mistakes.)Everything I know that can equate to having a successful life, business, or relationship is taught by six grade, and I really can’t add to that.Help others.Love yourself.Some people are jerks. Don’t try to fix them.Save a bit.Work as much as possible.Don’t give up.It’s okay to be f-ed up.My parents taught me more about “success” than anything. The notion of success is BS, and you can have more fun watching the deer in the potato garden than “pretending success.”Call me “Screwed-Up Sits In The Corner Guy.” That makes more sense.

There’s a lot of people that have given up. They don’t feel like they should try.But, the amount of potential that you have even when you get older is spectacular. You’ll never know how much potential you have until you actually get up and try.

almost all data is very messy, and requires a great deal of effort to work with it. We need to be more open and honest, with the messiness of the real world.

Much of my experience is my life, feeling like an outsider in academia, and feeling like I never quite fit in.Because of this, I always want other people to be impressed with me. So when they don’t like my experiences, I have to feel the need to correct them.This is something that I struggle with.

Work together as a team in a family. Knowing that everybody works as a team, but you have boundaries is an important part of a healthy relationship.It’s about thinking how you can tackle the world together, rather than thinking about who is winning and losing in the relationship, that matters.

much of being a professor is admitting that you’re good enough as you are.

I contemplate whether academic tenure track jobs are dying, and what this means for anybody that is thinking about going into the career.I suggest rather that they’re changing and some of these changing norms in society are quite positive for the career.

When you believe that other people are talking behind your back, you have to take a step back and realize that everybody is self interested in there likely not even thinking about you at any given time. That’s where you have to accept yourself and work on yourself more than you have to worry about other people.

is there a singular best answer to business success, and question and think about our world in the sense of a puristic world that is constantly changing. I question whether business success and the concept of business success actually makes sense in this world.

Are you helping too much in your organization? Does it feel like you’re getting penalized for doing what you believe is right?I think it is important to talk about the absurdity of that, and think about how you can stay true to yourself, despite the system that may not recognize it.I help you think about how it’s absurd to get penalized for being helpful.

I talk about the financial returns of podcasting or anything else in life. It’s often that you don’t get a one-to-one conversion in terms of the effort that you put in and the outcomes you actually get.I think and talk about how you just do it because it’s your thing to do.

Learning how to say, it’s not my problem or good luck to you isn’t important, skill set.Learning how to say good luck to you is a recognition of the boundaries that you have with your influence. It’s recognition that sometimes you don’t have as much control as you think you do.Understanding that sometimes people need to have lessons that they learn themselves is an important part of growing up.

Do we really have a choice, I think out loud about whether we actually have choices in life and then give you some ways to think about the fact that we may not have a lot of choice with what happens.

Much of our life has now being distilled down to numbers and metrics. #Academics are measured by often a single number.You often can’t change the numbers. That number is often just reflection of the social subsystem that you’re part of. It’s very hard to change your life once you’ve lived it. Much of who we are is already been predetermined. Besides, do you want to be a different you? Aren’t you good enough?But, what you can do is focus on repetition, and enjoying the process while you repeat.This is far simpler and in your control. It’s also a reflection of what you actually do.

Despite encountering actions from individuals with less than honorable intentions and those who spread #negativity, it's important to recognize that the world has improved significantly over the decades.While there have been some worrisome trends in recent years, we should focus on the long-term trajectory. Two centuries ago, most of us would not have survived, facing famine, pain, and suffering beyond our modern understanding.In other words, jerks existed 200 years ago and they exist today, they just don’t have the same effect.Looking ahead to 2024, my outlook remains positive, despite concerns about climate change, human rights, and political unrest. There have been instances where oppressors have been stopped and underdogs continue to prosper, and advancements in technology contribute to prosperity and peace.I empathize with those who have borne the weight of recent world events. However, the key to changing these patterns lies in maintaining an open heart and a positive attitude. This positivity isn't for the oppressors, but for ourselves, to remind us why we put in the hard work.Smile and laugh — it is the only thing we have.Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Should investors care about who they actually give their monies to? The answer is that if you’re worried about your individual portfolio firms, you’re likely not diversified enough. You likely need to diversify more broadly so that you don’t care about individual firms or assets.

My faith in the scientific review process of generating results that are meaningful is actually very low. I talk about what this actually means and what we can do about this.

Being able to detach is an important skillset. This includes being independent of most things that we can grow dependencies on, such as money, relationships, and even social media.Allowing yourself to decouple from anything so that you don’t have a want or you’re not dependent on anything allows you to grow as a person.It allows you to know that you can start from the beginning again, and everything that you have from that beginning is an absolute blessing.Repeating in your head, every day, that you are good, regardless of what you became helps you be humble, and allows you to enjoy all aspects of life.

The longer I’ve been in the profession as a researcher, the more I realize that how I conduct myself in terms of being a passivist or submissive, the more likely you’re going to get taken advantage of.Style that I’m learning is to simply state the facts and let the fact speak for themselves.I’m trying to remove my tendency to be submissive as much communication as possible. I realize this part of the reason why I run into trouble in research.

We talk about academic life, what it means to be a creative, and how are you fit in when you feel like you never fit in.We talk about the courage it takes to do creative endeavors, an internal strength to tell the world you’re doing something that is completely different and perhaps can be upsetting.We touch upon the importance of having a sense of humor and playfulness when you are working on hard problems that could not be taken in the right way. The goal is to help people walk through challenging problems that allow them to feel good about themselves when you’re tackling something that makes people feel uncomfortable.

Just as long as you’re working at it, I think that’s all that really matters.Most people will rather sit on the sidelines and think about how the perfect play would exist, rather than try to get out there, and realize that there’s no “perfect play.”When you’re trying, you will never feel like you’re doing things right.There is no perfect way.You’ll always feel that you’re a mess.But, you have to remember that you’re actually doing it.Sitting on the sidelines watching is far different than actually getting out there and making it happen.This is true of going to school, working, parenting, and all major categories of life.Learn the important skill of not taking anything to seriously, and forgiving those who do.

Make it happen. Doing large projects requires a conscious effort, and the only way that you can accomplish things is just to make it happen. I don’t know any other way.I often think that the scientific literature is just wrong because it is not talking about the average person. The average person doesn’t have the resources that is often talked about in the scientific literature.You don’t have access to venture capital, you don’t have access to large companies, you don’t have all of the things that people think are important.The only thing that you can do in your life is choose to make it happen. It’s a choice.You decide that you’re going to make this happen and carry it through to turn it into something.The only thing that you can do in your life is choose to make it happen. It’s a choice for you to decide that you’re going to make this happen and carry it through to turn it into something.

Almost all of the self-help and financial management pop-culture books, and even the academic literature, assumes people are far more motivated than what they truly are.Rather than focusing on the top performers, in my view, we should be focusing on the bottom, which is a far larger percentage of the population. It will also move the needle a lot more.How do we get people excited? How do we tackle the problem of encouraging people to want to do something? These are bigger questions than how do we get the top performing companies to perform a little better.In my view, rather than focusing on the end-goal and numbers that people just simply can’t imagine, we should focus on simple things, like encouragement, or getting people to take a simple step.These are far more easier to do, and they’re more likely to get people to feel that they can accomplish things in their life.

I talk about a new feature that we are building into the R3ciprocity platform that will hopefully aid people in their classrooms and as well as conference organizing.

we need to be careful not to use external characteristics that are easy to observe, and use characteristics that are much more deeper and more align with what we are actually trying to seek.Age doesn’t necessarily mean, wisdom, and use doesn’t necessarily mean beauty. We need to understand, what it is that we are actually striving for.

You get up and you do it anyways. No matter how it feels and what you’re going through, you put in the work to actually get to where you’re going to go.Nobody feels like they want to actually do it and there’s no reason for why you actually do it, but you do it because you know it is good for yourself and for the world. Why is it good? You don’t know.Just get up and do it anyways.

The performance mindset, that many of us abide by often results in a great deal of negative emotion. The one thing that I can recommend is to take a step back and feel how fortunate that we actually are at this given moment.Practice do not focus on performance, and focus on what it means to be a fortunate human being today.

Once you deconstruct what most people do on a daily basis, you realize that there is a lot of humanity across all of us.What does it mean to be successful? Really, nothing.You are projecting and playing success.The actions that a CEO will take are often very similar to somebody else in an organization. You get up, brush your teeth, have some breakfast, you go off to work, and then you come home. You eat, drink, and talk like anyone else.The more I live life, the more I realize that who you are, and where you become is more to do with circumstance, than your own efforts. Other words, success is manufactured.Once you realize this humanness, it often strips away all of the crap that people believe what it means to live a good life. Instead, there is a lot of humility that comes by looking at our humanity, rather than focusing on the rules that you take.You don’t need to impress anybody. o anybody.

How do you fix the competitive culture in academia? How do you ensure that people don’t get lost and they feel rewarded?The only way that I know is to build selflessness into the culture.

How do you build long-term wealth? It’s a scammy question. You are right.But, if you cared about doing it right, this did not make you click and read this far.The psychology and behavior of building long-term wealth is much different than building it in the short-term. It requires you to think about how do I actually live a good life for a long time. This is much more realistic than any clickbait YouTube course will tell you.But, it is hard. When I say think 90 years of investing, you laugh. You do. You say “Maslach is a baffoon. Who is going to do that?”It is very difficult for almost all. We have to fight off short run thoughts that lead to what you believe that wealth is a short run play. It is not.This process is very similar to many things in life, such as exercising, studying, and losing weight.Long-run wealth building, requires humility, and being counter to most of culture. You have to be OK with looking like the poorest in the room. You don’t even need to understand business or investing that much, when you start.Building wealth is really is just you battling YOU.How do I know?I am talking to myself.

A great deal of dealing with rejection is not to let the arbitrariness of it affect you. The only way that I know how to deal with this arbitrariness is to disassociate. These outcomes have nothing to do with your identity.View what you’re doing is simply a job, and these outcomes are not your identity.Internalizing outcomes as who you are, whether it be publications, grants, and sales made, will inevitably lead to moments of crisis.You are more than that.Keep taking those steps forward.Screw the rest. It doesn’t matter anyway.

Is prestige status in the academic job market harmful? The harm might come from generalizing too much from these very poor indicators, and instead not taking a rich understanding of the people and resources that you are generalizing about.

The conception of entrepreneurs and innovators as heroic in modern society, is far from the truth. It’s often the complete opposite and you feel lonely and isolated.Your job is to figure out ways to destigmatize what you’re doing, and maintain a healthy and happy state. This involves doing the basic things like spending time on yourself, eating properly, and getting adequate sleep. sleep.

My view of #management has completely changed in the last few years period. I used to think that there was only so many resources that went around and that if I get some resources, it means somebody else loses, and vice versa. The world was finite.I no longer have that view. I think the goal is to ultimately try to enjoy my life, and make other people feel good about themselves too. It has nothing to do with resources, but has everything to do with keeping that “sparkle” in your eye.

How do you become a multimillionaire? What does that actually look like? Often you’ll find that people that have an extraordinary amount of wealth are quite generous, and very unassuming.

Becoming a billionaire is absolutely possible as a normal person. There is just two things: Invest a significant portion of your income, and do this for 90 years or more.When I show people this, the response is “why don’t more people want to become billionaires?”Yes this is a very long-term perspective and investing diligently for a long time is hard.It is interesting to me that most people see that is outside of their possibility, and speaks to our own humanity. Why is it that normal people feel negative emotions to billionaires? To me, this is an interesting artifact of what it means to be human.Why do you think this happens?

Much of academic research is unfair. You might be doing everything right and you make a little progress.You can only make small dents on this unfairness. You can’t change it overnight.So what can you do?You try every day, and you never give up. You take advantage of the moment that by chance someone gives you the opportunity.You can either let it get to you, or view it as a puzzle to be solved. It will not change unless you view it’s opportunities.

The way that higher education existed is likely changing, and we have to come to terms with these changing norms because of the democratic access of information.

One of the biggest mistakes that I’ve ever made is thinking about how I can get approval or acceptance from other people.I have done a lot of ventures in my life, and become increasingly unsure of seeking approval is ever a good thing.I become more aware of the importance of doing things first and accomplishing things for your own satisfaction, rather than to earn approval from other. It becomes increasingly important to remember that you do “you,” and you figure out how to make your own life thrive.People are not coming to the rescue.It is one of the hardest lessons of all can learn, but it can add the most value in our life.

If you are entrepreneurial, or that are innovative, you will rarely fit in with the world. You have to get used to feeling like an outsider, or that you don’t necessarily belong. Your job is to always feel like an Outcast, and get used to that feeling as you do, innovative things.

We often find ourselves in paradoxes, which we can’t resolve. Nor, should we.One important paradox is striving to be the top in your domain, but realizing statistical probabilities almost always suggest that being the top is either fleeting or unrealistic.But, to become the top, you have to dream it.Balancing the dream of being the top, and coming to terms with reality that you’re not is one of the hardest things that you have to deal with in life.Understand that performance and productivity is often outside of your control, yet we have to continually strive towards long-term productivity and performance. We often have to balance the dream of success, with the reality of contentment.My only solution to balance this is to simply say the boyscout motto “do your best.”

Eriselda Danaj talk about her experiences as a talented scholar, in making hard decisions in her life. She talks about how there’s often never right answer with these hard decisions.

Key insights to get traction on major social platforms. I’m on a lot of platforms and I’ve learned a lot about social creation. The only major platforms that I have not tried for content is Twitch and OnlyFans. (By the way, the number of users on these two platforms is unbelievable - these are not fringe parts of society).Here are important lessons that will help you:1. #LinkedIn rewards achievement, and anything to do with achievement. Information is downplayed, but achievement and recognition will get extra algorithm boosts.2. #YouTube rewards audience retention and high click-through-rate. If you treat YouTube as if you’re a data scientist, you’ll actually do quite well on the platform.3. #TikTok rewards authenticity, and either very short or very long content. However, TikTok is more about being part of a larger community, and you’re likely not going to garner attention for you individually.4. #Facebook in general has been feeling content creators for sometime. They’re making an active attempt to make it a better experience for content creators (in particular Facebook reels), but it’s still is considerably inferior to the other options. I would not recommend building an audience on Facebook. It will reward family and friends content, but nothing else.5. #Podcasting rewards storytelling, and having multiple guests. Podcasting is relatively easy to do because you don’t need to look at anybody and you could do it at any time. Highly recommend, but it will take a long time to build an audience.6. #Twitter / X has been lagging for quite some time. I’m optimistic that this may change, but it has not been very rewarding for content creation and would not recommend.Overall, I would recommend LinkedIn and YouTube as top picks, BUT, YouTube is lagging in content creation experience. I expect platforms like TikTok to become more significant players and put more pressure on YouTube.OnlyFans may become more important, but I suspect it will be very difficult to shake its stigma and move more mainstream.

One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learnt as a #professor is empathy. I’ve learned to meet people where they are. What do I mean by that? It means that I no longer try to convince people, but get them to bring themselves into the conversation.The idea is that you are joint problem-solving, where both of you might not necessarily know what the right answer is, but you begin with acknowledging other people, and how they’re feeling. You begin by thinking about the stresses and anxieties that others feel, and then you approach the problem by thinking about how you can resolve the stresses and anxieties for somebody else.The idea is to connect with somebody first, rather than go to convincing. I’ve learnt this repeatedly, while writing my own research papers, that continuously get #rejected. You have to stand a line between what you know, and what other people are willing to accept. Sometimes what you know is just not ready for others, and you have to go to the line where other people are willing to accept.It often doesn’t feel great when you do this, but you have to acknowledge how other people are feeling so that you can tackle the larger problem.You win the war by losing the battle.

I post content everywhere, not necessarily to benefit you, but to help me deal with the problems, that one experiences on day-to-day.I hope that you benefit from this content, but it’s been very therapeutic to allow me to speak openly and honest.

we have so many of easy opportunities because we lived today, how are you actually getting to advantage of your friend?What active steps are you going to do to live happy and healthy life within this amazing world that we have? Are you going to spend some time working, sometime, enjoying, and sometime preparing for the future?Remember to recognize that we live in an amazing world, and you have to take advantage of it.

Can you make a rational choice in education? The truth is you can’t.You don’t really know whether you are going to gain all of the benefits that you expected. You also don’t really understand what’s true cost are. The only time you have a pretty good understanding is with educational choices that are fairly standard.If you go outside of those fairly standard educational choices, your guess is as good as mine.What we do and perhaps encourage people to do is to allow them to make this rational choice and see the cost of benefits, very explicitly, but then as well think about how we can encourage people to not make explicit choices.Having the information to make rational choices is one thing, allowing people to explore and pursue their passions is another.

collectively, we matter, individually, we may not matter as much as we would like.

Conversion rate optimization, while theoretically promising, often demands significant resources that many people may not be willing to invest. It becomes particularly challenging for beginners who lack a clear roadmap and are uncertain about its worth.Instead, consider a more relaxed approach – experiment and enjoy the process without taking yourself too seriously. Concentrate on sustainability over time rather than obsessing over finding the ultimate method.

I think we get caught up with either doing too little or too much with any particular domain in our life. Figure out how to make things, Ebben flow, by never taking any particular activity to seriously, but take each activity seriously.It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s about balancing being OK with something not working for a long time, and at the same time being able to sustain and grow this activity that you’re working on.

How do you stay grounded when you are doing research? How do you pursue other things outside of research? Dana Cohen talks about research life and how to deal with the stresses of research.This podcast expresses personal views only and does not represent the policies or opinions held by the Ronin Institute.

Social media marketing for new product development is a lot more trickier than you ever think it’s going to be. Your goal is just completely your healthy life, and you try to do your best with everything that goes on around it. There’s not gonna be one thing that you do that changes everything. You just do your best and you repeat.

Is career networking and working one’s network actually a dead skill? Do you not need to worry about your network position within society? The truth is one’s position in your society is perhaps one of the biggest predictors of where you’re actually going to end up.However, you can’t change that very quickly. What you can change is being OK with who you are and knowing that things will take a while to change if you want to change that social position, and you just keep being you.

I disregard much of the advice that’s given to me from people that are not explaining that they’re living in the same world. If they talk about how things come easily, I don’t even consider that information in my decision set.However, if people talk about how they struggled, and it felt like they were the only one, I place a great deal more on their information because it better matches my experiences.Just be careful in where you get information, as often we are playing in different playgrounds.

Thinking about how you can make your self replaceable or remove yourself from the situation can greatly benefit the organization. You should be able to walk away at any given moment so you can do other things. The problem is is that it’s extremely difficult to often do so,I talk about a possible way for you to be able to remove yourself from the situation in an organization.

when you feel behind in competitive market, you often feel that you’re not good enough, or you do things at increased risk, and something harmful happening in your life.I Keating to remember is that how we make these comparisons are often not based on speaker judgments. Our reference groups are often not who we understand them to be and we often have no control who are in the suburban groups. I need to take a step back about these comparisons of the bank, competitive markets, and start thinking that they’re really not usefulInstead what we need to do and start just being OK with where you are at this given moment and look around where you stand and think about whether you are happy and healthy, not how you compare to other peopleMost of us are going to be doing OK when we do that, we have to realize it, but this is a better comparison, and thinking about how you stand relative to others.

Now that I've made progress, I often receive comments like, "It's easy for you to say." Many people may not realize the lengthy journey required to reach a point where one can openly express their thoughts. It's important to understand that when I discuss certain topics, I'm essentially talking to myself and documenting my personal journey.The journey itself is filled with moments of self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, but despite these challenges, I persist and take small steps forward. When faced with such comments, all I can do is respond with kindness, as the individuals making these remarks may not yet grasp my well-intentioned efforts to shed light on the pressures of academia from an external perspective.

It’s important to remember that new ideas, new products and new attempts are most likely to fail. They’re most likely not to work out and most likely not to garner a lot of attention.You will fail.Rather than thinking about success, you have to come into any new project thinking that you’re trying to mitigate the almost certainly of failure.“You are a failure” requires a completely different logic. This requires you to think about how am I actually going to sustain myself and not dwell in the land of failure. How am I going to be OK knowing that things will not work out?Your goal is not to get things right, but to make sure that you are OK with you being “you” when things are not going in the direction you expected.

Hacks and tips do very little in terms of making sure that you succeed in the long run. The best thing that you can do to ensure your success is to focus on living a happy and healthy life.It’s about focusing on getting back up and doing it again regardless of how you actually feel about it. I can’t remember a single hack or tip in my life that actually made a difference.What is made a difference in my life is getting back up and doing it a game. It’s realizing that the game is infinite, give me a extraordinarily short for a single person.

i’m driven by my good fortune in life. I was born at a time where we have farmer opportunity. He’s the new ever has. And we can tackle some big enormous problems simply with persistence. I’m super excited to do that so that other people can see you confuse things even though you’re just a little love you.We have the opportunity to take us to world because of the times we live in. Nobody else has had this opportunity other than us. Why not take advantage of it?

The standard view with #entrepreneurship is that somebody sees an opportunity, and they pursue that opportunity. From my perspective, it’s actually the opposite: the opportunity finds you. You do not necessarily want to go through all of the work of being an entrepreneur, but the problem is so pervasive and important as soon as you raise your hand that it exists, people want to support that particular solution.You get thrust into entrepreneurship, regardless of whether you want to or not. You almost get pulled, kicking and screaming into the role of entrepreneur because of the problem is so important and nobody knows how to solve it.

How did the R3ciprocity Project Get It’s Name?R3ciprocity got its name with a simple comment made by one of my advisors. He said, “Don’t thank me, pay the favor forward to somebody else someday.”So I did. 1000s of times over.A small comment goes a long way.

The good all days thankfully have passed. Many people romanticize what things were like in the past.I encourage you to pick any specific area of your life and think about the way that used to be 30 years ago. In almost all areas of your life, you’ll realize once you pick a category that our life is phenomenally better then it ever used to be.For me, I was thinking about the headaches that I get on a regular basis. I get chronic migraines, and I take acetaminophen and migraine medication.Without this medication, I would likely have debilitating headaches about it twice a week if I would’ve lived 30 years ago. I’m so thankful for those who have discovered new knowledge in the past.We think about how things are today and we think about all of the problems. But, you don’t realize is that most of the problems that we have today in pale in comparison to the problems that we had 30 years ago.

The real story is you never really know what is the right answer. So you get up and you just do it, and you have fun. You’re likely making mistakes at any given moment, and you’re probably a mess. But, who cares? The goal is to keep going and smile along the way.

The standard academic story is that person pushes away the outside world for 30 years, and then we celebrate that particular person for doing so.Can we change the story? How do we ensure that you feel like you are part of a community?Can we ensure all people you’re welcome and included?I think so. I think if we repeatedly tell people that they’re not alone, that they are remarkable, and that they matter, I think we can change a lot of the downsides of the system.Do I think the incentives will change in the long run? Probably not.However, for those that feel like they don’t belong, I think we can give them a voice. So here it goes: You’re doing perfectly fine as you are.Keep being you.

Your life is incredibly short, and I think you need to be very careful with what you choose to do in your life. If you pursue things for the sake of meeting market demands, I fear that you might wake up one day, 25 years later and realize that you’re no happier today than you were 25 years earlier.Pursue those things that make you feel alive inside. You can find a way to make it viable, it’s only those that are unhappy with themselves that will tell you otherwise.

and the reason why I do the reciprocity project is the number of people that come up to me with tears in her eyes. The number of people that are to deuce that they’re somehow academic failures or problems is far too large, and we need to change this. We need to change the conversation to focus on positive reinforcement and thinking about ways to make our careers. Fun and excitingIn short, we need to go back to weight science with originally intended. Filled with mystery and excitement. In the odd goofy moments.

that’s just the way this is a terrible excuse. Yet most of us decide that’s what we were up to you talk to you. Will conclude that the world is fixed and we can’t make a difference.Yes, changing many of the social structures that we have often a difficult. There’s often no good way of making change, but you can figure it out if you don’t except that’s the way it is as an excuse. I think a lot of courage and a lot of tiny little actions. Every day, you can change how things are her.If you believe that you can make a positive change in your life, encourage others around them to do the same thing.

When you create innovative endeavors, you have to be OK with knowing what you’re doing is good. It’s highly likely that most people will not understand it and highly likely that most people will ignore it.Having that stability inside to get up and do your thing is all that matters. Keep doing good things, regardless of their outcomes.You be you.

We need to redefine academia and what it means to be an academic.

I can either sit there and dwell or I can roll with the punches and love who I am, and try to live on the world even more. The world is often not going to be forgiving, but you can be forgiving of yourself.

Finding product market fit is a challenge and it never is going to be intuitive at the gecko. Understanding what the market wants and what you can actually build is never quite clear.

Spam versus getting the word out. How do you actually deal with getting your word out for your entrepreneurial endeavor? You just get up and practice. Know that you are kind of spamming people, but you keep trying and don’t worry about if there’s any negative consequences that are going to happen. It’s likely most people are not gonna care as much as you think that they will in your head.

it’s important to remember not to push away the things that are most important in your life. Graduate school and doing research teaches you to push away it’s not as important as you think it is, and some of the more important things are more important than you think they are.

You just have to last at doing any entrepreneurial are innovative thing. It’s not what you imagine it to be.

Learning how to not feel like a failure, is an important characteristic, that all researchers in innovators have to think about. An important part of dealing with the research game is knowing that you’re not a failure, and that it is simply just part of the process. Understanding of the outcomes that you get are different for every person is a vital clue to the process. Knowing how to say, just screw it or f it in a bucket is an important piece of the puzzle.

The fundamental flaw in science and in research life is believing that you need to have one single answer. It’s believing that life has a true value that we’re trying to find.In my experience, almost everything has a multiplicity of values that are all equally valid. The more that we get to this view of validating all perspectives, the more likely that we’re going to make progress in the research community.

I think about how the playing field is not a level in science or an academic. We can change this, but it’s going to require a considerable amount of work and technology development to have a leveler Plainfield in scientific research.

understanding that nice guys finish first is one of the most important lessons that you’ll ever learn in life. When you feel comfortable around other people and there’s no desire to impress or censor yourself, you know that you’re in presence of good people.Who do you want to be around people where you’re afraid that they’re going to take advantage of you, or people that make you feel you?Who do you think will get the most opportunities in this world? Or are regardless if somebody takes advantage of you and you don’t end up first, at least you can have the feeling that you were nice and a decent person.

I talk about my love of toast, and I can spend a great deal more time talking about how toast is just wonderful. But, I talked about all of the feelings in the joys of toast, and why we should have more toast in our lives.

Much of your life is outside of your control. Your decisions are often made not made by you, and the outcomes that you get are often not a reflection of any decision that you made.So how do you deal with this? Practice being grateful and practice reminding yourself that you’re remarkable no matter what happens.

The sum of scientific failures is likely much greater than what we would consider research stars. The productivity that comes from most people is spectacular if you were to sum up all of that research effort.The question then becomes a how do we leverage that large group, and be how should we get them the accolades that they deserve.

One of the hardest lessons to learn, and in entrepreneurship or innovation, is realizing that nobody cares about you or your product. The only way that you know if they actually care is when they purchase some thing. It is the purchase decision that reveals their interest in what you’re doing.It reveals a lot about who people are and what they actually say. Once you realize this, you make many different decisions in your life. You become a lot more independent, and you stop listening to what other people are saying, until they actually perform an action.

is academia toxic? Yes, it can be. But it’s more isolating and you’ll realize that people will not help you because they’re all self interested.That’s where you go. No problem. I could do this myself, and I could build boundaries around myself to make me feel good. I can be a decent human being, and do the things that decent human beings do.I could do simple things in my life that are good for me, and will help out other people. I won’t expect anything from anybody else, but that’s OK.You let them be you, and you work on being a more complete self.

The amount of work that goes into a research paper is unwieldy. To actually do a good job, you will have to do an extraordinary amount of work that most people would not be willing to do.You will likely feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that you have to do. The only way that you can get up is to stop worrying about the amount of work that you have to do.

Let’s be practical, and find opportunities that suits you and allow you to be a better person. Stop worrying about whether there are macro conditions that are good or bad, and just start focusing on how you can be a better person.

It’s important to remember that topics become very hot in science. There are bandwagon facts that happen in science, as with every other arena as life. People jump on things as they think that they can benefit from.I have realized that there’s often little benefit to do so, and perhaps the best thing is to just keep going forward, and pursuing the things that matter to you.

I’m grateful for the fact that you’re following along with the R3ciprocity project. i’m grateful for the fact that you can see how things are built to come from nothing, and you just simply keep going no matter how it feels.My ultimate goal is to encourage more people to take leaps of faith and solve problems that they know that exist, no matter how they feel and how big the problem is.

most days I don’t feel like getting up and going and going. Most days I have to go through the motions. But, the important thing that I remember is a start thinking about what is the alternative? I think about all those other people that live a different life than me, and I realize that everybody has a certain amount of drudgery in their life.I realize that we are all struggling with things. I realize that even the person that has it all together on the outside, is still feeling falling apart on the inside.I think about my two dogs, and they probably have the best life that any golden retrievers ever had. But I still leave them for hours at a time to go to work. Even if you have a luxurious life, you still have to go through drudgery.it’s important to get this perspective in what you do.

I am wrong most of my life. But that’s OK, that means you’re getting up and trying, which is more right than most people.

I tried to be is open as I possibly can about the problems that Wen experiences when you’re creating some thing if you don’t have enough resources for it.

popular culture has a stance against higher education. I walk you through how you might think about us, and how we might actually change this, and I think at the heart of it requires a great deal more innovation and education.

Thinking about personal investing is an important way to do well, and it is equally difficult to actually do. It is easy if you have this the right thought process, but it’s actually very difficult when you’re not thinking for long-term benefits.

if you think of your license, a symbol action back to the bees, most people do as well, it’s not necessarily as daunting, then is if you if you your life relative to other people. We all do you many of the same things, and it’s just a matter of changing around how much do you have each particular activity, or is he decompose your life? It feels more forgiving and it also gives you a lot more humility.

What do you do if you don’t have enough resources and you have limited time effort money? In order to create something in a bit if you just do it and you’re OK with that.

In this episode, Professor Hernandez delves into his upbringing in Uruguay and the pivotal choices that led him to a career in management academia. He offers actionable insights on achieving transformative change within a year and sustaining it long-term. Additionally, he reflects on the driving forces behind his research endeavors and daily motivation.

it’s always the same story. Some Nobel laureate wins the prize, and then they talk about how they couldn’t find a job when they first started.If this was a one off story, I would be more in line to think that this is an outlier. But, this is not a one story.We need to start encouraging people, and we need to change the system.

Almost all parts of society has difficult topics that people don’t like discussing. You’re likely not going to understand everything, and the only way that you’re going to understand the world is if you are part of it.

Just about the only ways that I know those people to move up is repetition and education. Remember to repeat.

Focus on the least amount that you actually need. This allows you to break free from the constraint of performance. You don’t necessarily need to always perform at the highest possible amount, you can do OK when you realize that you don’t need as much as what the world suggest you need.

The most important way that we can teach good #science: “Take your time, and slow down.”Having robust insights is important, and science is slow. Taking your time is part of the process.The only way that you’re going to have robust insights is if you actually slow it down. Rushing will lead you to do things that you may find problematic in the future.Take your time with everything that you do. It is okay to spend time on words. It is okay to think. It is okay to redo code many times over.

and give you encouragement to just pursue things that you enjoy. I think we get fixated on the idea that we should have some sort of career to show that we are successful.But, much of the best things that we do have a little to do with those things within our career. Further, often, what are the most enjoyable and interesting things that people do in their career are often non-typical. These enjoyable things and enjoyable moments are not what everybody else does.Just have a good time, and then everything else figure it out on its own.

we face in a Normas problem in research. On one hand, doing research is terrible. It’s not fun, and nobody really explains to you. How do you actually do it.On the other hand, the benefit of doing research is vast and has enormous impacts beyond the researcher themselves.How do you actually reconcile this? I think this provides a good case for the reciprocity project. If we can simply change the lever, just a little bit to encourage more people to get excited about research, and to love them selves for their doing it, we can change the world. The returns by getting people to feel OK about doing research likely will net much more than I can possibly do myself.

I talk about pursuing truth, and what it means to pursue truth. I talk about the challenges of pursuing truth and culture that often does not want to hear that truth.Ultimately, you have to pursue truth that makes the world a little bit better, whether other people understand or think I’m about truth in the same way, it doesn’t necessarily preclude you from pursuing that truth anyways.

Nobody will care and you will make lots of mistakes. How do you get people to care? You don’t. You be nice and smile, and maybe perhaps people will get it.

Professor Brian Nosek discusses the importance of courage and how to navigate difficult challenges and questions in science. Brian Arthur Nosek is a social-cognitive psychologist, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, and the co-founder and director of the Center for Open Science. He also co-founded the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science and Project Implicit. Brian Nosek received a Ph.D. in from Yale University in 2002 and is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia.

Being happy and healthy requires you to manage your life. It requires you to often say no to some things, and spending time and resources on things that many people will find frivolous.Requires you to think about those so-called wasted resources in a way that you can justify them.It requires you to know that every day is not going to be happy, and you take steps towards making yourself happy and healthy, and it requires you to pay attention to who you are and how you feel, and constantly be adjusting how much you spend on managing yourself.

How can you make a positive change in your life? Much of the world is not fair, but you have to work within those confinesHow do you improve yourself and what is that improvement look like? That improvement is generally 1% per year. if you make an improvement that is one percent prettier you’re doing OK.

it never gets any easier. What changes is that? You get better at it.The feeling of constantly pushing forward never goes away.You do get better at what you’re doing.But that feeling of pushing forward is the same. That’s where you have to try to embrace that feeling.

if you’re having doubts about things in your life, just embrace it. Sure you can do it.

How many times have you spent years revising and tweaking every little word of your paper, just to have it rejected? Much time and effort in the research process are lost navigating ambiguous reviews that often highlight issues but offer no solutions. Typically, out of three reviews for a paper, only one may provide constructive feedback while the others simply point out flaws.Contrary to the idealized scientific method, the reality is that much of research is centered on creating influence and compelling narratives. The focus is largely on the tail end—convincing others of your work's significance—rather than on the foundational steps like theorizing, hypothesizing, and testing.To address this imbalance, we can introduce mechanisms within a R3ciprocity platform that provide clear, actionable feedback. A contractual checklist could be employed, ensuring that fulfilling specific criteria substantially increases a paper's likelihood of acceptance.Let's transform the scientific landscape by making the review process more transparent and efficient. Support the R3ciprocity platform to bring clarity and efficacy to research process.Help me create a system in which we have a non-rejectable paper. What would it be like if you knew that if you followed a simple process laid out by the platform that you would have a significant increase in getting your research published?Think about how much money we would save for universities, and the frustrations that would no longer occur for you.Help me change science.

some people are more successful than others, because of their natural gifts, and other people are successful because of their environment.Ultimately what drives success is your ability to get back up into stick with some thing for a long time, regardless of your individual traits.

You cannot convince anybody that you are making a wise choice. The only thing that you can do is to live your life, regardless of what other people will say about it.Many people cannot see very far in the future, and they’re not gonna understand what you’re doing.Best thing that you can do is to just walk in your determination.

longevity is about how long we will actually live. The current movement thinking about our health holistically is likely to add up in compound overtime.However, there are new things that creep up, such as drug abuse, that make it difficult for everyone to perform at their potential.

People often wonder why some succeed while others don't. I believe a big part of this is a marketing problem that sells us the idea that the world is unfair. While it's true that life isn't always fair, thinking that someone like you has succeeded means you can too.The misleading part comes from the belief that you can achieve your goals quickly. That's just not the case. Reaching your goals can take many years. If you make it by the time you're 50 or 60, you've likely done things right.

We talk about leadership, what it means to be a business, professor, and technology start ups.We also talk about what it means to lead when you feel like you’re the smallest in the room.

The more I learn about myself, the more I realize that I do not fit that mold at typical #professor. This uniqueness drives a lot of benefits in my life, and it helps me get a lot of perspective.However, I also recognize that I’m not much different than anybody else. There’s things that you are experiencing that many other people have felt the same way.It’s this balance of recognizing your individual differences, and recognizing that these individual differences are often not so unique, that allow you to live a good life.Go be you. You wonderful person.

Getting level of abstraction right in the research paper is the hardest part. It’s about getting people to see both ends of what you’re actually looking at. It’s about making sure that you have some thing that is generalizable, but also very specific to what you’re exploring.

I give some tips and thoughts on how to navigate this problem of getting the level of abstraction correct.

Most things that are worthwhile require a great deal of effort. This means that on a daily basis you’re not gonna feel good actually doing it.? How do you will some thing to happen? You find those things that don’t make you feel good inside, and you addressed them by substituting other things. Finding things that are light hearted and allow you to get up every day.

is there money to be made? The answer is there’s always money to be made, you just have to figure out the right combination to generate this economic value.

If you can find the right combination, you can actually do well in almost every industry.

What’s the supply and demand of research topics I talk about how supply and demand research topics often does not match up.

I also talk about how some research topics become hot topics. Moreover, I talk about how the funding for research and development ideas is often lower than one would like.

We need to detach from this idea of “being perfect” all the time. most days, I am a giant mess, and much of the things that I’ve worked on in my life have resulted in not so good outcomes.

However, here is what I learned: No matter what happens to you, it’s unlikely that you’re going to get perfect results that you intended.

Having not so good results should be your standard way of measuring what you do. The idea that you will have a successful outcome is somewhat of a fairytale.

So what should we do?

Embrace the notion of being imperfect is perfectly fine.

Embrace the notion that you can do some thing and you will have an unintended negative result.

Embrace feeling like a failure. Having these negative outcomes happened to you stinks, but it is standard result.

Learning how to believe that failure is not a failure should be at the heart of what we do.

It has little to do with motivation about wine people don’t do well. In my view it’s more of the sociology behind what is going on.

Thinking about how do we remove the barriers to failure and making it feel not like a failure is the best course of action.

A key aspects much of life is just showing up. It’s not necessarily about having good performance at any given moment, but it’s just showing up and being part of the zeitgeist.

The concept of "presence" can significantly influence organizational outcomes. Presence is defined as the consistent physical or virtual participation in activities or events within a specific context. In organizational settings, it's not merely performance that determines success, but continuous presence, which facilitates long-term opportunity recognition.

Presence enables two key mechanisms. First, it enhances "opportunity recognition," defined as the ability to identify valuable, previously unnoticed prospects for action. Continuous engagement in an environment improves one's capacity to notice and seize beneficial opportunities. Second, it fosters "personal brand recognition," defined as the awareness and credibility accrued through repeated exposure. The more an individual shows up, the more likely others are to consider them for new opportunities.

The world tends to eat you up if you don’t create a solid base for yourself. Actively manage how you feel about the world, and figure out the way that you are a positive person every day.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will feel like a positive person every day, but it means you are pushing back and trying to be a positive person every day.

There’s a difference.

Is private school better than public school? The answer isn't straightforward because it depends on the individual student. Private schools often come with a certain prestige, but that reputation comes with a higher price tag. For some, the extra cost might be worth it if the school offers specialized programs or networking opportunities that align with the student's goals.

However, whether a school is private or public, the most important factor is how well it suits the student's learning style and needs. Are they taking advantage of the resources and opportunities available? In the end, the "best" school is subjective and varies from student to student, depending on what they are looking to get out of their educational experience.

Go ahead and discount me all you want. You’re giving me more fuel for the fire.Often when you feel the darkest, it’s all the more reason to get going and show everybody else what you can actually do.Everybody will be watching. I’m thinking that there’s a simple rule, you don’t know what the secret is, you’ll just keep working at it, while everybody else keeps watching.

I have been working on being OK with who I am, no matter who I perceive I’m interacting with. I often feel very insecure with those that I perceived from as higher status than me, and the way that I am learning how to deal with this is by realizing that I don’t have a lot of flaws. Rather is things that I perceive as flaws are actually gifts and traits that are uniquely me.They’re my traits that provide a tremendous amount of value to the world. The result? Increased confidence and deeper connections. This shift isn't just about embracing my own identity; it's also about recognizing the contributions each individual brings.

There are many unspoken myths in Academia, and it’s your job to ignore them. It’s your job to live a healthy life that fits for you.

I repeatedly suggest that you need to develop a view of yourself where you are just “good” inside. The #research game is full of #negativity, and you’ll start to question who you are as a person.Remember, it is not you that are putting these poor images of yourself in your head. It’s the research game that is doing that. It’s a few people that don’t understand what you were about. Screw ‘em.Develop a view of yourself where you’re doing OK and you are good enough no matter what happens to you. If you get your paper rejected, good.If you lose your job, good.If you get a bad review, good.Because you are freaking awesome.

You’ll never get everyone to like you. Often there are people in your life that will not like you for whatever reason. And you likely did not do anything wrong, and there’s likely nothing you can change about yourself to fix that.What you have to get used to is to say, “bless your heart,” which is a southern saying that means I can’t change you, and I will go on my merry way. It means you have to change yourself, and I have to accept you for who you areUnderstanding that there are always people in your life that will not accept you for who you are is a important part of career development.Get used to saying “bless your heart” on a regular basis.

What is serendipity? I talk to Professor Christian Busch from University of South California about serendipity, and how we might enhance our ability to take advantage of serendipity.

I talk about what it means when you actually only have one listener or you do not have anybody that’s listening to your podcast. I walk you through how you should feel privileged at this moment, rather than thinking about this as a deficit.

This is a remarkable moment where you can explore things that other people cannot explore. You’ve already jumped over major hurdles to create your podcast.

Because it’s difficult to predict performance outcomes from actions in almost everything that we actually do, we should never reward success.

Rewarding success creates perverse outcomes.

Success is the result of years of action.

You’re far better off, tying your performance to actually “performing” that particular action.

We should not be rewarding success, but we should be rewarding “showing up.”

No one got good by being good. They became good by showing up.

I think we need to acknowledge more of the relationships that get you to where you’re going to go. Often it’s a small little relationship moves that make a difference in somebody’s life, especially over the course of a lifetime.

The reason why you get an opportunity is not because of your skill set, but it’s often because somebody is willing to give you a chance

Be the person that is willing to give other people a chance.

Push against the world. The world often feels unbudging in your day-to-day life.

But if you push against the world, sometimes you can move it just a little bit. It takes us unfettered belief that you can move the world just a little bit.

So how do you do that? Just push and close your eyes until it happens.

should you as an academic or researcher getting a side gig or a part-time job? The answer is that is a personal choice that’s up to you. If it helps you be a better person, you do you.

stop overthinking money. If you’re more relaxed with your money, and more relax with what you have, and don’t have, you’ll often make wise decisions in the long run.

I think when we get emotional about the things that we possess and don’t possess, we often start making decisions that are harmful.

There is a difference between those that are interested in business and #entrepreneurship, and those who are not.

Those that are interested believe that they can make a positive difference in the world.

Those that aren’t believe that the world is full of problems that cannot be solved.

Like it or not, those that view problems as solvable end up solving those problems.

They end up changing the world , while those that do not, watch the world pass.

Go figure?!

What is the difference between knows that actually change the world in those that don’t?

They believe.

What actually leads to enduring success is repetition for a very long time. There’s not really a single thing, but it is very much living a Puritanical life for as long as you possibly can. The more about you do “the right thing” for a longer period of time the more likely that you’re actually going to experience this success in your life,

The hard part is, is that “doing the right thing” is often very difficult to do for an extended period of time.

how do we solve the credibility crisis with in science? The call is often for increased transparency.

However, being transparent is not easy, and it comes at a significant cost an effort. I don’t know what the answer is, but I can tell you by being open for so long that it’s extremely painful to actually do.

balancing career, success, and managing how you deal with career, success is a important function of every day life

Most often we actually have to deal with feelings of not being successful, and feelings of success are often just reserved to a few people. The goal is to make sure that you do not feel, as much of a success or as much of a failure as what is currently going on in your own life.

Because the outcomes that you’re receiving are currently not matching who you are on either one of these extremes.

Always remember that you’re no different than anybody else. If you’re feeling like a failure, almost everybody else should feel like a failure in your circumstance. If you’re feeling like a success, get your head out of your ass.

how do you actually situate your data empirical findings within the literature? It’s a puzzle of the figure out what is the right level of abstraction so the other people can pay attention to what you’re doing.

I have yet to figure out what the right answer is in terms of how you should frame what you’re talking about. Every time that I think I am abstract enough, it is not. Every time that I think it is too abstract, it is not

The puzzle is getting people to buy into your empirical findings, given with what the literature already says about some other things.

If you are moving into a new home, or beginning your life, for the first time, this podcast will likely help you make better long-term decisions and help you be successful in the long run.

Don’t fall for the trap were you think you’re getting some amazing deal compared to somebody else.

“They” almost always get their money somehow.

One of the things I’ve learned by studying business for many years, you cannot get “deals” compared to the average person is that in the long run.

My wife and I have a saying for this “they always get their money somehow.”

What does this mean for you? Don’t fall for any credit cards, waste your time looking for deals, get extended warranty schemes, or anything else that is like that.

They always get their money somehow.

An important thing to remember is that no matter how things look in your life, and how dark it actually is, you can change your story.

Your environment is difficult to deal with. I am not going to diminish the challenges that you face every day.

However, you can change not only how you look at the world, but also you can impact and change the world yourself. Impacting the world takes a lot longer than you ever think it will, but why not give it a shot?

The outside world is going to crap what you actually do in the academic game. Nobody is going to like your research, few people are ever going to read what you do, and the rest of the world is going to discredit your profession. You will be vastly underpaid compared to what you can do in the industry.

So then why do you do what you do?

There is just one simple answer. Because because.

I can’t read very well.

It takes me extraordinarily long time to read anything. I found out later on in life that I struggle with ADHD, and one of the most difficult things to do is reading.

When I was younger, I used to dread reading in the classroom.

I remember studdering as a kid. I still do when I get nervous.

I still do, except for I forgive myself a little more when I make mistakes.

I will make mistakes when I read. I will skip words and not understand what I read a few sentences ago.

I have realized that is a wonderful trait to have. Most stuff is boring anyway.

For me, the research career is less about understanding of particular topic, more about understanding who I am as a “person.”

Just get back up and repeat. That is the only option that we have if you want to make progress. As much as you don’t want to, and it feels terrible, the only thing that we could do is just get back up and do it again.

Why aren't there more billionaires and multi-millionaires? This question may seem simple to ponder. The mathematics behind it are relatively straightforward, involving the investment of large sums of money over an extended period.

The real challenge lies in human nature and societal factors. As individuals, we have desires that may conflict with accumulating vast wealth. Additionally, the society we live in can make it difficult to reach such extraordinary financial heights.

So, how might one actually achieve this level of wealth? Let's explore what it might take.

No matter how well-intentioned you may be, it's impossible to please everyone. You can't control how others respond to your actions, but you can control how you act in response to their reactions.

Continue to love yourself, regardless of how others respond.

I’m very grateful with the life that I actually have. There may not be very many exciting things that happen in my life. But, that’s on purpose. That means that there’s incredible stability.

Be thankful for what you have in the life that you actually live.

When you perceive as your weaknesses, maybe do to your environment. you may be perfectly good as an individual, and the problem is not what you actually do but what is going on in your environment.

I have come to realize that all of the weaknesses that I thought I had are not weaknesses. They are my human traits, and it’s simply the fact that the environment that doesn’t embrace them the way that one would hope.

So how do you change this? You accept the environment as it is, so can you embrace yourself with who you are. You just simply keep walking forward as a courageous person.

I talk about the importance of investing for the long term. Talk about why you might want to invest a lot of your income, and what does might mean for generational wealth.

And get you to dream about a future where you have unlimited possibilities to give back and change the world as you know it in your community.

The only way that you can do that is by indefinitely investing a lot of money for as long as he possibly can.when you’re old and gray you can do remarkable things with those investments.

giving yourself some leeway, and, forcing yourself to explore the world is a healthy part of being a person.

Despite your desire to be in the future, and live your life in the future, try to spend some time in the present when you’re enjoying just a small settle things that are around you. Often the small subtle things can have a lasting impression on your life and help you see a new course of the future.

I talk about my academic career and give a description of what I did today. I want people to understand that it’s never easy easy as you think from the outside.

And it may not be as difficult as you think either.

I just want you to have a rich understand other people.

You can either sit there and wait until somebody comes and helps you, or you could be the change that you want.

The most important thing that I learned is that if you wait, you’ll be waiting for an awfully long time.

Too long. No one will come.

If you are that change, many people are not going like it.

But, at least you know it will actually happen in the long run.

Be satisfied with who you are as a person. Recognize that there’s only so much that you can do, but at the same time what you’re doing is remarkable.

You may be going at a different place than somebody else, but that’s OK. There’s nothing wrong with looking like you’re under performing, (or over performing.) You likely doing things a lot more differently than they are.

Much of our life is focused on getting things done quickly as possible. Do anything so that we can rack up lines on our CV.

However, we can choose to pursue things rather than for the performance of it, but do it because it is a beautiful thing to do, with no real purpose.

It is something that makes you feel good.

I think about the arts and doing things like learning a new language.

There is relatively no advantage to pursue these kind of things, but they make me feel happy inside.

I think I snapped this week. I think from the person that’s ready to lead a change in science and research. I think we need to address some of the major issues in science and research head-on, such as in efficiencies, tell me experience and mental health crisis that’s occurring

We need to start building tools to address these issues. No one should ever feel alone, and the inefficiencies that we are costing institutions and our society, a great deal of resources that could be applied more efficiently.

I am going to change the #academic world using my negative experiences and feelings of desperation and survival as motivation.

I'm creating the #R3ciprocity Project to ensure that nobody else has to go through what I've been through.

It only takes one person to start making a difference.

I've decided to no longer ignore my negative emotions.

Instead, I'm going to embrace them and use them as fuel to change the world, so others don't have to experience these emotions the same way.

Screw ‘em. We have a problem. I am going to change it.

How to deal with #failure with academia and your life.

I want to read it iterate how much I appreciate each, and everyone of you, and those that follow along.

Showing my gratitude is the only way I know how to deal with a failures I experience in my life.

The difference between being a novice in an expert is quite stark. However, what you don’t realize is that to become an expert often have to just put in quantitatively and qualitatively different amounts of work.

How do you actually become an expert? You just keep working at it and forget about how it actually feels in the moment.

To maintain a healthy relationship with social media, one approach is to actively engage with it while also being mindful of the content and individuals you interact with.

One way to promote a positive experience is by blocking people and content that do not make you feel good inside.

Block the hell out of it.

For instance, I personally find that self-promotion on social media often stems from insecurity.

Instead of promoting oneself excessively, I believe it is more genuine to let others discover your accomplishments organically. If someone wants to learn about me, they can simply look me up; there's no need for me to constantly broadcast the amazing things I'm doing.

I block those people that self promote too much.

To cultivate a healthier social media experience, it's important to actively engage with the platform's algorithms. This means being proactive in curating your feed, unfollowing accounts that don't align with your values or make you feel negative, and blocking content that is harmful or toxic.

By doing so, you create a digital environment that fosters positivity, and you'll likely find that your overall well-being improves.

Remember, taking control of your social media experience and being selective about the content and people you engage with can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional health.

Many of us find ourselves making all sorts of excuses to avoid pursuing challenging and uncertain things in our lives. We often think, "Why bother?" because we find uncertainty to be scary, not worth our time, and a potential waste of effort.

But if not me, then who? I often contemplate the achievements of those who have created incredible things in the world. More importantly, I think about how the majority of people, when they reach 90 years old, look back on the things they did not create or pursue. It makes me realize how many resources are wasted because of fear or the belief that something is not worth our time.

It's time to change the conversation and start pursuing innovative things, even when they evoke uncomfortable feelings. I believe that by pushing through the initial doubts and fears, I can make a difference. the belief that something is not worth our time.

It's time to change the conversation and start pursuing innovative things, even when they evoke uncomfortable feelings.

Just put in the work every day and good things will happen. Realize the entire process of doing research is just putting in the work and outlasting everybody else.

It’s a game of survival, not a game of performance.

they talk about me, learning Italian, so that I can become more of a global citizen. I want to better understand other peoples culture, and being part of understanding the culture, I have to learn their language.

In conclusion, the "bumbling idiot theory of creating something from nothing" is rooted in the recognition that the world is complex, unpredictable, and beyond the complete comprehension of any individual, regardless of their education or position. It acknowledges that despite our best intentions, people are inherently self-interested, including ourselves. However, the theory emphasizes the importance of finding a way to engage others and make them care about our pursuits.

In the journey of creating something from nothing, the key factor that truly matters is gumption—the tenacity and perseverance to persist towards a large important goal despite the difficulties and the painful process of repeating and refining our work. It is gumption that motivates us to get up and continue working on something we deem important.

Throughout this process, there is always the risk of falling apart or encountering setbacks. However, it is crucial to understand that certain elements contribute to progress. These include having some level of financial stability, being able to allocate resources wisely, and occasionally challenging societal norms. These factors can facilitate advancement, even if they seem unconventional or insignificant.

To truly make a difference and change the world, one must actively engage in taking action. Regardless of how small or insignificant our efforts may seem, it is essential to embrace the mindset of trying, even if things appear "Rinky dinky" to us. By actively participating and taking steps towards our goals, we increase the likelihood of making an impact.

In summary, the bumbling idiot theory of creating something from nothing acknowledges the complexity of the world, the self-interest of individuals, and the importance of gumption in driving us forward. It emphasizes the need to take action, even in the face of challenges, and encourages us to embrace unconventional approaches to achieve progress and bring about meaningful change.

The "bumbling idiot theory" refers to the idea that innovation and creativity often come from unexpected or accidental sources rather than from intentional, deliberate efforts. It suggests that breakthroughs and novel ideas can emerge from a combination of trial and error, serendipity, and a willingness to explore unconventional paths.

When applied to understanding innovation research, the bumbling idiot theory highlights the limitations of solely focusing on successful outcomes. Often, researchers and analysts tend to study and draw insights from highly successful innovations, such as groundbreaking products or services. However, by primarily examining successful cases, we miss out on understanding the processes, challenges, and failures that are an integral part of the innovation journey.

By embracing the bumbling idiot theory, researchers can shift their focus to also include the exploration of less successful or failed outcomes. This broader perspective provides a more comprehensive understanding of the innovation process, revealing the obstacles, mistakes, and lessons learned along the way. Analyzing unsuccessful endeavors can help identify patterns, pitfalls, and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing our understanding of how to foster innovation effectively.

In the context of growing platforms, the bumbling idiot theory can be particularly valuable. It emphasizes the importance of community building and creating value rather than solely relying on technological advancements. When developing platforms, it is crucial to focus not only on the technical aspects but also on cultivating an engaged and vibrant community that actively participates and contributes.

I also talk about the importance of allowing opportunities to happen through randomness and serendipity. Opportunities don’t happen in a linear path for us. They often occur in a weird, random way that you would not expect.

In discussing the implications for research on entrepreneurship, I believe there is a crucial debate surrounding the concepts of opportunity creation and opportunity discovery. Some scholars argue that entrepreneurs actively create opportunities through their innovative ideas and actions, while others emphasize the role of recognizing and exploiting existing opportunities in the market. This debate highlights different perspectives on how entrepreneurs shape their environment.

Personally, I would like to push the literature beyond this opportunity debate and delve deeper into the realm of social norm violations. From my standpoint, entrepreneurship often involves challenging established norms and breaking free from traditional structures. Instead of perceiving entrepreneurship solely as a means of creating beneficial opportunities, it can be viewed as a rebellious act that defies societal norms. This perspective acknowledges that entrepreneurs may often feel like they are doing something wrong or deviating from the expected path.

I also want to address the limitations of current research methods. Much of the existing literature heavily relies on quantitative methods like panel data and surveys, which tend to focus on significant events in the entrepreneurial process. Unfortunately, these methods may miss out on capturing the day-to-day experiences of entrepreneurs, including the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional aspects of their journey. By neglecting these nuances, we have an incomplete understanding of what it truly means to embark on an entrepreneurial venture.

Furthermore, there seems to be an overemphasis on the traditional Silicon Valley approach to entrepreneurship, where entrepreneurs have access to abundant venture capital and resources. This perspective fails to consider the challenges faced by those who are trying to create something from nothing on a limited budget and with limited resources. It is essential to broaden our understanding of entrepreneurship beyond this narrow lens and explore alternative approaches that reflect diverse contexts and realities.

Lastly, there is a noticeable lack of discussion regarding how entrepreneurs can secure financing when they first start out and attempt to create something new. The focus primarily revolves around riskier funding options such as venture capital and bank financing, leaving little room for exploring alternative financing methods for early-stage entrepreneurs with limited resources.

By adopting a more inclusive and comprehensive research approach, we can gain deeper insights into the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. This will allow us to better understand the diverse experiences and challenges faced by entrepreneurs, consider their behavioral and emotional dimensions, and explore alternative funding avenues that cater to a broader range of entrepreneurial endeavors.

In this chapter, I discuss the implications for strategy research of what I refer to as the "bumbling idiot theory" of creating something from nothing. It is essential to explore how this theory applies not only to the artificial sciences but also to decision-making within organizations. I argue that the existing strategy literature often overlooks crucial cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects that greatly influence decision-making processes.

To address these gaps, I propose a more humble approach to studying strategy—one that delves into the behavioral and normative aspects of strategy and the actual dynamics at play. By shifting our focus to understanding what truly happens within organizations, we can gain valuable insights into the formation and execution of strategies.

Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize that a significant portion of organizational activities is comprised of routine and mundane tasks rather than strategic decision-making. This realization calls for a reevaluation of the concept of strategy, with a heightened emphasis on the notion of "gumption" or taking initiative. I believe that gumption should hold a more central place in the study of strategy, as it can provide valuable insights into how strategies are developed and implemented in real-world contexts.

In summary, the main objective of this chapter is to shed light on the often overlooked cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of strategy research. I advocate for a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to studying strategy formation and implementation, one that considers the bumbling idiot theory and embraces a deeper understanding of the normative aspects and gumption within organizations.

I want to highlight the various tools that I have utilized in the manufacturing process of my book. I have made use of cellphones, a podcasting software called Anchor, Google transcriptions, Upwork, ChatGPT, and Amazon publishing. These tools have been instrumental in bringing my book to life.

However, it is important to note that even though the costs of these tools are expected to decrease over time, it doesn't automatically guarantee that I will be able to leverage them effectively. The availability of free or inexpensive tools doesn't necessarily translate to their seamless utilization. It requires a certain level of gumption on my part.

Gumption, in my experience, is a process that demands a proactive approach to overcoming the challenges that arise from search costs and the complexities associated with using the available technologies. It's not just about having access to these tools; it's about putting in the effort to navigate through the hurdles that come along with them.

I have found that gumption often calls for breaking social norms and embracing unconventional methods. It means pushing the boundaries and going beyond traditional approaches to fully capitalize on the potential of these amazing tools.

In conclusion, while I have been fortunate to have access to remarkable tools for manufacturing my book, their mere existence doesn't automatically guarantee their effective utilization. It is my determination, resourcefulness, and willingness to work through obstacles that will ultimately allow me to make the most of these tools. Gumption is the key, and it takes a great deal of effort on my part.

The entrepreneurial process is characterized by numerous ups and downs, and it lacks any guarantees or guarantees of success. Therefore, it is crucial to possess a significant amount of emotional regulation skills in order to navigate through these challenges effectively.Entrepreneurs must be prepared to encounter both negative and positive events throughout their journey. However, it is important not to internalize these events excessively. Emotional regulation enables individuals to manage their emotions in a healthy way, preventing them from becoming overwhelmed or overly attached to specific outcomes.Dealing with these intense positive and negative events often requires a form of metacognition, which means thinking about one's own thinking process. It involves reflecting on what these events actually mean and how to respond to them appropriately. By engaging in metacognition, entrepreneurs can gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and make more informed decisions about their next steps.Interestingly, many of the skills needed to navigate the entrepreneurial process successfully are akin to those developed in kindergarten. Emotional regulation and emotional intelligence play crucial roles in dealing with the challenges and uncertainties inherent in entrepreneurship. These skills allow entrepreneurs to maintain composure, manage stress, adapt to changing circumstances, and make sound decisions for their ventures.In summary, emotional regulation is essential in the entrepreneurial process due to the frequent fluctuations and lack of guarantees. By cultivating emotional intelligence and utilizing metacognition, entrepreneurs can effectively process and respond to both positive and negative events, leading to a greater likelihood of success.

Financial stability is crucial for entrepreneurship. However, it's not just about having objective financial stability; it's also about how you perceive your own financial situation.Perceived financial stability means how you see yourself as financially stable, regardless of the actual numbers. When you feel financially stable, you're more likely to take on risky and uncertain actions that you wouldn't normally consider. This perception of stability is important because it influences your willingness to take certain actions.Think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which explains that people have different levels of needs. The basic needs like food, shelter, and safety are at the lower levels. When these needs are met and you feel financially stable, you become more willing to take risks and pursue higher-level needs like self-esteem, personal growth, and entrepreneurship.I also discuss how you can achieve financial stability and why it's important to do so. The discussion likely covers strategies and practices that can help you attain financial stability, which in turn boosts your confidence and willingness to take calculated risks in your entrepreneurial endeavors.

Luck and #randomness play a vital role, and let's face it, we often find ourselves clueless about the right or wrong answers. The world is an intricate web of interactions, and it takes years to truly grasp the consequences of our chosen path.In truth, most of us are stumbling through life, stumbling upon fragments of knowledge about what we should do. We're constantly making things up as we go, seizing any opportunity that comes our way.This is why I emphasize the bumbling idiot theory of entrepreneurship. It’s not used in the term of being derogatory, but used in the term to emphasize our inability to understand our own actions and subsequent outcomes from these actions. We are all essentially bumbling idiots within a complex system that produces an infinite number of actions and outcomes.The key is not to interpret negative experiences or temporary setbacks as signs of incompetence. Given the complexity of our surroundings, poor #performance can easily transform into remarkable success in the long run, especially when the environment undergoes a change.That's precisely why #gumption is crucial. We need that unwavering determination to tackle immensely significant problems that strike a deep emotional chord within people.And let's not underestimate the importance of randomness. Perhaps we should pay more attention to its influence rather than solely relying on our individual agency. The truth is, our actions may not always yield the intended outcomes.Hence, we must make the most of luck and randomness by creating genuine options—choices that resonate with our core identity without shackling us to specific strategic actions in the future. These options should act as platforms that nurture our growth and potential.

Entrepreneurship is less about the tools you have at your disposal and more about the relationships you build. It's not about having the perfect instruments to construct the perfect solutions. In truth, entrepreneurship is centered on creating long-term bonds with people you trust and want in your life. You will never have all the tools you need, and the ones you do have will always fall short in some way.In addition, the process of developing new tools can be quite costly. It often involves discovering novel methods and technologies, which can be expensive due to the required expertise.Instead, the aim should be to gather a group of friends, also known as your community, and work out ways to consistently interact with them. The objective is to foster relationships that will stand the test of time. Over time, focus on identifying and addressing challenges that your community is grappling with. This resembles problem-solving, but it prioritizes issues that are vital to your friends.You might have to challenge existing norms because these problems are not currently being addressed in the market. This approach could lead to innovative solutions that fulfill unmet needs.

To grow your community and create something from nothing, it's important to embrace the idea of wasting resources. However, it's crucial to find a balance where you don't feel the impact of this waste while you're in the process of creation.One way to approach this is by being playful with your actions. Engage in hobbies, do charity work, or simply have fun goofing around. Adopt a charitable mindset towards what you're doing. The key is to find a way to give freely without depleting your financial or emotional resources.So, how can you achieve this? Start by not taking yourself too seriously and maintaining a certain ratio in your mind. Determine what amount of resource wastage is appropriate for your situation.The ultimate goal is to find a way to waste resources indefinitely while ensuring that you don't exhaust your own resources. This way, you can continue growing your community without encountering any deficits.

Welcome to my unique podcast, where I'm redefining the process of writing a book. Each episode is a chapter. My central theme? The art of creating something from nothing, achieved through norms violations. I explore unconventional paths that others might shy away from, whether it's standing out in a specific field, leveraging underutilized technologies, or spotting arbitrage opportunities in the landscape. My approach isn't about embracing uncertainty or risk. Instead, it's about how I feel and behave in the presence of others, and how I interpret these interactions. This perspective deviates from traditional entrepreneurship literature, focusing less on rationality and more on the social process. Join me as I delve into this fascinating journey of norms violation and creation.

Join me on this unconventional journey as we delve into the writing process of my book, utilizing all the available tools and technologies. As we embark on this adventure together, you'll witness the raw and unfiltered reality of what it truly takes to bring a book to life.In this fourth chapter, I aim to clarify the concept of gumption—a term I've defined as the intersection between the tenacity to persistently work at something (akin to the idea of grit) and the presence of a meaningful mission in one's life, driving them to pursue a significant and ambitious goal.To illustrate this notion, I draw upon my own personal story, highlighting the pivotal role that gumption has played in shaping my life's journey. Growing up with limited resources, I found solace and purpose through hard work. It became an outlet for my aspirations, allowing me to transcend my circumstances and pursue something greater.Importantly, I emphasize the significance of choosing a pursuit that can sustain our dedication over the long haul. It's not merely about momentary enthusiasm or fleeting interests. Instead, it's about identifying a passion or a goal that ignites our inner fire and compels us to persistently work towards its realization.Through this chapter, you'll gain insights into the power of gumption—how the willingness to work diligently and the pursuit of a meaningful purpose can intertwine to fuel remarkable accomplishments. Together, we'll explore the depths of this concept, unearthing its essence and uncovering the profound impact it can have on our lives. gumption alone is not enough. It needs a purpose—a meaningful mission that serves as the guiding force behind our endeavors. In my case, it was the desire to inspire others through my art, to bring a touch of beauty and meaning to the world. This mission gave my hard work direction and infused it with a sense of purpose that surpassed the mere pursuit of personal success.

The R3ciprocity Project was created with a simple story behind it. Over time, it has evolved into a form of exploration and experimentation, almost like just mucking around.The main goal is to provide as much value as possible throughout my lifetime. It's about recognizing that there are others out there who share the same feelings I once had, and sometimes still have on a daily basis. The aim is to offer encouragement, provide opportunities, and present solutions so that people can surpass even my own achievements.The ultimate objective is to give encouragement and let people know that it's okay to not always feel great along the way. The key is to embrace your true self and love who you are.None of this is about theories of organizations, entrepreneurship, or innovation. It's a deeply personal journey where I reflect on my own emotions and how I navigate the world. It's a testament to my family and the values instilled in me while growing up. It also reveals my profound emotional needs and shortcomings, particularly the desire for others to accept and love me for who I am.

In Chapter 2 of this book, I delve into various theories that revolve around decision-making, organizations, multisided platforms, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These theories were meant to provide guidance for my behavior and actions as I embarked on the reciprocity project. My intention was to apply these theories to gain a better understanding of technology, entrepreneurship, and decision-making within organizations as I built the R3ciprocity Platform.However, one significant challenge I encountered was the lack of concrete guidelines on what steps to take next. Despite my thorough exploration of these theories, there seemed to be a gap in knowledge that hindered my decision-making process. It became clear that relying solely on existing theories and understanding was not sufficient to determine the best course of action for moving forward.This realization highlighted the need for innovation and creative problem-solving. While the theories provided a foundation, they were not exhaustive in addressing the specific challenges I faced with the R3ciprocity Platform. It became evident that I needed to think outside the box, explore new possibilities, and be open to unconventional approaches.

I have been toying with a book about the #r3ciprocity project, which would build on our understanding of organizational decision-making. However, I want to do this a little differently, and how normal books are created. I want you to follow along in the creation of this book.I also want to use all available #technology tools to make this as easy as possible.I don’t know who the audience is, but that is very much the style behind the book. It’s about creating some thing from nothing, and not knowing what you want to create, and who the audience actually is.Let me know me know if you want to follow along. ;-)This may be chapter 1 of a new book about how do you create something from nothing. It’s about the creation of the R3ciprocity platform. It merges our understanding of decision, making an organizational theory with the real life exercise of building a platform that doesn’t exist. It is a process of discovery, and realization that are theories of #decisionmaking and organizational theory are lacking in modesty.This book will be about how we try to create something from nothing when we don’t even understand our own preferences, and we lack in understanding of the preferences, a bit heterogeneous audience, who themselves themselves don’t understand what they want either. This may be chapter 1 of a new book about how do you create something from nothing. It’s about the creation of the R3ciprocity platform. It merges our understanding of decision, making an organizational theory with the real life exercise of building a platform that doesn’t exist. It is a process of discovery, and realization that are theories of decision making and organizational theory are lacking in modesty.This book will be about how we try to create some thing from nothing when we don’t even understand our own preferences, and we lack in understanding of the preferences, a bit heterogeneous audience, who in themselves don’t understand what they want either.

Push against the norm that you must always be achieving outcomes.There is a lot of reasons to push against any norms that have you believing that the outcome always has to be success. This belief in success and #competition has been come institutionalized in much of the modern society.However, if you talk to the growing mental health industry, you often find out that the root of many of our problems is our belief that we need to demonstrate how we are successful than everybody else.If you talk to anybody that is created anything substantial in this world, you’ll often find out that they had to ignore success for a long period of time. Anything that is meaningful requires significant sacrifice that does not immediately result in success.If you want to do well, focus on just having #gumption and doing things for the sake of doing things. #Puttering is far better than being successful.A focus on performance and success almost always inevitably results in the complete opposite in the long run.Focus on the things that give you meaning, and they rarely have anything to do with success.

If you think about the level of analysis in your decision, making, often the outcomes are determined before you even get to make a choice. Remember that your choices may not be yours to be madeFurther, if you feel guilty about certain outcomes or choices, that you believe you have to make, realize that many of your choices are the result of higher levels of analysis. Moreover, the outcomes that you get might not necessarily be because of the decisions that you made, but because of choices that others might have made before you.

In the grand scheme of life, there are two groups that I consistently encounter. The first group appears to be passengers of life, not quite sure of their destination and simply letting the world unfold around them. They exist in a state of constant reaction rather than taking the reins and actively steering their life's course. The second group? They're the dreamers, always verbalizing ambitious plans and visions for their future. The interesting thing is, these big talkers are always on the brink of starting... tomorrow.However, both these groups, despite their contrasting approaches, seldom begin anything of real significance. True achievement, the kind that leaves a lasting impact, isn't a sprint but a marathon. It takes a substantial amount of time, often a decade or more, to harvest the fruits of labor that truly matter in this world. So, why not pivot from the norm? Start exploring the world around you, venture into uncharted territories. But remember, while you're at it, let your journey unfold publicly. Share your story, so others can witness your path, participate in your experience and perhaps, draw inspiration from your journey.

How do we explain the world given the data that we actually have? There’s no good solution. The world is far more complicated than the models that we have access to.We can do our best given with what we have, but ultimately we’re limited in the way that we actually analyze the world.

The electric vehicle transition will happen much more quicker than we all anticipate. Recognizing this will be important for a future economy.

In order to lead a fulfilling life, it's important to balance two aspects: feeling sincere #gratitude for where you are and acknowledging the issues that exist in the world. On one hand, you should appreciate the fact that you're alive and cherish your unique life, no matter your circumstances. Most of us do something special that others would love to try.However, it's crucial not to become complacent with how great your life might be. There are many problems in the world, and we all have limitations in terms of what we can accomplish. Just pick a problem and work towards solving it. Be persistent and relentless in your efforts.As a representative of #goodness, you should appreciate your life and everything you get to experience, while also realizing there's more work to be done for the betterment of others. This approach will help you create a #positive impact on the world around you.

research is more concerned with statistics for the sake of statistics, then truly understanding what’s going on behind the scenes.Brand or than think about how we can add more statistical test which we don’t really understand, we should be focused on clarity and simple ideas.The goal is to come up with something that is intuitive for other people to understand, however, intuition requires a great deal of work, and most people are unwilling to put in the work to make something intuitive.

There is no work life balance. It’s just a mess, and sometimes you spend more time with work and sometimes you spend more time with life. Stop feeling guilty about not having work-life balance.Start realizing that whatever happens in your life is your life, and these demarcations that we artificially have in our brains are not helpful.What is helpful is for you to let go of some of the guilt that you feel when things don’t go as planned.

I talk about what education actually does, and how it actually provides you opportunities to see the world differently.Education is not a guarantee for success, but in allows you to see the world like you didn’t see it before.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about its potential use by individuals for malicious purposes. The speed and efficiency of AI could be exploited by those seeking to cause harm, such as through cyber attacks or the development of autonomous weapons. The risk of AI being used for malicious purposes highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of AI systems, including monitoring their use and ensuring they are designed with safety and ethical considerations in mind.To prevent the misuse of AI by dangerous individuals, governments and industry players must take steps to mitigate the risks. This could include stricter regulation of the development and use of AI, greater investment in research and development to create more human-like AI systems that can better understand human values and ethics, and the development of legal frameworks to hold individuals and organizations accountable for the actions of their AI systems. Additionally, collaboration between governments, academic institutions, and industry players will be necessary to ensure that AI is developed and used in a responsible and safe manner.

We often hear that colleges and universities are being run by #administrators, and universities are to client centric.However, are they? We need to consider what it means to run a modern organization. When you are constrained by revenue sources, you have to think about gaining efficiencies either through labor or through technology.While many new technologies can that can change higher education (eg. ask anyone about Zoom), we are often constrained by social norms, in terms of what is the expectation of education.That’s that only means that we can improve efficiencies through labor. As a #management professor, I believe that managers actually do improve the efficiency of organizations. In the university context, these are administrators and they know I don’t only improve the efficiency of the current organization, but they often grow it, and think about different revenue sources that can provide more value in the long run.I ask this. Can you think of a growing well-functioning country that does not have a stable higher education system? Higher education is essential for the economy, but it’s difficult to measure.

Data analysis will never be done. You have to learn how to analyze the many layers of the onion a date analysis however, after some point, you have to learn to let go and believe what you have done is good enough to report.

Always strive to do your best and focus on activities that add value to your life. You may encounter people who seem critical or unsupportive, but remember that the issue lies with them, not you. Those who are truly content and secure with themselves wouldn't discourage others from pursuing their goals.It's important to understand that working on personal growth doesn't always guarantee immediate happiness. Sometimes, it means sacrificing short-term pleasure for long-term improvement. Focus on your future well-being and the rewards that will come from your efforts.Finally, recognize that your pursuits don't always have to be rational as long as they contribute positively to your life. Embrace the activities that enrich your experiences and help you grow, regardless of how others might perceive them.

I don’t like strategy, and the idea that we teach people to be transactional. None of my relationships that have been transactional and “strategic” have been a positive experience in my life.The relationships that are inherently nonrational and non-strategic are the ones that had the most value, and I would be most willing to offer opportunities in those relationships.Being transactional, or “business minded,” inevitably will lead you to poor relationships and bad outcomes.I view myself as more of a therapist than a strategy prof, where I am trying to help people see that there’s more to this world and strategy.

What you realize with collaboration is that people are not talking about real collaboration, but they’re talking about transactions. Collaboration will negatively lead to poor outcomes. You have to build a long run, trusting relationship first, and that it’s just difficult to do a priori.Just have a transaction instead.

Failure is often glorified in the popular press, but I think that it is only glorified by those that have not experienced failure in their life.For those of us who experience significant failure, you never want to glorify it. It’s much more akin to grief, then glory.

Startup life and PhD life are quite similar, as both involve pursuing uncertain activities with insatiable demands and requiring resources beyond your capacity. In order to manage this, it's essential to understand how much you can realistically achieve in a single day and accept that as your daily accomplishment.To cope with this challenging environment, you need to develop psychological mechanisms that allow you to be at peace with who you are, even if you haven't achieved everything you set out to do. As your career progresses, continue to practice and strengthen these mental strategies to help you thrive in the face of uncertainty.

ChatGPT is like a research assistant or intern that kind of understands what’s going on, but not really. It has a superficial understanding, and you have to constantly check to make sure that it is correct.My job has now become a manager of artificial intelligence robots.

The most important thing that matters is the power of hope. Hope is the only reason many of us get up and get going. Hope is the only reason that many of us decide to survive.Nothing matters more to human endeavors than the squishy and nonrational thing called hope. I hope is the reason why people work towards difficult things, or try to fight against oppression.I hope never seems like it shouldn’t matter, and there’s no mathematical formula for it, but it does.

When you feel like you're falling behind, remember that you're only at the beginning. Nothing truly great in this world happened in just a few weeks. Significant achievements often take decades to accomplish.Simply put on your blinders and continue moving forward.

I explain that is important to reflect where you came from, to investigate the path that you’re going to take going forward.

How do you overcome feeling stupid in your PhD? What should you do?

I discuss the importance of technology and community in creating a platform.

I make the comparison between car, sales and PhD life, and talk about how they’re similar. I make the comparison between thinking of long-term versus short-term growth, and what that actually might look like in both arenas.

Academia involves continuous hard work. Think back to high school and recall the students who studied constantly. These students typically enter academia and continue their habits as they age.The key to progressing in academia is consistent effort. It's not uncommon to face moments where your work goes unnoticed, but success is often achieved through even more work.Although this may sound discouraging, it's simply a reflection of what's required in academia: dedication and effort. While some may try to advance by playing politics, others focus on hard work.Put in the work. Disregard the rest.

I too, like many of us, have experienced getting picked last. I remember being picked last in sports as a kid — I am now 43 and I remember this clear as day from when I was 7. But if I had let that moment define me, I would have missed out on so much in life. Instead, I turned getting picked last into my strength. Doing some thing where I am last or the worst doesn’t scare me.The irony is that many of those people who once picked me last are now just spectators while my life is full of athleticism.Those folks are often scared to grow because they will be picked last.Don't let one moment in time control your life. Being picked last doesn't determine your future. Just keep taking steps forward and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

What if, instead of trying to project legitimacy and status, you were completely honest about your #startup journey? Admit that you're making things up as you go and don't always have the right answers.Imagine simply saying, "I know there's a problem, but I can't pinpoint it. I may not have the solutions, but would you join me as I navigate through building something?"By working on the #R3ciprocity Project, I've learned to be more honest. I can openly say I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway.

One essential life lesson I've acquired through years of experience is to prioritize gradual growth and be cautious about trusting others. Trusting people without truly knowing them can lead to complicated situations. Even long-term relationships can be unpredictable.It's crucial to understand human psychology: individuals tend to be impulsive and short-sighted, often acting in their immediate self-interest. By focusing on slow growth and exercising caution in trusting others, you minimize the chances of encountering disastrous setbacks.This principle applies to various aspects of life, including academia, investing, and entrepreneurship. Embracing cautious growth and limited trust can spare you from significant pain and difficulties in the long run. hurt in the long run.

Analyzing data is incredibly engaging, as it demonstrates how things truly operate in the real world. You'll discover that the actual world is far more complicated than what most theories suggest. It's less predictable and doesn't conform to theoretical expectations.Nonetheless, the challenges of collecting genuine data aren't widely recognized. Instead, theoretical contributions are valued more. It's crucial to consider the costs and efforts of obtaining this data compared to the impact it will have on others.The process of gathering and analyzing data rarely leads to theoretical contributions. Sadly, it's the theoretical aspect that receives attention, rather than the discoveries made through data analysis.

Being able to admit that we don’t know, is a sign of strength. It recognizes the world is a lot more complicated than what most people presume. It’s a recognition that there are no easy answers.

How do you actually get better? It’s just a repeat at some thing even though it feels awkward. Just keep trying every day until it actually gets a little better.

Think about whether some thing in your life actually gives value to you before you make that purchase decision. If not, don’t pursue it. If it’s not going to be a significant addition to your life, it just adds clutter and complicates your life.

Others can't push you to make progress if you don't choose to move forward. You must be in charge of your own life and realize that you're responsible for many events that occur. Although some problems are beyond your control, you can either let them consume you or decide to make a positive change by taking action.

An important factor about whether you do well with #money is not necessarily whether you budget or anything else like that. An important component of doing well with money is to detach from the outside world, such that you do not worry about what other people think about your decisions. Moreover, you live a modest lifestyle that is incongruent to how most people actually live.It means living far below how people “expect” you to actually live. And doing this for a very long time.It takes a decade or more by the time that you can actually reap the benefits of living well below your means. Most people find this spectacularly difficult to do.It takes courage to live a modest lifestyle. However, you reap the benefits many years down the road if you can.

Life is full of trade-offs, and it's up to us to find the perfect balance. Today, let's chat about how we can effectively prioritize short-term hard work without sacrificing our long-term ability to survive and thrive.Finding the Balance: It's not necessarily about maximizing one particular goal, but rather discovering the best way to juggle short-term productivity gains while ensuring we can actually sustain ourselves in our chosen roles. Sounds challenging, doesn't it?The Real Struggle: There's no "correct" combination that works for everyone, and we have to figure out what's best for us without any clear understanding of what that ideal balance looks like.

Protect all of the basic functions and activities that you need to allow you to do well in this world. Make sure that you have #boundaries in place to ensure that you can function and prosper.

The lesson that I repeatedly learned is that the only person that will lead to change in somebody is themselves.Another way to say this is that you cannot force somebody to change, it Hass to be a process that happens within somebody’s in mind.

Business performance relies on good experiences for the consumer, even one Discover how prioritizing customer satisfaction can significantly impact your business's long-term success. In this easy-to-follow podcast, I'll reveal the importance of creating positive experiences for your consumers, and how even the smallest negative encounter can hurt your profits. Learn strategies to consistently deliver the best possible customer experience, regardless of any challenges you may face.

you always feel like an outsider as an immigrant in another country. How do you feel more at home? I don’t think you actually can, and you just simply have to learn to be disconnected from the cultural aspects where you live.

The most important trait that I think helps me go every day, despite all the adversities, that you experience, is self-love. It’s such a squishy term, and it’s often mistaken as a treat.The fact is, self-love requires training and development. It requires you to recognize that you’re good enough, that you do need to take time for yourself, and that all of the things that you feel guilty about like watching television, being on your phone, and all of the guilty pleasures are actually healthy.Self-love is the essential quality that helps me face each day, even when life feels like a slog and is full of obstacles. This term is often misunderstood and seen as an indulgence, but it's more than that.Developing self-love takes time and effort. It means realizing you're good enough, setting aside time for yourself, and embracing guilty pleasures like watching TV or using your phone without feeling guilty. These activities can be healthy in moderation.We all have a little demon inside of us, whispering doubts and making us feel imperfect. Instead of trying to banish this demon, we should learn to manage it and accept our flaws. Doing so allows us to continue pushing against life's challenges.Life will always be a slog, but the way you handle it through self-love makes all the difference in whether you keep going or not.

many of us, believe that we are very distinct from the world around us, but if you start analyzing us in terms of basic principles, as if you were a physicist are in ecologist, you’ll start to see that there’s not a lot of difference between who we are in the rest of the world.Why then do we draw these differences within our own species, and why do we think that there are even really that relevant?

I've come to understand that our expectations of progress and quality work often follow a linear path. However, the reality is that improvement is more like an #exponential curve. It becomes increasingly harder to reach higher levels and produce better work. For example, the difference in rigor between competing at a middle school level and a university level is vast.So, how do we cope with the exponential difficulty of #competing at higher levels? The solution I've found is to focus on slow, steady, and consistent work, while blocking out the outside world. Many people won't understand the tremendous effort required to advance at increasingly higher levels, and may assume it's easy.It's crucial to remember that the journey does become exponentially more #challenging. Nonetheless, taking slow and steady steps is the only effective strategy I've discovered to keep moving forward.

We have to recognize that humans are not necessarily well-intentioned. When I was younger, I used to think most people are well-intentioned, and they have other people in their mind. However, as I’ve gotten older I realize that this is far from the truth. People can be mean just to be mean. This is real #humanity. If one thinks about the army of professions that help us deal with others, such as lawyers, psychologists, and teachers, we realize that all of us struggle to play well with others. Fundamentally, my views have changed so much that I even wonder how we all even stay together at all. It is a miracle that we accomplish anything thst requires coordination.

Most of us are nervous, or find it difficult to embrace, technological change. I personally believe that much of this nervousness is because social norms are changing, and we don’t know how to deal with that technological change. The change in the social norms leads to anxiety as we are challenged in how we deal with uncertainty.We can either believe that technological change is not going to happen, or we can start to embrace it, and realize that it’s actually is happening. For example, being public and open and digital social media is a strange and weird thing to do, but, as we embrace it, we realize that it’s not as scary as Wen would think. The transition to using platforms in a positive way is challenging, but they are likely is considerable benefit, if we embrace it more fully.

Humans have a charming way of making seemingly peculiar choices, especially when it comes to finances. We might spend ages deciding on a pack of gum, yet barely think twice before making significant financial commitments. It's fascinating how we can approach monumental decisions like choosing a school or getting married with such nonchalance. Imagine if marriage proposals came with a request for due diligence beforehand!It's essential to acknowledge and embrace the delightful absurdity of human nature. We have a unique ability to leap into the unknown with a carefree spirit, despite the potential consequences. This whimsical approach to life can lead to surprising and rewarding experiences. As we continue to navigate the complexities of financial decision-making, let's remember to appreciate the remarkable, unpredictable nature of human choices, and how they can bring both joy and learning opportunities into our lives.

In my latest podcast episode, I discuss the potential of transitioning to an efficient energy economy that aligns with our current infrastructure. 🏗️🌱It's crucial to recognize that this change is not likely to stem from massive overhauls, but rather from small, incremental adjustments to our existing systems. 🔧Some "energy-efficient" solutions might not be as effective as they seem. As I explore in the episode, gradual and subtle changes can actually lead to significant impacts today. For instance, installing solar panels on every house might be too costly, but improving insulation and promoting the switch to LED lighting could be more feasible. 🏠💡Additionally, I touch on the potential of smart systems that can enhance efficiency by optimizing the management of our electrical grid. ⚡🌐Check out the episode to learn more about these fascinating concepts and join the conversation on sustainable energy! 🌍✨ #podcast #energyefficiency #sustainability #infrastructure #smartgrid

Walking in the rain always seems scary, until you actually do it. And then is one of the best experiences that you’ll ever have.

Artificial intelligence does have some significant upsides and downsides, but much of what will happen in the future will be the result of unintended consequences. We will not be able to forecast what are the downsides and the benefits of artificial intelligence until it’s actually significantly part of our lives.I suspect that it will be considerably different than we forecast today, and our predictions will look rather silly.

Exercise as my medication: a powerful tool that enables me to function effectively on a daily basis. Some individuals may perceive my commitment to exercise as unproductive, believing it detracts from other, more important tasks. However, they fail to grasp the true impact of physical activity on my life.What these individuals don't understand is that exercise doesn't detract from my productivity; instead, it enhances it. The reason I am able to withstand repeated setbacks in academia is due to my daily exercise routine. It serves as a coping mechanism when things don't go as planned and helps me become more fully immersed in the present moment. Moreover, exercise has been scientifically proven to boost cognitive function, improve mental health, and increase overall well-being. By prioritizing physical activity, I am not only nurturing my body, but also fostering a healthier, more resilient mindset that allows me to tackle challenges with greater determination and focus. Ultimately, exercise is not just a hobby or a distraction; it is an essential ingredient in my recipe for success, both personally and professionally.

Being an adult is boring. We should strive to be more kid like as we get older. much of what it means to be as an adult is to prioritize real work over play. However, most of us actually don’t do real work today.Much of our work is focused on play, and we would do better if we focused on how we could become more playful, and, ignore the rest of the world. Much is if you do when you were a child.

given that we all have different starting points, you can’t use the use others as a good reference point. It makes no sense to compare yourself against others that have different resources are, and are in different domains than you.Then given this problem, what do you do? The only answer that I know that works is to work repeatedly within a single domain.Put an unbelievable amount of effort in outlast everybody else.

Focus on encouragement I’m thinking about ways that you could take steps forward, rather than focusing on the corrective actions of the behaviors that you did in the past. I often think that there’s very little to be learned from past actions, and there’s more to begin by focusing on future opportunities.

Almost all fields in #education, presume that there is a right answer. As a consequence, we often teach (and research) that there is a single answer, or at least a better answer.Regression — the workhorse of science — presumes that there is a single best answer.You also here “if you simply just follow these six easy steps..., it will be amazing.”In my life experience, which doesn’t mean much, there’s never really a right answer. It’s just a big mess. It’s one big episode of “Nailed It.” in this show, they show real life people making cakes. The end result is often very comical.What is right today is not right tomorrow. What is right for me is not right for you.I will never be able to identify the right answer.But, I can bumble my way.The only thing that we can do in our control is to keep getting up and trying.You will never identify a better answer unless you have the gumption to keep trying every day.

I talk about the idea of equilibrium in a complex system.

I find it puzzling that people are hesitant to try new and remarkable technologies, even though they could save a lot of energy and time. It's amazing how much new technology can improve our abilities and generate opportunities for us over the years.However, most people are reluctant to give it a try. They may not be afraid, but they simply don't think it's worth their time. It's surprising to me how little social influence can motivate people to try new things. The most common response I hear is "that's nice" with a blank stare, and then they continue on with their business.For those who are willing to embrace new technology, such as AI and Blockchain, they are likely to reap significant benefits not just today, but in the years to come.

I wanted to simply say how much I appreciate you, and that having this ability to reach out to other people that I don’t know is a gift. What an opportunity that we have.Social media, despite what everybody thinks, it’s an amazing opportunity to spread some good in this world.Why not change? Why not start encouraging others to do well. Life is too short to pay attention to the negativity.Create your own bubble.

When you become an associate #professor, many things change in your life that you didn’t think would change. The biggest thing that changed for me was my perspective about the world.When I realized was “nobody cared.”And why should they? It only matters to you. What I realized was that I can’t convince other people to care.I became #bitter with the rest of the world. But, I think this bitterness is a very positive thing.What I realized was that the only person that mattered about what I actually thought about myself was me. Who I am has nothing to do with others, say about it.Some might think I am a slacker, some think I’m doing nothing, and some think that I am more harm than good.What I realized that this validation that I was seeking was never going to come. Others will still undervalue who I am.When I realized that I don’t need to pay attention to the outside world, I literally shut it off.What I focus on is “how can I do good for myself and maybe a few other people in this world.”That’s all that matters, and that’s the only question that I pursue.It’s not the publications, the notoriety, and everything else, but “how can I do good.”Nobody will recognize that, but that’s OK.Screw ‘em.That’s the only thing I’m going to focus on: “how can I do good?”The rest of it is simply noise, games, and antics. If you wanna play by those games, that is fine with me.But, I’m gonna be good enough, and I’m going to pursue how can I do good.

I encourage you to pursue your dreams. Nobody is going to make those dreams happen except for yourself. The only way that you make them happen if you start. I realize that many of you don’t come for much, and it’s going to take a long journey to get to where you want to be.But, the only way that I know how to get there as you start and you repeat every day. You make it happen through grinding work.It never feels fine, and people will make fun of you. You will feel bad about yourself.But, if you wanna make something happen, that is truly amazing, you start today.

We need to vastly embrace artificial intelligence. The interesting part of artificial intelligence is it ability to replace things that nobody really likes to do at this moment. It’s very much an extension of who we are as individuals by it accelerates our capabilities by magnitudes.

You don’t get to someplace by focusing on the BIG reward that you’re going to get. You focus on the little tiny steps that it takes to get there. It seems silly to focus on the big reward. I often ask question “how do you build #Walmart?” We all likely want to be the Waltons, but how did that happen?Nobody knows how to actually connect between where you are right now and that BIG reward in the future.But, we can certainly understand what we should do today. I encourage you to keep trying today.One more step. One more day.

I can’t change the scientific profession. However, I can speak to the one person that was like me and struggling to get a job. The scientific endeavor is never easy and it’s not gonna come easy. For those that are fortunate now, maybe things will work out for you, but for the rest of us, we realize that it’s a struggle.It’s one day at a time.

All of us believe that we need resources to do some thing. We need more #resources to be more efficient at work, we need more resources to be better parents, and we need more resources to have more fun.if only I had more money, my life would be better off.To heck with having more resources.Just make do with what you have. If it looks shoddy, just make a fun of the fact that it’s actually shoddy. You might even create a new genre based on the fact of the limitations you have. Name a music style, food, or business that does not revolve around the lack of some thing. It all starts with not having enough.Listen, you’ll never have enough, and those that realize this are the ones that actually accomplish a lot in their life.

You can only do what you can.

Your #expectations for your performance are often not set by your employer. The expectations for your performance are often set by the market.But, who the heck knows what the “market” is? How you perceive your reference that in the market is often distorted with your own personal biases.Your best expectations for your performance is to look at what you actually “do” in a given day, accounting for the possibility that what you’re doing today is likely wrong for tomorrow.In other words, don’t trust your perceptions on what you’re expected to do, look at what you actually do and work from there.

We have to think about the experiences that people get, and also the non-experiences that they are not exposed to. I believe that not getting access to opportunities and experiences are more important than the experiences that you actually do have in what happens in your own life.The problem is you’ll never know what is, these non-experiences that we should have gotten in that would have made an important impact on our life.

Just do little incremental things every day. Remember you’re good enough you don’t really need to improve anything.

I discuss major themes with the discussion of whether TikTok should be banned. This extremely complicated issue with many years of American culture to deal with. There’s interweaving interest from many countries, and I think the bigger question is not necessarily TikTok itself, but what are the unintended consequences of banning or not banning Tik Tok for the long run competitivenessUltimately, I think that this is such an important issue, that we likely need to have a popular vote or a referendum, because of its long run implications to both culture and competitiveness.

Assume that all technology is adopted very slowly, and think about ways how you can work within that reality were things will take a lot longer than you thought they will. We will have natural tendencies to believe things will go quickly, when in reality, almost everything that we will actually do in life will take a lot longer than what we thought it will be.Assume it will take twice as long as he thought it will be, and take twice as many resources to get there. If we make this assumption, we will perform far different actions, and minimize the risk of pursuing those particular actions.Think about ways that you could minimize the downside of pursuing some thing, rather than maximizing the upside, and focusing on all of the ways that you will win.

Chat GPT will change the face of how we actually interact with the world, and it will likely improve research dramatically over the next few years.It will become indispensable to almost everybody within the research game.

the current academic research game is broken. There’s far too many people that fall through the cracks, and those people that become extraordinary successful often have to do so through various different, competitive and strategic games. Well, that may be the objective, and we all should be playing those games, but there’s a whole group of people that is vastly larger in population size that don’t want to play by those games.The problem is is that we have two subs systems that don’t work very well work together. We have the academic hiring sub system, or universities, and we also have the publication sub system, or academic journals. these are working independent of each other as they should.I’m not gonna say that we can change everything in person to New World order. That’s impossible. Nor should we. I think we should have very rigorous academic journals that are hard to get into, and universities should have high standards because they’re making a large investment and some thing that is very expensive, professors, and PhD students.But what if there were people that just blanketly encouraged others? what if we used available tools, such as social platforms and software, to make our life easier and to fill in the gaps for everybody that chooses not to play the strategic and political games. What if somebody just told you that you can keep going and it just takes incremental steps every day?I’m not saying that I’m somehow special, and I would encourage everybody to do this, but we need more people just giving encouragement at random and doing things to help out the greater good. We need to start building on digital platforms and getting into the New World. I feel uncomfortable giving encouragement to people around me because I am jealous. However, I don’t feel nearly as uncomfortable, encouraging people that I really don’t know.That is what the reciprocity project is about. It’s about recognizing the limitations of the academic system, and the limitations that I have, and building a platform to help out a large audience that often gets neglected.Let’s change the world just a little bit and give some random encouragement today.

Most new ventures in new ideas will result in no impact at all. You can sit there, and be dismayed that nobody cared about it, or you can get to work. Figure out a way to appeal to other people, and do that repeatedly until it actually works.

Your life does not change when you get up early or stay up late. It will naturally go to where there is a homeostasis in don’t gain extra hours by getting up early, and you don’t gain extra hours from staying up late. You will not actually want to sleep a certain amount because that’s what your body requires.Any amount of motivation or deadlines simply is robbing yourself in the future of that time towards getting up early. You’re robbing yourself of health and survive.Get as much sleep as you need and love yourself for doing that.

Every venture that you pursue is going to be difficult, and it does not happen overnight. I don’t believe any advertising or anybody that tells you differently. I don’t expect unicorns to emerge, and that you won’t have unbelievable success in a matter of a few yearsThe journey is long and tedious. It’s filled with self-doubt. Nobody will believe in you. And there’s very few secrets that will lead to vast improvement. The journey is slow and painful. It will take you decades, not years.But, that’s how you get there one little consistent step at a time. it is a slow march. It’s methodical. And it’s never ending.

I am deeply appreciative of the fact that I live today, and not a few generations ago. People don’t realize just how prosperous most of the world actually is, and most of this prosperity came within the last 50 years.I never knew my great grandparents, but I suspect that they would say “you fool, quit focusing on what you don’t have, and focus on all of that amazing magical things that you do have.”

Our current understanding of many fields is still imperfect, despite hundreds of years of study. Most phenomena remain poorly understood, such as markets and organizations. While our explanations are often quite good, they fail to explain many aspects of these fields. The reason for this is the incentives that drive us to focus on interesting and impactful subjects, which mostly center around large multinational corporations. As a result, we have neglected to explore phenomena like how children barter in a classroom, which may have valuable insights for business schools.In essence, this implies that we have many centuries, if not millennia, of future discoveries to undertake. However, this prospect is not daunting but rather hopeful, as it gives scientists the opportunity to explore and understand the world better.

rather than assuming that everybody is nice, or everybody is not so nice, let’s assume that people are very much a mixed bag.We are a mixture of many different things that allow us to adapt to a broader system.

In business and engineering, we aim for #efficiency by achieving the best outcome with limited resources. This involves focusing on one goal, such as maximizing profit or utility, and using available resources to achieve that goal. However, many things in life that bring us joy are not efficient, such as spending time with family, celebrating holidays, and giving hugs. Think about how difficult it is to #smile on a given day. Expending resources to smile is terrible use of your available energy.One could argue that the reason we smile is to gain efficiencies in other areas, such as social capital. However, it feels “icky” to say the reason I smile is because I get some sort of #transaction or efficiency out of it.These theories of boiling simple pleasures down to quantitative metrics just don’t have face validity.A robot might smile to maximize it’s social capital, but I don’t.These activities may seem like a waste of resources, as they require energy and time that could be used for more productive purposes. It's important to remember that we don't always need to maximize efficiency in every aspect of our lives.Being inefficient has been an ongoing lesson for me as somebody that is deeply ingrained within the #engineering and #business subculture.

PhDs and #researchers pour countless hours into their research, but unfortunately, much of their work often goes unnoticed. It's not uncommon for a PhD student to spend years working on a project only to have it rejected through the review process. This can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. In fact, many PhD students feel unappreciated, and it's easy to see why. The workload and expectations of a PhD can be daunting, and the #research process can be filled with failure and unpredictability.To make matters worse, some people don't understand the value of research. I once had someone dismiss my work as a PhD student and told me that I was "publishing in obscurity". Comments like these can be hurtful and demotivating. However, it's important to remember that your work is important, and there are people who appreciate it.If you're doing research and you are feeling #unappreciated, know that you're not alone. It's natural to feel frustrated and anxious when much of your hard work seems to go unnoticed. What you're doing is important, and it matters. Don't let negative comments or rejection discourage you. Keep pushing forward, and know that there are people who appreciate your work and your dedication.So, to all the #PhDs out there, let me say this: you matter, and what you do is important. Your hard work and dedication are not going unnoticed. Keep striving, and know that there is at least one person that appreciates you. And, that is me.

Being able to delay, a purchase or action is an extremely powerful strategic choice. We often think about action, but perhaps a more powerful tool is in action. The binary choice to actually do some thing or not.

The outcomes we see today are not just the result of our efforts alone but rather a culmination of #decisions and choices made by others. The school we attend, the career we pursue, and the life we lead are all shaped by the decisions our parents and the people around them made in the past. Your grandparents and their grandparents affected you.Recognize that your outcomes are not independent of others. Our #success is not just the result of our hard work but is also influenced by the social and economic systems that we are a part of. So is your #failure.Be mindful of the choices you make, and the choices that are made on your behalf.You are not as much as a success as you think you are.And, you are not a failure either.

Working is never easy, no matter what particular task that you’re actually working on. From the outside world, it might seem fun and exciting, but from the inside, it’s always a challenge to get up and get going at every single thing that you work on.The goal then is to simply try every day. Get up and get going smile and consistently. Keep trying. Keep knocking at the wall. Little steps are what actually lead you to the end.

Our general understanding of business and economics generally is quite in need of improvement. However, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon as much of this desire to understand these fields requires the individual learner to take the time to learn it. It’s not the availability of information that’s the problem.

most will not want to resonate with what you’re saying, but you have to find those backs will match with your style.It’s not about trying to connect with everybody, it’s about getting one person to understand where you’re coming from.

You have to actually will it to happen. Put on your resources in it too create the world that you actually are thinking about.It requires unbelievable determination, but you can create the world that you like.

recognize that you are good enough. You don’t need to conform to the outside world, whatever that might be.You need to be yourself, and know that the outside world can conform around you. It will take a lot longer for the outside world to understand what you’re about, but at least you can say that you are you.Many people are so enamored with impression management and conceding to what the outside world wants and they forget about who they are.Whenever I feel lost or anxious is when I am thinking about how the outside world thinks about me. When I feel calm, I think about who I am to me.Just be yourself, and you don’t need to try to impress anybody.

We should improve the #academic peer review process to align it better with the incentives of participants. Currently, important roles such as reviewing, friendly reviews, and editing articles are not given enough credit and remain hidden from the public eye. As a reviewer, I know firsthand that it can take several days to complete an article review. However, this work is not always recognized as productive, which can lead to us being viewed as unproductive. This is unfortunate because these invisible contributions are crucial to the advancement of our field.Peer #review doesn’t work without reviewers.While some may argue that these contributions could lead to editorship opportunities, it is often the case that these positions are given to individuals with higher status within the academic community. This leaves those with lower status doing a considerable amount of work for little recognition.We should make the academic peer review process more transparent to encourage wider and more rigorous participation. The idea that people participate for intrinsic rewards and reciprocity may not be enough to motivate individuals to #participate and be kind in the review process.

Research and development always involves workarounds. Very little of what you think will happen will actually happen. You have to be OK with creating work around to resolve these inconsistencies.What you realize is that what you believed about the world is not really true. There’s always nuances and heterogeneity across contexts.You need to embrace this heterogeneity to get anything done.

but you can move it if you keep dedicating yourself, and investing in yourself and other people around you.You make feel like you don’t get anywhere, but you slowly move up every day if you keep trying.

I wish I knew what I was doing, but it don’t.I wish I understand what I was doing, and then I can make sense of the world around me based on this definition of who I am.However, I never really quite understand what I am about, and what I’m actually doing. Any definition of what I’m about doesn’t seem to fit. Every time I try to explain who I am, I can’t put it in words. Or, I miss out on some important aspects of what I am doing. It would be nice if I understood what I was about because then I can clearly communicate it to the outside world, but would they actually listen if I told them?Instead, what if people figured out when I was about and who I am by my actions? Would they not be able to figure out what it is that I do based on their own experiences that is more relevant for them?

There’s no other option. I just have to keep going until it actually gets done.

For me, I often think about myself in terms of #efficiency, and as if I am a machine. This machine runs perfectly at 95% capacity at all times.However, that’s not real life. Real life means that you have downtime that you have to account for. Even within #manufacturing operations, the expectation to have 95% up time of a machine is completely unrealistic.Allow yourself to have downtime for maintenance of that machine.

Rather than focusing on product differentiation or competitive advantage, I believe that having gumption is the key to long-term success. Gumption can be defined as a combination of persistence and determination, or the strong desire to maintain these qualities over time.In addition to gumption, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral abilities are also important for taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. By being able to recognize and seize opportunities while they persist, businesses can continue to grow and succeed.Overall, while having a unique angle can certainly help in business, but it's more important to remember that gumption and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral abilities are also essential for achieving long-term success.

do people inherently, like to learn, and pursue things around learning for the fun of it? I would argue that this is a rare situation, and most people are not interested, because of how difficult it actually is to learn in a rigorous fashion.

Being an entrepreneur comes with a unique set of challenges. As a risk-taker, you may find yourself making decisions that differ from what is considered socially acceptable. This can make you stand out from the crowd, but it also means that you may face some negative reactions from those who don't understand your choices. You know what I’m talking about—the unusual looks and baffled stares.To succeed as an entrepreneur, it's important to accept that being “different” is part of the process. It can be challenging to deal with the stigma that may come with non-conformity, but it's important to manage your emotions and the way you interact with others. This means finding a balance between staying true to your vision and being open to feedback and advice from others.In addition to managing your emotions and relationships, it's important to stay focused on the big picture. Remember that it's okay to take risks and make mistakes along the way. It's all part of the learning process and can help you grow as a person.

One of the challenges that I face is that I often feel like a loser, and I have very little to give. However, I think it’s important to remind everybody that you’re just different than everybody else. Those differences are your unique gifts.

emotions are our super powers. Not everybody feels emotions the same way that you do, but you can often use emotions as indicators of some thing is occurring in your life. Use them as a superpower.

even on the days when you don’t feel like you’re doing OK, you just show up and put in that motion. Just showing up, is better than when everybody else does. You don’t have to go rigorous every day, you just have to show up.

We need to start embracing our voices, and being proud of you in the small conversations that we have. There’s at least one person in this world that likes what you have to say.

we often feel like we don’t have a lot of knowledge when you’re searching or discovering new things. However, when you go and look back and what you actually learned through the search and discovery process, you realize that you have a very good understanding of the world around you.

When I was growing up, my dad was a Polish immigrant. By de facto, I eat, cabbage, meat, and boiled potatoes every day. If we had boiled potatoes the night before, and there’s leftovers, I would have fried potatoes for lunch. Sometimes I would have leftovers for three or four days. The meals were always meat and potatoes.When I moved away to go to university, I went to one of the most diverse parts of Canada, and to one of the most diverse universities. I remember having such unique meals and being exposed to different smells that I never experience I’ve been to that point.To this day, I have not ate boiled potatoes since. My life is full of interesting meals that I would never of experience without being exposed to all of the wonderful flavors from around the world.

How do you deal with getting ghosted in PhD interviews? I help you deal with getting ghosted, and prevent you from getting ghosted in the future but you doing a little bit of work out front. The other thing then I want to remind you of is that getting ghosted it’s a strong signal that you probably don’t wanna work with him anyways in the future.

Let's focus on the positive traits of each generation. The younger generation values empathy and equality, while the older generation values hard work and respect. Both of these traits add value to our society. Instead of labeling one generation as lazy or out of touch, let's learn from each other and embrace the positive qualities that each generation brings to the table. By emphasizing the strengths of each generation, we can build a better and more cohesive organizations.

why do you moments of great time disappear? There’s many times in history where there is a renaissance of ideas, both within regions and within companies. The problem is is that these moments are fleetingWhy do they actually disappear? I talk about this in this podcast.

Get in the practice of giving openly. What you don’t realize is that giving is often at the heart of growing influence, whether it is in the real world or elite online world. Getting in the practice of being OK with giving and receiving nothing in return helps you to grow as a person.

Do we actually need to have #strategies? I wonder if you simply just have to keep moving, and keep trying every day. It might be more worthwhile to focus on #behavior and continuing to get people to “try,” rather than get them to focus on getting the strategy right from the get go.In my view, if you focus on moving and behavior, you can #learn the strategy along the way that best fits the environment.if we simply say that the strategy is adaptive, is that necessarily a strategy at that point?

How to process and think about disasters that you see. The challenge is to know what you should do in response. I think any possible response in terms of the way that you choose is probably the appropriate response at the time. Each person deals with disasters in their own separate way, and processes them in their own way of dealing with it.While I think, sometimes it appears upsetting from the outside, there’s not really a good course of action ever makes sense. Each individual choice likely makes the most amount of sense for that.

Whether you eat lobsters or spaghetti dinners has a little impact on your life. For me, mostly as long as I get to hang out with family and friends, and get to do the small things that I enjoy, such as walking and watching Seinfeld every day, I am perfectly happy no matter how much success or failure that I experience. How you define yourself is not necessarily based on the outcomes that outsiders view as important. What matters more is how you feel about yourself, in the activities that you perform on a daily basis.The rest of how we define #success and #failure is a bunch of nonsense.

Many people misunderstand the tenure process and believe it is a job for life. It is far from the idea that it’s a job for life.The tenure process is more of a celebration that you’ve put in the work and you’re getting recognition for the work that you’ve actually done. It’s a forecast for the future that you will continue to put in the work.

Purchasing decisions are a critical part of our daily lives, and we often base them on things like status and recognition. However, an alternative approach to making these decisions is to focus on minimizing the amount of failure that a product is likely to experience. This way, we can ensure that we make informed decisions that lead to fewer problems in our lives.When considering the failure rate of a product, it is essential to be intentional and mindful of the different ways that a product may fail. By doing so, we can better understand the potential drawbacks of a product and make informed decisions that minimize the likelihood of failure. This approach can help us save money in the long run and lead to fewer headaches and frustrations.Modularity is another critical factor to consider when making purchasing decisions. By having decoupled products that function independently of each other, even if one of them fails, we can reduce the impact of a failure on our overall experience. This concept of modularity applies to a wide range of products, from electronic devices to furniture, and can help us create a more efficient and functional environment. In summary, by considering both the failure rate and modularity of products, we can make better purchasing decisions that lead to a simpler and more fulfilling life.

The only thing that matters is doing incremental, slow, and boring work. You don’t get fast returns in anything, and you should be a little afraid of anything that gets fast returns.If you’re paying attention to other people’s success, and they were able to get fast returns at some thing, you likely should be wary about the possibility of actually getting those returns.If you’re expected to get returns in the next few years, be wary.The only things that actually do net long-term returns consistently is boring, incremental work in one little small area.Do the work.

much of human progress is about doing incremental, boring work repeatedly. If we think about all of the major human accomplishments, that we know of today, they almost always were about doing some thing that seemed impossible, and involved incremental boring work for extended periods of time.

practice stoicism in your career by removing the outside world. You just trying to be yourself, no matter what the outside world thinks of you. Moreover, practice stoicism, so that you cannot worry about moving up or getting to someplace.The more that we are living our modest lives, the more we need to realize that much of what happens around us doesn’t matter.

integrity and doing your best every day matters. Just repeat to do your best. A lot of days does not feel like that but that’s the only option that we actually have that wins out in the long run.

Focus on #helping one person, even if it's just yourself. Don't aim for a big impact. This is just dumb. Who cares about you anyway? Your mom and partner, at best.Instead, aim for meaningful impact for one individual. On average, we don't affect many people in a day, so don't expect to be different. If you do an unbelievable amount of work, and you make a difference in just one person's life, it is still worth it.Don’t get caught up in. the nonsense that you are important.

our favorite burger joint in Tallahassee is vertical burger. It’s bougie, yet not overwhelming. It has the absolute best burgers and fries that are homemade. My favorite is the vertical burger with vertigo sauce.

Most of us manage daily life with a limited understanding of the world around us. Even experts in a certain field only have a general knowledge in other areas. This highlights the fact that we don't need to know everything and that it would be unrealistic to do so.What's crucial is that the system in place enables us to function efficiently without a complete understanding of how it operates. It's interesting to consider how little we know, yet as a collective, we are capable of accomplishing remarkable things.

Always have more patience. be able to put in the work every day, even when distance, feel like you’re getting anywhere. The goal is not to make progress today, but to make progress over decades. This is fundamentally different. How do you understand formants and success has little to do with the sort of long term behavior. you need to manage the ability to get up and love who you are every day.

train yourself to always look for opportunities and be positive with those opportunities. The only way that you see opportunities is if you believe you actually can. This means that you’re going to do stuff that nobody else is willing to do.

and become so used to filing the I told you so in my head has become a ritual. People will cramp on me for any number of reasons, and I get to file it away. I told you so. I’ll come back and I’ll realize wait a minute he was right I should be treating myself with dignity and respect, I should’ve been investing, I should have been helping out other people, and I will come back, and I will say I told you so.When you have experience, you get to sit back and bite your lip every time somebody looks the other way. Inevitably they’ll be coming back in a decade thinking, I should’ve listen to what he said. I can sit there and say I told you so. It gives me motivation to keep going for other people that need the information at the time.

The physical world around us is simply just an artifact of a random idea that somebody tripped up. We define our world based on the physical things, but the real issue in how we define our world are the simple ideas. He’s ideas are often somewhat minor when they start out, but they turn into very big ideas that matter in constructor world.We can create a world in which season ideas have a positive impact, or we can create a world that restricts who we are the choice of the outcomes of these ideas resigns enough.

I think we need to start with the idea that everybody is different. How we grow as individuals, organizations, and societies is to recognize that everybody is different.

Learn uncomfortable things. Often you grow as a person when you learn things that you think are irrelevant, or made you feel uncomfortable at the time. You might feel many positive emotions when you learn,but you also often feel very negative emotions. Exploring those topics that lead to those negative emotions often will result in significant development.Topics that question the status quo are good for us.

deciding what you should work on, is often more challenging and deciding to actually work. There’s never quite a clear answer in what is the best possible course of action.

I talk about the importance of personal financial management, and how this matters in the long run. It seems when you’re doing it in the short run to be nothing other than a simple cost. However, in the long run it almost always pays out.What you need to do is focus on reducing, your household costs and expenditures, and focus on increasing your salaries and wages as much as he possibly can.As you do that think about investing your money broadly within assets that are well diversified.

is it the role or the person that is leading to the behavior? Many of us are in different roles in society, and when we see certain behaviors, we often attribute those behaviors to the person. However, we often forget that these people are doing in their truck job. or simply just playing the part of the rule.I struggled with thinking about how much it is actually the person versus the rule. If we take the perspective that it’s in person, we often think about leader ship. However, if we take the perspective of the role we think about status and position.I don’t think there’s a right answer, but we may want to consider being more empathetic before you’re angry at other people, and more thoughtful, when you see things that you may believe are heroic.

Taking steps forward can be difficult, but it's important to remember that most of the steps you take will feel like they are below you. This is just part of the process of starting.To be successful, you have to be willing to put in the effort and face challenges head-on. Trust that with each step you take, you are getting closer to your goal and becoming stronger in the process. So, don't be discouraged by the difficulties you encounter along the way. Embrace them as an opportunity to grow and keep moving forward.

As a parent, your focus shifts from supporting and guiding your kids to adapting to their growing independence. This change can be challenging to navigate, but it's important to find ways to grow and support yourself.One way to do this is by developing new hobbies and strengthening existing relationships. Hobbies can provide a sense of fulfillment and give you time for self-reflection, while building strong relationships with others can provide a supportive network.While you can't control life's changes, you can prepare and grow with them. By taking steps to invest in yourself, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges that come with increased independence from your children.

Just keep doing things and putting good into the world as much as you possibly can. Idle moments lead to mind wondering that is not good for you in any sort of way.

At the micro scale, I have to realize that I can’t fix everybody’s problems. But at the macro scale, I can have a big impact because of the problem of self interest that happens collectivelyIn the academic market, we have a tragedy of the commons, where people are not addressing larger issues because they’re self interested.

I document the emotions that you might go through as a #academic researcher based on my own experience. You will have moments of high stress, such as #teaching or submission deadlines, followed by a recuperation. these are generally moments of high excitement, and generate elation.The following day, you often feel exhausted. I tend to feel worn out, sad, and often get migraine headaches.This is exacerbated by social isolation because you feel the need to produce. However, ironically the social isolation makes you feel the pressures to produce even more, and compounds negative emotions that you are currently feeling.These feelings are very similar to what somebody would go through in the long-haul #trucking. You feel the pressure is to produce, so you want to work more and be further isolated, leading you to feel the pressure is even more.As I’ve said before, social isolation is the industrial hazard that #academics face. How do you handle it?

How do you deal with the social, isolation that you feel from doing research? Been really struggling with this in the last while, and I don’t quite know what the answer is. Are used to be really good with dealing with the sadness that you get from doing research, but where the years has become more difficult to deal with it. I’m just curious to see what your thoughts are and how you actually manage it?

It's never too late to pursue your passions and goals. Age should not be a barrier to trying new things and enjoying life to the fullest. Imagine if you were a 90 year old and you wanted to pursue gymnastics your whole life. Why wouldn’t you actually try to pursue gymnastics when you’re 90 years old? What’s the worst that’s actually gonna happen to you?It may improve your flexibility and overall health. Don't be afraid to start something, even if it's not perfect. Life is full of loose ends and opportunities for growth and development.Don’t be afraid to start some thing, so what if it actually is started and there’s loose ends. Don’t you realize that everything in life is nothing but loose ends. This just gives more opportunity for you to start something or for other people to build on top of what you’ve already done.Pursuing something new can bring new joy and purpose to your life. It can also help you to grow and learn new skills. Even if you don't achieve your goal, the journey of trying is often just as valuable. Remember that age is just a number and you should never let it hold you back from living your best life. Embrace new opportunities and take risks, you never know what amazing things you may discover about yourself and the world around you.

We make up the world around us. There are structures in place, but those structures have largely been made up by other people. Why not create the structures in the life that you want by making it up as you go.

An important aspect of making wise financial choices is thanking about long run averages. If something is relatively proven, you should think about the long range average return that you’re going to expect. For example, on average, most publicly traded companies, make a return of summer around 10% per year based on looking at the stock market. So your expectation should be that it should make summer around 10% on every $100 that you’re putting in.If somebody is promising to make more than 10%, you should be very leery of what they’re actually saying. If it’s an unproven venture, your expectation should be that you should lose a great deal of money from it.

Our future is likely going to be different than how we understand it today. Rather than being pessimistic about the future, I think we need to manage the future such that it has more positive than negative that result.

Is it going to break? A simple question you should use when you purchase products.Ask yourself, “is it going to break, and if so, what’s going to happen when it breaks?” This was a simple, but important question I learned from my Dad.When you purchase new things, #technological leadership does not necessarily mean that it’s a better product. In fact, better products are often very simple and are less likely to break. Further, there are also likely to be much less expensive.Figuring out if a new purchase will actually adds value in your life compared to its costs is wise decision-making. Spending some time upfront, thinking about whether the hassle of ownership it’s is worth its cost in terms of the value it brings will often save you a lot of headache in the long run.Think in terms of #failure because things do.

Rather than focusing on large groups, link, boomers, or millennials, focus on the percentage of people that will actually engage with what you’re doing.

after years of the reciprocity project, I’ve come to conclude that you need to build an audience before you do much of anything. It doesn’t matter whether you’re writing a book, building a business, or becoming an athlete, having an audience where you can find 1000 true fans as Kevin Kelley points out is essential feature of any venture.The problem is is that you have to provide value in advance before you actually can get an audience. You have to build friendships with people that you might not know. How do you build friendships as you just give without any intention of getting back.without these options of an audience, it’s very difficult to do any venture. As I always say, you’re just barking in the wind, as everybody else is not going to pay attention to what you’re doing.how do you build an audience? Focus on helping out others as long as you possibly can.

Get back up again every day. It’s not whether you actually get the outcomes, it’s whether you are actually pursued and weather in you got back up again and it didn’t work out.

I talk about the importance of managing boredom in a research career to prevent you from feeling negative emotions.Making sure that you’re always spending time to be around. People is healthy, and should be part of your research life.

researchers tend to be pessimistic, but it’s important to keep optimistic about the world. If you look at longrun trends, you often see positive improvement.

life. If you don’t do something you’re not going to make as much money, or you’re not going to succeed in the long run.You hear: Follow your #passion. Go where the money is.In my experience, the idea is not to worry about what is right and wrong, but to simply get up and pursue “anything” with all your heart. If things are not working out and you’re actively pursuing, you’ll figure out a way to make it work out. We all know “starving #actors” and #musicians that are more successful than all of us.However, it’s very rare to find people that have the gumption to keep pursuing something with all their heart for a long time. Most people will quit any difficult task in a matter of weeks. Gyms are full in January, and empty in February.Be the person that will still be at the gym in April.matter of weeks.

Having additional frustrations for humans when they interact with computers, does not solve the long-term problem, and just makes it more frustrating for humans to actually interact

Having some amount of #consistency, regularity, or #everydayness is an important part of everyone’s life.When you’re younger and you’re just getting used to this consistency, you often view it as #mundanity, but as you get older, and you realize that consistency is actually the gift in your lifeHearing the birds every morning, and seeing the sunset, every night is an indication that you are able to live another day.When this consistency stops, it’s when your often experiencing problems in your life.

Your life is not meant to be maximized. It is far too many objectives in life to pick the appropriate objective.We talk about him later, fitness, routines, and healthy diet. But, this is the wrong way to think about our life in general.Some days you’re going to eat more cake than other days, some days you’re gonna be able to exercise and eat, right, and some days you’ll be able to feel at peace than others. The goal is to realize that not one single day should be maximized.The goal is to realize that you are not riding a single train, but you’re constantly getting off and on different trains.As you build connections in life, you’re going to have to spend more time being adaptable to getting on and off these different trains.

how do you deal with situations where others do not have a perspective of understanding? You let them have their say, and then you develop systems, and how to make the uncertain situation appear more fair for everybody.Much of life is uncertain and it’s very likely that there is not a right answer. However, you can develop systems to make it feel like there are just or fair outcomes.

A key to remember with almost every negotiation that you have in your life is to come from your perspective of understanding.What does what do you is remove some of the emotional reaction that you actually have when things don’t go your way. Also help you to understand where the other side is coming from.In general, this allows you to bring empathy into all of your negotiations. Often, it will result in improved outcomes because you can come up with better ways to deal with the situation.

The way I view index funds as a insurance against me not being able to work at some point. If you view investing as insurance against your own income stream, you will make far different choices and how and where do you invest it.It’s not a get rich, quick scheme. Investing is very much about setting yourself up in the future so that you don’t have to work if you choose to.

A direct result of a focus on productivity in #Academia leads to social isolation. The only way that we can improve productivity per person is by #isolating ourselves from others.However, this isolation can lead to feelings of #loneliness and can negatively impact mental health and well-being.Often we talk about collaboration, but ultimately collaboration still results in isolated work for individuals. You do work by yourself for a few weeks and then you meet for a brief moment. The problem with the structure is that this often results in social isolation for #researchers.I’m at a point in my life where I’m starting to think social isolation is a industrial #hazard of the career.The loneliness that you feel when you’re pursuing projects, and in particular, when the projects are not going as right, is at the heart of many of the problems that we face in academia.At this point, I’m struggling on how to actually deal with this. So, I thought I’d ask you How do we #work on making research #careers feel less social isolating?I know the best way is to simply remove aspects of productivity, but that is not going to happen in academic culture. We’re going to be ranked in compared to everybody else.How do we handle you social isolation? Is there something that I can do with the R3ciprocity Project to make it feel less socially isolating for myself and you?

Living with #ADHD is a #professor is challenging. You’re always forgetting things, you can’t seem to be organized, and all aspects of your life are dictated by what you actually forget.Good luck remembering names.Good luck showing up for meetings on time.Good luck writing.Good luck reading.What do you get evaluated on? What you write, remembering student names, and being in meetings.Everyone sets standards for you that are impossible to meet. The scariest moment for me in grade school was reading out loud in class. I could not read. I just couldn’t.I #hyperfocus on math and programming, but the problem that you don’t know when to stop to ask for help.Most people think that you are functioning at a high level, but what they don’t realize is you’re constantly forgetting what other people can easily remember.Car keys? You forget.Paper work? You forget.Making that important call? You forget.Everything takes much longer than what other people have to deal with.Everyone assumes you are disorganized, you are slighting them for forgetting their spouse’s names, you just never have your act together.So I found out I had this when I was almost 40, and my doctor and I decided not to do medication because of its side-effects.I am past the time of my life where I need medication. Or is it? In academia, you are always in school.I try to manage it through diet, excerise, and sleep.Except, people don’t realize you have a tendency to overeat and excerise is hard when you are naturally daydreamy, and a symptom of ADHD is lack of sleep.I also struggle with saying that this is a #disability. It is not.It is neurodiversity.The only thing that I can do is to forgive myself. Give myself grace. Know that I am different than others. Whatever you have. Know that you are perfectly amazing who you are.You don’t need to prove to anyone.You are ultimately remarkable.

many people don’t realize that working doesn’t always have to be fun. When they experience adversity, they lash out in different ways because of the adversity that they’re feeling. We have come to realize is that you got a walk forward despite what people are going to say about you.they’re dealing with their problems and taking it out on you. What you need to remember is to not take out your problems and other people.

creating a environment that is supportive and has psychological safety is extremely difficult. However, we know that it’s often the way for people to grow as individuals.I think about the challenges that we face when we try to create some thing like this and there’s often situations that are inherently difficult to create such an environment.

Naturally endowed assets, like beauty, the ability to communicate easily, and intelligence, are disadvantages. We tend to think of them as distinct advantages, but it removes the challenges and lessons that you learn from adversity.I am convinced that learning from adversity is the key predictor to long-run success. When things come easily to you, you don’t appreciate that particular opportunity, and you often squander it.When things come slowly to you, you appreciate each moment that you experience. Then you’re more likely to leverage those opportunities into something even better.Never overlook the fact that things don’t come easy to you. That is the opportunity.That is your strength. Screw the outside world for telling you otherwise.

I question the idea about whether you should always be fulfilled in life. When I was younger, I used to think that my job or my career will be my sustaining force to be fulfilled, and then I thought about how my family would fill in the gaps. Now, I realize that there are moments in your life that don’t necessarily need to be fulfilled, and perhaps that’s what we all go through is ebbs and flows of how we feel in terms of fulfillment of the things that are in the world around us.The goal is not necessarily to feel fulfilled all the time, but it is to try to struggle with the idea of being fulfilledAs you check off boxes of things that you want to accomplish in your life, you realize that life is long and there’s many moments that you will feel like you’ve accomplished things and there’s also equal number of moments where things are not as exciting to you.

Your best #estimate of how well you should perform in the future should be just a simple average. Most often your estimate will be based on you doing extraordinarily well, or for some of us extraordinarily poorly. you will likely not be a professional athlete, you’ll likely fail at your diet, or you will likely get rejected from the job.Instead, you’re more likely to be #average.Start thinking about how to set yourself up knowing what the averages are in your environment. Instead of thinking that you will succeed at your diet this year, or get that job, think that you’re going to fail, which is more likely the average. If you think that you’re going to fail, you’ll have a much different decision set in terms of how to prevent yourself from failing at that action.I find it interesting, when I talk about the realities of life that are not positive, how many people think that I am spewing #negativity. I’m simply stating what the facts are.If you understand where you’re going to be and you have a good estimate of your environment, you can plan accordingly based on this knowledge.As the saying goes plan for the worst, and hope for the best.

The simplest way to #innovate is to waste resources. Find a arbitrary amount of resources that you can give away and give away freely at things that you just simply find interesting. You don’t necessarily need to have a rhyme or reason, but you need to get in the practice of #wasting resources fairly arbitrarily.You will never know what thing will become successful, and, even if you knew what would become successful, it still hurts to invest for a very long time.

Making progress doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be happy every single day. Often, longer and progress feels miserable in the short term.longer in progress doesn’t necessarily mean bliss, it means that you’re actually pursuing activities and the expectation of growth. Sometimes this growth does not happen and you have to be OK with the fact that it did not happen.It is a complicated feeling to work towards long-term growth, and I don’t know what the right answers are . However, I do know that in the short term you don’t necessarily have to be happy.

After studying #strategy for many years, I have come to determine that strategy actually boils down to some really simple things.most of us want to look for some complicated answer to what is strategy, and how do we become more effectiveTo me, one of the key ingredients to strategy is just simple hard work. Doing some thing that somebody else does not want to do. Mucking around with things when nobody else wants to muck around with it. When you do this hard work, you’re setting yourself out from others who don’t want to perform that task, and you also learn an awful lot in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of the particular task.The only way that you can learn about efficiency and effectiveness of a task is just through simple repetition. In other words, just do the hard

Many of us think of #entrepreneurship as quitting your job and pursuing a new business. However, we live in the era of #digital media, and we can think of new ways to become an entrepreneur. A simple business model is to pursue your hobbies and to live your life. Use the digital media to tell your story about your life. Simply live your life, and let entrepreneurship fill the spaces and voids in your life.In other words, use available tools at your fingertips to live a more fulfilled life. You don’t have to do some thing that is drastically different, but you can complement what you already love.

Saving too much is just as bad as saving too little.Always aim to save for the long term, but also remember to consume and have resources for pleasure in the short-term. A healthy life is balancing the portfolio of #resources that you have to ensure that you have an optimal enjoyment throughout your entire life.Smooth your resources throughout your entire life.

My 2023 New Year’s Message To You.: Create your life by building it one step at a time, no matter how stupid it feels.You simply get up and you step forward towards doing that particular thing. Nothing will ever feel like the way that you think it should feel or be as described in the movies. It always feels silly rinky-dinky, but you do it anyways. The way that you actually create something is you don’t worry about what it actually looks like and how it actually feels but you create it, despite how you feel doing it. It will always feel rinky-dinky and stupid until you actually create it yourself.Once you create it, and you have built the thing that you love then you can look back and say I actually did that.

Often we like to learn from other people, particularly those that are top #performers in the field. However, we often have to realize that their experiences are not representative of what you were going through. You often don’t understand many different factors that lead to them becoming top performers.We need to take a step back and understand that your experiences are often unique to ourselves. If you were able to understand everybody’s abilities in endowments, you’d probably have a really good sense of how you’ve can #compare to others.The problem is that we never have that information unless we often almost always have a poor #representation of the world and how we actually compare to others.The lessons that you are likely to glean from top performers are often incorrect or at least not applicable.Instead, a better way to approach the world is to figure out what makes you you, and make that better. Be a better version of you, not somebody that you think is a top performer.

When you take bold actions that make a difference in the world, it's natural for people to criticize and question your choices. It's important to remember that not everyone will agree with you, and that's okay. What's important is that you have the #courage to do what you believe is right, even if it means facing criticism and judgment from others. Courage is not always easy, but it requires you to stay true to your values and who you are as a person. Don't let the opinions of others hold you back from being the best version of yourself and making a positive impact.You be YOU.

One thing that can be frustrating is seeing people not living up to their full potential. It can be hard to watch someone with so much potential not pursue their dreams or reach their goals. In this podcast, I explore some of the common reasons why people limit their own potential and offer practical tips and strategies for overcoming those limitations. Whether you're struggling with self-doubt, fear of failure, or something else, we'll give you the tools and motivation you need to reach your full potential and live the life you want.Another thing that can be disheartening is realizing that many people are content to stay where they are, rather than striving to reach their full potential. It's understandable to have moments of self-doubt or fear of failure, but it's important not to let those feelings hold us back.

As #business #professor, despite having my own personal motivation, and all of the knowledge in the world, I come to the conclusion that you can’t teach people that do not want to learn. The only thing that you could do is come to terms with you sharing your insights, and then perhaps one day the information will sink in if others choose to learn.It’s a hard lesson for me to learn, as I tend to view myself as very conscientious. I have to relearn every semester.However, if people are unwilling to learn themselves, there’s nothing you can do about it. You have to take a step back and simply say you’re doing your best.It’s up to others to actually want to learn if they choose to. When they choose to learn, things change. You no longer have to motivate, teach, or incentivize, but simply explore together.

If you’re trying to be a good person, and you’re working towards helping other people, if you experience #negativity from others, it’s not about you. It never is.One of the more challenging things that I have had to deal with, by being in the public domain is realizing that many people are #anxious, and quick to get angry. I’ve learned that even if you try to be kind and generous that people will get upset with you.Social platforms promote negativity because they get clicks and views.Reflect on the people that we should all admire most, people like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa and the like, were all #persecuted and rejected. Even if these people that were very much doing good in this world were persecuted, but imagine us simple folks doing simpler things. You should expect negativity.Us humans have never been good at dealing with our own emotions. we are better than we used to be, but we still have a lot of fear and anxiety to process.Negativity is often never about you. if you’re trying to be a good person, and you’re working towards helping other people, if you experience negativity from others, it’s not about you. One of the more challenging things that I have had to deal with, by being in the public domain is realizing that many people are very anxious, and they’re very quick to get angry. I’ve learned that even if you try to be kind and generous that people will get upset with you.Reflect on the people that we should all admire most, people, like Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, mother, Theresa in the lake, were all persecuted and rejected. Even if these people that were, very much doing good in this world were persecuted, imagine a simple folks, in the persecution that will just simply feel every day.Negativity is often never about you. It’s about how other people are dealing with their own anxieties.Keep walking forward, no matter the barbs that are throwing at you. Keep being kind and generous. It’s a long-term play.

Keep being happy with who you are, no matter what is going on. You’re probably doing enough work.

My role as a #Business #Professor is not to get you a job. This is a trivial problem. A professor‘s role is to get you to think about the world differently so that you will go and understand the career that you actually want or create.We’re here to get you to think about things in different ways. If you want a job, I suggest you just start throwing your résumé in to different restaurants and grocery stores in your local area. If you want a job that you love, I would suggest that you go get a business school #education.We can’t guarantee that you will find a job that you’ll love, but will likely guarantee that you’ll understand the world in a much more nuanced way than you did previously. It’s your role after that, to figure out how to apply this understanding in such a way that you can translate it into a job that you love and will cherish.Finding a career you love is a hard thing to figure out. You’re not only need to know what you like, and most of us don’t, you need to understand what the world has to offer. The combined intersection where you understand your skills with what the world actually can offer is where you will actually discover some thing remarkable.

You are perfectly fine.

People believe that new product development and #innovation is about flashy things that are novel and that will blow your mind. This is flat out wrong.Instead, new product development and innovation is a slow, #painful journey towards a little bit of improvement every day. Nobody will pay attention to it, and you will get absolutely no #recognition until one day something clicks. Call it a tipping point or the formation of community, but it doesn’t matter. The effects are still the same. When that day happens, usually very long into the process people start paying attention to what you’re actually doing.Until that day, you’re a nobody, doing wasteful, and unproductive things. The psychological struggles of being an innovator or entrepreneur that is creating new products is very real.

Why do we continue to make the same mistakes as a society or with an organization? I believe that individual traits play a large role, and make it so it’s difficult for some individuals and groups to learn effectively. One would think that we would adapt to an environment, and become increasingly improved human beings, but I don’t think that’s actually the case.Individual factors due to genetics and social upbringing play a significant role I believe.

I am doing OK. I believe that most people actually are too. The world of polarization that you see on digital environments is not representative of peoples regulars lives. Most of us are functioning, just fine, and moderately happy with who they are.

With #confidence and #humility, you can tackle anything the world throws at you. Think that you’re awesome, but act like you’re not.It's important to believe in yourself and your abilities, but also to remain humble and open to others. You need this confidence to tackle the world when it bites back at you. The world can really push back and you have to fight against the outside world.One of the keys to success is being able to work with others and have meaningful conversations, regardless of the situation. This requires being #open and #approachable, and not thinking of yourself as superior to others. By being humble and treating others with respect, you will be able to build strong relationships and work together towards common goals.In order to truly thrive in life, you need to strike a balance between confidence and humility. This will allow you to take on challenges and overcome obstacles, while also remaining open and receptive to new ideas and perspectives. So remember to believe in yourself, but also be humble and respectful of others. With this combination, you will be able to accomplish great things.

As the end of the semester approaches, the demands on a #business professor at a major research university can be overwhelming. Between teaching classes, grading exams, and conducting research, it can feel like a never-ending race to the finish line. In this LinkedIn post, I'll take a behind-the-scenes look at my life as a professor during the end-of-semester crunch, and explore the challenges and rewards of academia.It's important to remember to be kind to yourself. Life can be overwhelming at times, and it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But it's important to take a step back and remind yourself that it's okay to take some time for yourself. Whether it's taking a break to do something you enjoy, spending time with friends and loved ones, or simply taking a few deep breaths, taking care of yourself is essential to maintaining your mental and emotional well-being. So don't be afraid to give yourself a little bit of extra love and care, and remember that it's okay to put yourself first sometimes.

remember that you’re never stuck, and it’s how you view the problem that changes what actually happens in the end.

Artificial intelligence has quickly become centerstage, and it may be wise to think about the implications of where we want to take this in the future. Wherever we go, we probably should be positively optimistic, however, being careful in its implications. We may result in some unpleasant unintended consequences.

Robots are going to become an increasingly important part of our economy. We need to really start thinking about what AI and robots will mean for future prosperity.

The implications of #chatgpt on the economy, particularly in knowledge economy—academic #research— is dumbfounding.I’m somewhat dumbfounded by this technology, and really cannot create coherent thoughts about where it is going to take the academic research career and the rest of the knowledge economy. i can seem that it will single-handedly change the #economy, but I don’t know it won’t feel being a positive or negative change.I’m actually somewhat nervous, for the first time, for employment in the knowledge economy. #Productivity is going to go through the roof, however, I think we will have to drastically change how academic research is governed in the rules of academic research.This is true of almost any part of the knowledge economy. We will soon see AI videos that are vastly more interesting than humans can possibly do. We will soon see AI being used for any human interface, including physicians, consultants, and anything that requires intelligence. AI I will replace humans. Are used to think that humans would go into the creative industries and do more interesting things that are human, but after observing chatgpt, I think it can do it better than even humans.I am truly, dumbfounded

The reason why people don’t live up to their potential is because they feel depleted in the day today. It’s easy to turn the things that give you immediate gratification.

I have the potential to make large amounts of money, and have significant impact in my own life and yet I choose not to because it is difficult to do in the day today.

are student teaching a valuations actually valid? Generally, no, because of the amount of statistical variation that actually happens.There is also substantial difficulties with assessing education, that student and valuations to a poor job of doing. I talk about these challenges.

negativity, and the negation of current understanding works. It often gets more attraction and views, then providing positive and healthy information. The problem is how do we deal with that? If one is a creator, we have to provide negative information to get views, but then it is an unhealthy narrative to keep selling.The challenge that we face is how do we balance getting growth on social platforms with providing positive and encouraging information.

when we strive to make a large impact, we often get paralyzed, or we think that we’re not doing anything. Instead, I would encourage you to think about how you can make the smallest impact possible when you think about the small little we impact somebody’s day that’s when you actually make a difference and you’ll be OK with living your own life.

Keep going.

Instrumental ism in science occurs when we talk about how to get things done and be as successful as possible. The trouble is is that this incentivizes, the wrong things and incentivizes people to do shallow science.

Academia is not functioning as well as it should. I provide suggestions and how to change, academia and improve how it is currently managed.The key problem is the belief that we can measure the worth of individuals. It’s easy to measure things that are easy to measure. However, the things that actually matter in our life, and that improve performance cannot be measured.

I use the context of academia and PhD in life to explain very real concepts in everybody’s life. I hope that you will resonate with what I’m saying and understand that much of what I’m talking about is not about academic life. It’s about how to live a fulfilled life when there’s pressures from an immediate world.

Advertising models are changing with the new #digital environmentMost people don’t understand this, but advertising models are dramatically changing with the advent of digital environments. We think of advertising in the traditional sense of getting people to buy something. However, in the digital environment, it’s more about building #community and getting people to buy in with what you’re actually doing. It has little to do with getting people to buy something.So what does that mean? It means that in order to build successful businesses, you have to give a tremendous amount to build that community. You have to realize that community does not happen in the next year, but happens in a decade.Community is about encouraging people to participate, and be part of the experience. It’s not about selling people, it’s about people feeling so #empowered from the community that they naturally just want to participate by purchasing something.

Honestly, I don’t understand the anti-#woke movement. it just does not make sense to me. Not only are you creating considerable amount of tension and anxiety, but it’s frankly bad for #business. Being #empathetic, kind and #inclusive is actually good for business. If you look at across the board most of the research in these areas, emphasizing positive traits, almost always correlates with the performance games.Off the top of my head, I cannot think of a single paper or stream of research that argues that creating anxiety and divisiveness is good for economic performance. There are research papers that focus on the what is the cause of the performance gain, but emphasizing positive traits has #performance benefits.

There’s a significant difference between real life and research life. I discuss what does difference actually means if somebody that does research for a living.

All of us project the uncertainty we face in different ways. Doing the #academic game is very uncertain, and we learn how to process that information.Some of us learn to #internalize this uncertainty, and become more doubtful and #insecure. (This is me)However, some of us learn that we can try to control the environment and become more #anxious. These people tend to be viewed as very #controlling of their environment.The key thing to remember is that both of these are coming from dealing with the challenges of the academic system. they come from the uncertainty that we face.Take a step back and realize that the challenge is not necessarily you individually, but it’s the #system that you’re dealing with.Consequently, I think we need to learn how to be more #empathetic with how we deal and project our uncertainties. This is not to say to be overtaken by controlling person, but to learn to deal with yourself within this environment.learn how to be #patient and #kind as best as you possibly can. I know that this is difficult to do it, and it requires a lifetime of learning. However, you will become much more able to tackle much larger problems in your life.

We need to reassess how we think about managing #research and #innovation in completely different ways that we do right now.We need to start thinking about how to manage #research and innovation in a far more and #learning oriented manner. How we currently pursue funding of research and innovation projects is based on stage-gates. We simply cut off the resources when somebody, some project, or #paper performs poorly. Imagine if that’s how we treated poor performance in #elementary school. If students are not performing well in 3rd grade, we simply remove them from the elementary school. They are underperforming and thus irrelevant to the performance of the #school.I am sure all of you can think of cases in which somebody underperformed early on, and then became stellar much later on in their elementary school career.It seems absurd to do this and yet this is how we manage research and innovation projects.I know that resources are limited, however, we may want to consider modeling after elementary schools and how they actually deal with poor performing assets.

It is not necessarily you that is driving processes in your #environment. you might think that everything is in your control, but it’s hardly the case.When you create anything, from a new written document, to a new innovation, you often have to think about what are the forces outside of your #control that are driving what is happening.Consequently, the experiences that you’re having might be pretty universal across many people, and it is likely driven by some #generic process that is outside of your control.Don’t be discouraged from the things that you experience, it’s likely much more generic than you believe. It has very little to do with you, and evidentially much more to do with the external environment.It’s important to think that you likely have very little to do with either the #success or #failure that you experience.

As a #professor and in most #careers, you have to learn to detach to figure out how to keep going. Realize that the ups and downs do not matter. Whether somebody recognizes what you’re doing or doesn’t has a little consequence on who you are as a person.Your goal is to learn how to detach so you can keep taking steps forward regardless of the #progress that you’re actually making.I think we incorrectly suggest that making progress means that you’re always going in a linear path. We believe that making progress always has #incremental returns. Instead, what it feels like is that incremental returns never amount.What happens is that you have very little returns, and then one day you look back after a #decade and understand that what you were doing was worth it.given the structure of reality, you have to be more detached from any outcomes and what people will suggest. It doesn’t matter if you feel like you’re #failing.

The challenge with most things in life is #waiting to realize outcomes from the actions that you perform today. Almost all of us finds this difficult, and we go in different directions when we don’t experience with outcomes more immediately.Some of us get #anxious and start being mean to others and ourselves, some of us quit and give up, some of us turn to substances to take the edge off, and some of us turn to unworldly things that allow us to have faith.Whatever technique that you use, remember that we just need to keep moving forward. hopefully the substances that you use and the unworldly objects that you turn into allow you to positively move forward, rather than negatively.Whether it appears #delusional to the outside world or yourself, or you appear to be the hero, just takes time for the outcomes to actually occur or not occur.Keep walking forward despite the feelings that you have and the anxieties that you’re experiencing. Good things come when you’re #patient and you work on difficult tasks.

I talk about the challenges balancing being a parent versus doing research. And I also talk about how being in the moment allows you to deal with these multiple tensions.

In general, there is a relationship between #education and the amount of #income that you will bring in. However, there is plenty of nuance at the individual level between your education and income.Many people become highly successful without an education, and many people do poorly with an education.For you as an individual, getting an education might not matter, however what you have to think about is an aggregate the relationship between education and income is quite strong.Encouraging people to get an education almost always leads to improve success at the #system level, but you have to think wisely at the individual level.Think about whether and when it will benefit you. What do you think the longterm consequences of your education will be? Think about comparable others, not just outliers. is far more likely that you will be average than that outlier.

Becoming an academic expert has made me less secure in who I am as a person. It’s an interesting result given what you’d expect in building #competence. One would expect that as you repeat an action, you should become more secure with the actions that you repeat. However, in #academic research, I’ve become completely insecure. I do not understand both the field of study (#learning), and how to actually study it (#research).Even if I was to play the game, and look for tight connections between actions and outcomes in the academic game, I still think I would feel just as insecure about my own identity as I do now.The only time that I feel secure about my identity is when I’m not thinking about research.Oddly, I don’t really understand what is the driving force behind the insecurity we feel in #academia. Perhaps, others know the answer.

when you do something for the first time, like get a PhD, or any other difficult project, you can’t trust the process. There is no process for you because this is the first time you’ve ever done it. Moreover this process is completely different for everybody.Your goal is to keep trying no matter what is happening to you. Once you’re in the grind, and you keep trying, then you will make it happen.

I talk about the importance of insurance to protect her wealth. I also talk about why you should treat insurance for only catastrophic events, and everything else you should try to cash flow.

investing should be a long slow grind overtime. At no point did you ever feel like you’re going to be in the money. If you feel like you’re going to be in the money, you should run from that situation. The goal with investing is to incrementally grow overtime.Imagine investing as if you were watching a child learn how to do calculus. You would not expect a kindergarten or to understand calculus. It takes many years to understand all of the ins and outs of mathematics before you can get to the point of understanding differential equations in calculus.

Our notion of freedom is quite perverse, and we need to stop and think about what freedom actually means. Freedom doesn’t mean that you can choose and do whatever you want. Freedom means that you are are free of fear.

I talk about the consequences of our idealistic view that men should be men on things like steroid use and the hidden depiction of manly men within popular culture.I remind everybody to be careful and how they understand the imagery of what it means to be a man and how they think about their own choices in their own life.

Can we stop with the “manly man” act?You know. The barrel-chested, tall, asshole that we see depicted as a “real man” in business, life, and culture. The man who “mans up” or gets the tough job done.The idea that we need to be manly men and do things because that is what men do is holding us back and where we get to in life. We don’t need to “man up” or act like a man. We don’t need to “be a man.”What we need is to be ourselves. To be human beings. To be your unique and imperfect person.Being a manly man is physically impossible for many of us. So often many younger men decide to take steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. The pressure to be this unrealistic manly men often creates men to be jerks. We have this depiction in the business world that men have to be jerks to get ahead. We have to “man up” and “make the hard” decision.Why do think men are men are 1000% more likely to die in industrial accidents than women? They manned up and did the dirty work to their peril.Why do you think men are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than women? Why do you think 70% of homeless people are men? Thinking that we need to “be a man” makes many of us want to do it on our own, and not ask for help when we need it. We automatically default that it’s our fault when things go wrong. Manning up and making a tough decision makes us be disliked by our friends, family, and coworkers. Nobody likes to be around somebody that has to be a jerk.Manning up is the problem.Listen. You are not any less of a man if you act like yourself, whatever that is.You might call me “woke” for saying this, but facts are facts. “Manning up” creates problems. Let’s just start being ourselves. Be kind to yourself and others. You don’t need to “be a man.” You need to be a human being.

How do you deal with burn out? Stop worrying about the outside world and start living your own life. Enjoy your life for the sake of the fact that it’s your life.

I wonder about why more people are not walking around as billionaires. It seems absolutely ridiculous to even stay, but it is possible if you do the financial calculations.

Problems exist everywhere. Many of these problems are rather large and scary. Yes, at any moment, the world is facing some terrible outcomes.However, I have to pick and choose the battles then I want to fight. For me, I know that there’s many problems, but the only thing that I can do is get up and fight the battles that are in my local neighborhood.This means I have to ignore some battles, and some macro problems. I also have to have a positive outlook, so I can keep going despite having so many problems to deal with in this world.

if you look at how much resources you would actually have by properly investing over 90 years you would be baffled in the extent it would be. Properly investing will result in unbelievable amount of wealth in the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of a century.How come you were not investing for the next century?

During your #PhD education, you often have some really bad bouts of loneliness. The two most important things that have made me feel not lonely is getting exercise and having a busy social schedule outside of any solo endeavors.The most important things to deal with loneliness is to just have a busy social schedule outside of work.Yes, it is okay not to work.What I have found interesting in my own life is the strong correlation between me wanting to get up on Monday morning and having friends and family that you see on the weekends. Taking time off to spend with people that are not associated with work always makes me feel like I can work.Never think that time off is taking away from anything. It’s adding to your life.

Just go get things done. You’re going to learn a lot of things when you actually try some thing.The biggest lesson you realize it’s really up to you.You also realize all of the little issues along the way that you would never forecast. Things that you think would be easy upfront are not easy and you can’t anticipate the problems that you can experience.However, you can’t wait for other people to come help you. They are never gonna come. Nobody is coming to the rescue.Just got to work at it yourself and get it done yourself.

Most people will sit back and think that somebody else is creating some thing in their life. Remember everything around you has been made up.If you want to actually make a difference, you just have to make it happen. You start doing things that you think are seemingly below you, and you keep pursuing those things relentlessly.There’s no other way of making some thing happen then just getting up and making it happen. I don’t like making things happen just as much as you do, but I choose to do it regardless of how it actually feels.It’s just a matter of determining that you’re going to make it happen, and just making it happen.Start making things happen.

I discussed the nature of sophistication in empirical methods. I struggle with finding the appropriate amount of sophistication for the broader audience. My preference is to not have any sophistication, and allow people to see information based on base rate data. However, the rest of the world wants some sophistication in what you actually do.

we only role models in our lives. His role models come in different ways. They don’t necessarily have to be people that are close to you, and you can understand your self through them.I’m a big fan of media in allowing us to understand ourselves. Listening to the stories of other people allows us to frame her thoughts and come to understand who we are.Try to find role models in your life that will add value over the long run. These Romanos come and go, and you meet them at different times in your lives.

How do you manage switching costs, given their switching costs? Work on as few projects as possible, and avoid switching between projects unless you have to.

The answer to how do you build community is complicated, and there’s really not a good solution.

In order to make good decisions in your life, you need as much information as possible. Because of that, you need people in your corner that are going to be honest and tell you both the costs and benefits of what you were going to do. And with larger decisions in your life, you need to find people that are going to tell you the truth and be in your corner.Unfortunately, few people in this world like to tell you the truth and the pros and cons of major #decisions. Each person is incentivized to only tell half truths.However, I will always try to be a person that will be honest with you. I will tell you all that I actually know.If I don’t know some thing, I’ll try to let you know that I don’t know it.This allows you to make more appropriate decisions, and also builds a trusting relationship as you know that I would not do anything that I would not say.In the long run, I think being as honest as possible helps to make decisions and build trust. It is why I speak openly about the pros and cons of #PhD research, doing things that are #innovative, and everything else that happened to my life.

can you be a good researcher without publishing in scientific journals? The question that comes up often and is debated within the public domain. The issue is is whether you will have the same legitimacy without that mechanism. It’s not that the science will be any worse, in fact there’s a lot of great science published on blogs and books, but it’s whether the external world believes what you’re doing is valid.You can create an amazing career as a scientific blogger as long as you put in the same rigor and effort as somebody that goes through scientific publications. It will just take you a lot longer to actually get there, And you’ll have more doubters with what you’re actually doing. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s not possible.

You can’t change the endowments you are given. Our background, ethnicity, parents, and home are what you are born into.The only thing that you can change is the opportunities that are presented your way. The only way that I know of to change these opportunities is to repeatedly be nice and do the right thing. It is dumb advice, I know — be nice and work hard.It doesn’t happen overnight. Legitimacy and building status takes decades. You can’t get there through any shortcuts or systems. Just continue to be nice. Continue to try.

The key thing is think about when your alternative actually is. For the most part, you don’t know what your alternative actually is, and you have to simply just keep working at what you’re actually doing right now. You can choose to make your environment incrementally better all the time.

Be fiscally conservative and think about the possibility that emergencies to happen. Every once in a while weird things actually happen in your life, and you have to think about how to deal with that occurring.The way you deal with it is by mitigating it before it actually happens. I have things like contingency planning, thinking about insurance, and having emergency funds that are available just in case.It always is going to feel like a waste when you do that. Frankly, you are wasting resources.however, it’s not going to feel like you wasted resources when a real emergency happens in your life.

Keep taking consistent steps every day. There’s nothing that you can do that can change your life in a more impactful way than to keep taking consistent steps towards a big goal in your life.

Everybody should pick some absurd goal and go after it.

Whether it’s weight loss, building a software project (eg., R3ciprocity), financial freedom, or her pursuing your career, we all need to think in terms of large ridiculous goals.

Every single day you keep taking most steps towards your goal.

It’s highly likely that you’re never going to get there, but it’s the effort that you put in towards achieving that thing and allows you to look back and see that you made an impact in this world.

One little step at a time.

you don’t do it because you’re scared of what other people are gonna say. You think that people are gonna laugh at you or they’re going to tell you that you’re worthless and why should you waste your time doing that.

Are you really going to leave your whole life listening to the opinions of others?

if you believe that you need to get student loans to get a degree, it’s probably a mistake that you’re getting that degree. Remember that that is a signal that there is very little return for the efforts that you’re doing. Use the signals at the market provides you.

I think we need to have a long conversation about academic productivity measures. First of all it’s not measuring productivity its measuring output. There is a big difference between output and when actually goes in to making of the sausage.

Given that we have a tremendous amount of data available, it seems strange to me to only measure academic productivity in a very narrow defined way.

I think we need to have serious conversations about even the name of academic productivity measures. We just need to have open conversations and really put them to the test.

be aware that the displays of wealth often do not correlate with actual well. They may correlate weekly, but for the most part wealthy people are not gonna be walking around displaying the assets that they actually own. Most wealthy people are not actively disclosing the wealth that they actually possess. Moreover, displays of wealth, like a large home or fancy cars, are a poor investment. The best investment you can make is in the intellectual capabilities of people as that produces economic production at a faster rate and physical products.

Should you do innovation projects or something entrepreneurial as a researcher? The answer is no. It’s going to be far too difficult and you’re gonna face a lot of uphill battles. If you’re not ready for those battles you’re likely to quit

Everyone has a tremendous amount of human #potential. If you pursue something that you’ve always wanted to pursue, you’ll never be bored.

Since I have start at the #R3ciprocity project, I’ve never felt more excited.

I am never bored. There’s always more to do.

One of the biggest mistakes that I ever did is listen to the idea that we need to specialize. What a load of horse crap.

Don’t listen to the outside world that says that you need to specialize and be boxed into certain mold.

Those people are just afraid to do some thing that’s innovative or different in their life. Since I started the R3ciprocity Project, I am growing so much as a person that I feel that I am completely different person than who I was five years ago.

Why are we sit around and not try for things is beyond me. If you’re feeling bored in your life, get up and do some thing. It doesn’t matter what it is.

Just do something.

Don’t be afraid to step out and pursue your dreams. It might not happen overnight, and you might not know what these outcomes will be, but good things will come.

Don’t be afraid.

Jump!

The amount of human potential that we all have if we contributed 100% every day is staggering.

Most people choose to sit back and let the world happen to them.

If you choose to be an active participant in your own life, and we compounded that across all people, we would solve most of world’s problems.

Get some gumption today.

Make an effort. The world is passing you by.

I don’t quite understand why people are so upset about cleaner energy.

To me, it seems like something that’s rather boring and really doesn’t affect much of our lives. When we make the transition to cleaner energy, nobody’s even going to know we made the transition to cleaner energy.

It will just simply be cleaner.

It’s not like when I plug into the wall that I know about all of the energy production to get it there.

You know how that there are foods and products that you can get that tell a story about how it got to your house? When is the last time that you saw that with the utilities?

Most people cannot even tell you anything about energy in their house.

Pay off your student loans as quickly as you possibly can. It’s not only financially and Terra by ID and I have a student loans for a long time, but it also always on you emotionally.

When you have a student loans it makes you feel like you’re not doing a good job. Why not take steps to remove that stress from your life?

You have to remember that how are you perceiving failure depends on the metrics that you’re actually using. You also have to focus on the fact that you’re doing it and nobody else is. You do the best of your ability with the resources that you have and repeat.

Nobody is taking from you in the long run.

In the short run, of course they take from you and of course they are taking advantage of you.

However, in the long run the world is constantly growing. You have a lot of opportunities that you can access that far outweigh those petty actions.

How do you actually get access to opportunities? You have more opportunities when you are kind. You can access to opportunities by being nice and kind and working to the best of your ability.

Over in the long run people will see that you’re a genuine and kind person and preferred to be around somebody like that and somebody that is a “grumpy grouch.”

If you want to grow and get access to these opportunities, remember to be kind. Keep working to the best of your ability and encourage kindness!

Every idea seems simple upfront.

In my experience, writing an idea start out as a simple task. you believe it’s gonna occur in a short period of time.When you go to actually write the idea you discover it’s far more complicated than you thought.

You can blame this on naivety or hubris, But often you don’t understand the complexity of a situation until you actually are in it.

On the reverse side, if you read an idea that seems too simple, it is often revolutionary. The ideas that you think are so simple are usually more thought-provoking then you first think they are.

Simple ideas can be revolutionary because they speak to many things and can be useful under many contexts.

70% of the time you’re not going to feel like actually doing any work today.

That is normal.

You simply have to just keep getting up, knowing that you don’t feel like doing it.

You do it anyways.

If you don’t put in the work, who else is going to do it for you?

It is important to take a step back and live your life.

It’s not about the credit that you get or any fanfare, it’s about just living your life no matter what is going on.

If you are getting recognition, you have to acknowledge that there is very little reason for it.

If you don’t get recognition, you have to walk forward and live your simple life.

We all live simple lives. Have just simple moments and being OK with those simple moments.

We have to be happy with who you are at the moment.

Just live your life.

We need to be cognizant of conflict of interest that might occur in our decisions. issues of conflict of interest or not just limited to science and medicine.

In almost all of our choices, we are thinking about other things that may conflict with the choice we might make. we might be thinking about family choices, or other issues that we don’t disclose.

Where we have to really be concerned is when there’s a conflict of interest that has significant implications, and we are going to be make choices based on others’ interests.

I don’t think will ever be able to remove conflict of interest in any of our choices.

Just be aware that no decision in your life is free without conflict and thinking about other stakeholders.

From one perspective, thinking about multiple stakeholders is actually a benefit.

However, you have to prioritize the stakeholders, and be upfront about any conflict of interest you might experience.

There’s no implications that I can raise or think about, just be cognizant that conflict of interest exists in your decisions.

if you see a problem, there’s more than you that thing is the problem. Remembering that everybody else sees the problem too, but they’re unable or unlikely to pursue the solution. You’re the only one that’s going to actually stand up and do it.

Get out there and actually pursue it.

Doing things that are important in your life require you to be humble and admit when you’re wrong.

The problem is is that you also have to be assertive and keep going forward even though people are picking apart all of the things that are wrong with your idea and who you are.

Negativity has more influence in your decisions that positive comments.

Your goal is to be like a slippery snake where are you listen to those comments and thoughts, but you keep going in the direction that you want to go to anyways.

Don’t stop when you get thrown negativity!

Realize that those negative comments are nothing more than comments and words.

If they actually knew, they would actually be doing it themselves.

People that will throw negativity at you are sitting there watching and eating popcorn, and not actually doing it.

There’s a difference.

Everything I have learned about #strategy seems wrong.

To me, planning and thinking about the future really does not fit very well with the story of my life and most people that I know.

I don’t know anyone who sits down and has meetings about their future. I don’t know anybody that sits down and drafts a mission statement every decade.

The story that works the best is the story about just getting up and trying every day.

You learn. You work. Then you learn some more.

How you feel seems to matter more than a #strategic plan.

Every day you do that you realize it I’m not getting that far, but then over several decades to look at you realize that you actually went pretty far.

Strategy is not about thinking of where you’re going in the future, but working towards what you’re doing every day no matter what.

Keep working. Keep trying.

People that are not nice exist in this world. You need to realize that those people don’t care anyways. You need to simply keep walking forward and living a happy and healthy life despite the things that happen in your world.

Your goal is to have the confidence to be happy and healthy no matter if people are sucking the life out of you. Doesn’t matter whether this is in academia or in the business world your goal is to live a happy and healthy life and that’s it. It should not be to impress other people. They will never be impressed anyways

You know it’s right.

Why are you letting other people push you around, despite the fact that you know it’s right?

Stay true to what you believe is right.

Let the rest of the world come to see that what you’re doing is right.

If they never recognize and see what you’re doing, screw ‘em. They were never going to be supportive in the first place.

You have to have the fortitude to do what’s right and not get pushed around by others.

You have to do it for you, and no one else.

Nobody is ever going to accomplish anything amazing if you don’t stand up for what is right.

You are remarkable, and if other people are not going to be supportive, keep doing your thing.

You are good enough.

Imagine as if you worked at Disney and your job is to make everybody else feel special and that they matter.

People that work at Disney feel the same grind as you do, but it’s their goal to make everybody else feel a magical experience.

Why can’t you do the same? Why can’t you trick your mind that you are making the world magical?

Why not imagine that it’s your goal to make your own life a magical experience, and make those other people around you have a magical experience. In your mind you might be doing the grind, but for everyone else, including you are working on creating magic.

When you get up every day and do your thing, it is your job to help others, including yourself. ing magic.

In order to mitigate downside risk and take advantage of upside potential, look at how you can diversify across all aspects of your life. This might require you to do things that are unusual and don’t fit within the norm.

Normal people don’t think about the future.

However, to make sure that you take advantage of all possible routes in the future when things change, look to see it how you can diversify what you currently have today.

When you have a partner, it is important to slow things down to do well. Take your time to have many conversations before you make any large purchases in your life. Have conversations that are awkward and that you don’t like having. The more conversations that you have the more likely you’re going to figure out what to do next.

Start telling your story online.

You have access to opportunities that nobody else has ever had until the last decade.

Leverage the most important tool that has occurred since the Gutenbergprinting press.

Most of us don’t realize it, but we are living through one of the most revolutionary moments in history. We are living through a moment in time where content production is becoming democratized.

Why not start telling your story? People are interested in who you are no matter what you think of yourself.

You just have to get over thinking that you’re not good enough, and nobody’s interested in what you have to say.

They are interested.

You just don’t think so.

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We often think that we have to make large #investments in one shot. We need to buy a #house, purchase a car, or change jobs. In #business, you may launch a product, buy another company, or build a plant.

However, this often involves a tremendous amount of uncertainty, and these investments might be difficult to recoup because of the transaction costs involved in these large purchases. Many of these purchases are irreversible.

Before you do one of these major decisions, consider testing the market to see what is going to go on. Look for ways that you can scale back that major purchase and try that alternative.

See if you actually benefit from that alternative.

For example, before moving to a large city, consider living there for a week or two. Before you get married, consider living together for a year. Before you purchase a house in a different neighborhood, consider renting a home in that neighborhood.

The goal is to gather information about whether you actually like this alternative.

See if the market actually cares, and you care about the market.

It’s often not clear about what you should do, but by testing alternatives, you often get a great deal of information that you could not do without that test.

Don’t be afraid to test the market with something that is rinky dinky. In fact, what you should be looking for is testing the market with rinky dinky. It’s the cheapest way to test and to actually get some #feedback.

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Encourage you to get more sleep on a daily basis. Don’t feel guilty if you need that sleep.

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The number of people that are selling your garbage online is extremely high. Watch out for people that are selling you some get rich quick scheme. Your goal is to do the slow grind with things that are tried and true. Nothing is going to get you there quick.

The secret is to do the slow grind and put in the work every day. Increase the revenue that’s coming into your house by doing more work, and decrease the clients that your house is spending by shopping at Walmart.

Do this for several decades and good things will happen.

Buying a get rich quick scheme from some person you’ve seen online and expect to be ripped off.

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social convention often keeps you from doing good things in your life. We often think that we can’t do something because it is what the norms are in our contacts. Who says that we can’t live very austerely such as living in a tent? Why is it socially acceptable to not live in a car? There’s many different things in our life that we do simply because it’s convention.

Once we start realizing that it’s all just convention beyond the small amount that we need, we give ourselves room to do really interesting and thought-provoking ideas that change the world.

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New product of element just requires trial and error. However, the key is doing a trial and error over a very long time. Nobody is going to be willing to put in the effort in this new product development, and less you have an unbelievable desire to change the world.

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The most important thing that you’ll learn as we grow older is that slow and steady gains are the only thing that really stick. Follow that learning curve over time to improve.

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I caution against the direct one to one use between data that you see and what is really going on behind the scenes with performance metrics. The key is that data generating processes are not always obvious and require a lot of thought.

When you see high performance or low performance think about what is going on behind the scenes. Use some judgment to understand the situation.

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The most important thing to remember is that you can’t judge yourself based on how other people perceive you. You have to have faith that you’re doing the right thing. As long as what you were doing is a noble and just mission, all of it will work out in the end.

And if it doesn’t, at least you know that you did the right thing given where you were at the time.

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I talk about how individuals might be able to manage an organizational crisis at a university. I talk about the importance of owning a crisis and admitting that you do have a crisis at hand, and then excepting it. Once you admit that you have an organizational crisis in your dress and what is going on you’ll have far better and positive outcomes in the long run.

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never think that you will be able to gain anything in the short term. You will gain a lot in decades if you just do the simple tried and true. How most people grow is by doing the same boring thing every year. In the short term it never feels like anything is happening.

In the long term, it’s almost miraculous. Think about the top performing companies on the stock market. They grow at 10% per year. This means if you made one dollar this year next year you will be making $11. Over the course of two years it feels like you haven’t done anything.

Over the course of 30 years the outcomes are miraculous.

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be the kind of person that is willing to put in the work, be ingenious, and live a happy and healthy life.

When you play the long game, you realize that the key is to just do a good job and go home.

The rest of it takes care of itself in the long run.

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you’re gonna want to give up. Every day you want to give up. In the moment you might compare yourself to others and feel that you’re somehow behind. You might even compare yourself against who you were yesterday, and you feel like you’re not much further ahead.

But that’s what you should not be thinking about. You’re not gonna be that much further than yesterday and other people do not affect you.

What you should be thinking about is whether you’re a little bit ahead from last year and the year before.

Once you realize the slow grind works, you can start appreciating your efforts. Consistency is the only thing that matters. Getting up and doing the same thing every day went well can you do when the Olympics, become an extraordinary business person, or change your own life.

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I define the term selective science, which is where individuals choose features of science to fit their current worldview. Selective science is an interesting phenomenon because individuals pick the elements of science that they prefer, but negate the fact that science has underlying and unifying principles. Navigating one aspect of science generally means that you’re navigating all aspects of science.

Selective science is also an interesting phenomenon because of the benefits and costs of science and technology ate immediately apparent. Much of what we see and do in front of us in our daily lives is because of the efforts of science. Most of us would not be able to eat, travel, live in a shelter, or work without the efforts of scientist in previous generations.

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many people don’t understand that organizations have a long run mandate and they have to operate within that mandate no matter how uncomfortable it is for constituents.

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Show me a video with someone doing mundane life and I will show you a real video about morning rituals.

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I talk about the importance of doing things that make you uncomfortable, and you wouldn’t normally do in public. The more that you do those things the easier it actually gets, and the more normal you actually feel.

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most important thing you can remember it’s not whether you’re succeeding in any given day, but it’s the fact that you get up and try every day. It’s always a slow painful process, and there’s no direct relationship between what you do in any given day and getting to success. The only relationship I know of is by trying.

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It is never about making large decisions in your life, but choosing to make little mundane actions every day. The more that you repeat these mundane actions, the better off that you can perform.

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overtime you learn to protect yourself from the outside world. You can’t control outside forces, and it’s very often other people are projecting their anxieties and insecurities onto you.

However, you can control the walls that you put up in your life. Very often it is better to create a cocoon around yourself, then absorb these outside forces.

Creating a barrier allows you to deal with the emotional strain of the outside forces a bit better.

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I talk about how you invest for your long-term benefit, but at the same time forgive yourself when you violate rules within these investment plans.

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I talk about how there is uncertainty or chance in all of our decisions. Most people interpret this uncertainty in a much different way than scientists interprets uncertainty. If you’re making investment decisions remember that most things are outside of your control, and if something good happens to you recognize that there’s a lot of chance that happens in that outcome. If there’s something bad that happens to you try to interpret it as if it is a random outcome and don’t let it get absorbed into your mind.

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I think we should encourage everybody to be challenged. When you default to making things easy we believe that hardship is something that should not exist. However, hardship almost always builds character and courage.

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it’s important to have a reality check everyone’s a while and just look at things for what they actually are.

Once you figure out your actual active doing things giving your actual situation then you have a much better idea of where you should be placed in this world.

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Real science is a lot more uncertain and probabilistic and pop-culture science.

Real science generally does not have a lot of answers, and those answers tend to not be very concrete.

Real science is a lot more confusing and focused on the interesting idea, rather than focusing on facts.

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Keep going with the things that make you feel like yourself. If you are sufficiently thinking about the future, you’re always going to be out of sync with the present.

This means that there’s many people that won’t recognize your activities, and believe in who you are in the present.

However, if you keep taking a steps forward in a systematic the way, overtime you become recognized for the way that you stood out originally. It takes a long time for people to come around and see what you’re doing in a positive light, but you’ll be surprised with who I actually does.

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I try to tell you that you’re a remarkable person. If I could be the one person that puts a bug in your ear that you’re remarkable, what a wonderful world we will live in.

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I talk about applications him evolutionarily theory to management and human behavior.

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The reason why I keep doing this reciprocity project is to just keep trying. If there’s one person that’s a loan and if I can make a difference in her life that’s all that matters.

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I talk about how much of science arrives upon some consistency of theories and ideas. Despite having vast explorations in many different scientific fields, there’s often consistency among the theories that is striking.

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No matter how much you want somebody to help you out, you have to realize it’s up to you to keep taking steps forward.

Almost everything that is important takes you longer than you ever think, but you just got to keep taking the steps forward.

From #weight-loss, to #academics, to #financial wealth, and to building #innovations, the process is always slow.

Nothing was ever easier done than said.

Defined bluntly – it sucks.

It’s your job to keep your head focused and not worry about any outcomes from those actions. The outcomes are never going to happen in the way that you intended. It’s a slow and often ambiguous path to getting any particular #outcomes.

You also realize that it’s your own personal #journey, and nobody else can do it other than you.

You got this!

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I’m done with the collective politicizing and negativities that occurs in the news. Let’s just focus on ourselves and try to do good things with the people around us.

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Once you’re on this side of the dirt, you realize your life doesn’t change that much if you get something new. The desire to get something new is manufactured in your head. Your life does not change.

The only thing that matters is that you are happy and healthy, not things that you actually get.

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Give yourself some grace and realize that there’s only so much you can do in a given day. Getting sleep is just as important as everything else.

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I talk about how many of us feel lonely and isolated, but with the advent of social media, you never have to feel lonely and isolated again. Just want to give you some encouragement and say you’re not in this alone keep doing it every day. You got this.

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I encourage you to pursue opportunities and do that over the long run. As you show up every day you create some thing that somebody else does not possess. What you create matters.

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I talk about how I finish my PhD with a learning disability. This is a “disability”that I discovered that I had once I became an assistant professor.

I always struggled with school, perhaps much more than other people. I was in special ed until I was in grade 5, and then paying attention in class always was a challenge for me.

When people look at me, they don’t realize that I struggle with that, perhaps because I am the professor. But what they don’t realize is that I will never be able to remember their name, if I’m having a conversation with them I will not remember that conversation in 10 minutes, ends I have very little understanding of time in my head.

One of the hardest things for me to come to terms with was realizing that I actually had this so-called disability when I was older. I just thought that I had to work harder than everybody else. things just don’t stick in my head, and they never will.

Are used to look around at other people and think how do you remember so easily, and I used to really struggle with the idea that I couldn’t remember peoples names.

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How to get a #technology #career as a non-technology person? Getting into technology companies, such as #amazon, #google, and #SpaceX might seem far-fetched for many non-technology people, however if you’re keen on those places I strongly believe that you can find a great position for you.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people make a transition to and from #tech that you would never expect. Your career identity doesn’t define you.

If you want to tech career, you have to fully immersed yourself in looking for a position. From my perspective, you still have to be a “technology-nerd” so that you will be passionate enough to keep pursuing this option.

There’s three approaches to looking for a job in technology:

Use a precision strike by fully immersing yourself in a technology area. attend technology conferences, go to technology associations, and hang out at bars and restaurants where people in these careers might be. My favorite of mine is to join a club like #Toastmasters in that area.
Apply to every technology job that you can see. This means applying to every position, and every company that you can know of, regardless of geography. At some point somebody will bite, but it might take a very long time.
Be vocal as a proponent about the pros and cons of the particular career, especially online. Document your journey to discovering that particular area online. It’s OK if you look dorky, but if you keep doing it repeatedly, people will notice. Again, this is going to take some time.

From my perspective, the key ingredient is persistent. If you want to get into a technology career you have to want it bad enough to dedicate a lot of time and resources to it.

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I grapple with fitting between multiple identities of who I am. And, I don’t think that there is a right answer. The key thing is to be kind on yourself when you make a lot of mistakes.

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Data analysis requires converting the theoretical to the practical, and as a result it is often extremely addicting.

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whenever and cover the earth is bad Akademie is full of all sorts of people. Some of these people are happy that many or not. My job is not to succeed in this environment.

My job is to keep myself happy and healthy, and let the rest take care of her self. When she realize that it winning and losing does not make sense in the long run, you become good with you you are. You say screw you to the rest of the world

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Entrepreneurship is the right thing for you when you passionately know that what you’re doing is good, and is adding value to the world. Most people in your mediate circle will not understand what you’re trying to do, and you just simply have to say screw it and do it anyways. You have to know that nothing that you’re doing is right and just.

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I think the thing we often assume is that there is a “right” answer with your career. Just find your passion.

We should go search for a new job regularly and seek out the highest paying and the “best” job available. It is a simple maximization problem that they teach you in #economics.

The problem is that you have costs to search, understanding which job is better requires incommensurate tradeoffs among dozens of criteria, and identifying the right career requires you to understand the alternative.

Here is the thing: There are no right or best jobs. You will never know.

It might be right for a moment and then change the next day. It might be right today, wrong tomorrow, and then right again the next day.

You simply have to be okay with uncertainty of never knowing what is right or best. There is not even the satisfactory alternative.

The only option you have that makes sense is to #bumble through life without even assuming you can optimize anything.

Be okay with the bumble.

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Don’t assume that a lot is going to happen in one day. Normally, nothing happens.

However, if you just keep taking steps every day good things happen over the long run.

The problem is that it is difficult to keep taking those steps every day, and that’s when most people #quit.

There’s nothing wrong with #quitting, but you do see a tremendous amount of progress if you stick with it.

Keep taking one more step.

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You don’t have to specialize in any particular things. We’re a lot more complicated than the perception of that we need to specialize in a particular career. We need to remember that as people we have many identities that are important in many ways in our lives.

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I discuss my thoughts about thinking about how much one should consume of your wages and salaries, and as well as how much you say consume of your environment. There is no right answers, and the challenge is figuring out your consumption rate for you. How much you should consume is different for everybody, but it’s far likely that it is much below how much resources you actually generate.

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When does it always appreciate the stress that’s involved in teaching in a classroom. You realize how important it is to manage this stress as you teach more often.

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Keep putting in one more days worth of work. That’s the name of the game is getting up and doing it despite not feeling like you want to.

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When I started my #research career, I was profoundly naïve in how difficult it actually was.

The amount of #rejection that you receive is unbelievably high. The rejection rate is almost at 95% it’s some of the good journals. You believe that those people that are being rejected are not good enough when you start.

You don’t realize is that they’ve worked just as hard and are as intelligent as you.

The amount of pain that you feel with each one of those rejections is very real, and the game is not about how successful you can be but how to manage the pain of those #rejections.

I was also profoundly naïve in believing the number of opportunities that you have outside #academia. When I started, some folks did look at me and asked me how serious I actually was to do research, and I took that as an insult.

However, what you don’t realize is that they’re going through the same struggles and the humor only looking out for you.

Rejection in the career is real, manage that rejection is best as he possibly can.

Don’t celebrate the wins, make sure you’re healthy during the losses.

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In order to move ahead, you have to realize that things happen in your past that you’re not OK with. You can’t stop those things have happened in the past, but what you can do is acknowledge that they actually existed, and be open and work through those things.

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The Hamburger Rule Of Being #Successful:

Once you’re able to afford going out for a #hamburger and french fries once a week for the rest of your life, you you are extremely successful.

Everything beyond that it’s just gravy and #poutine.

Your life is not going change that much if you get more. You just get fancier gravy and cheese curds on your french fries.

The plate might be a bit fancier in the hamburger delivered in a weird shape with fancy words to describe it.

Realize that almost all of us can be defined by this definition of success.

All of you that don’t feel like you’re successful, you’re buying into the myth that you’re not good enough.

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You got this. Keep going no matter what people are telling you.

There’s two types of people in this world. One type is going to give you encouragement—these are rare. The other are going to block you and push you down—these are the majority.

I just want to tell you that you really can make a difference in this world. Everyday you will feel like you get pushed down.

But, you get up and get going every time you get down. Imagine you are a boxer, bobbing and weaving with each punch.

Can you push past the people that are pulling you down?

Can you keep the encouragement ringing from the rare minority in your ears?

Keep moving forward. You got this.

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The problem with decision making you never know what the right outcome actually will be until very far down the road. Consequently, you’re never going to know whether what you were doing is correct in the moment. The only thing you could do is go by your gut feel or where you want to be in a few decades from now.

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From my perspective, we need to convert to renewable energy sources faster, not because of climate change, but because of our depletion of a non-renewable resource.

Climate change is a significant issue, and alarming, however the larger conversation that nobody is focusing on the depletion of resources that are irreversible.

From an innovation perspective, depleting a valuable resource that could possibly be used in the future for alternative reasons is a far larger reason for us to convert to renewable energy sources then climate change.

From my perspective, issues of climate change will become so significantly important that there will be a whole host of entrepreneurs that will focus on mitigating these problems. Destruction always gets our attention.

However, if we deplete a reversible resource, we could never get them back. This is especially problematic economically if we think of alternative ways to use this resource in the future.

However, the issue of possibility and opportunities is amorphus, and reacting to upside potential in a hundred years is not that interesting to most people.

#innovation #opportunities #energy #climatechange

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There’s not much to doing good things in your life that require #courage, you just have to have fun and enjoy the process.

Remember all of those people that are trying to tear you down, they are actually NOT doing it. What the hell do they have to say if they have never done it. Just a bunch of armchair #quarterbacks.

They tear you down because they don’t have the courage to actually do it themselves.

Stand up and keep going.

You don’t have to listen to the rest of the world, you just have to get up and tackle the world. Most people suck anyway, so why bother focusing on their beliefs.

And the more I’ve done interesting things in my life, the more I realize everybody else is in #highschool tearing each other down because they are too scared to do it themselves.

You simply have to just keep going building and climbing.

Those people that for you down simply do not know how important you really are. They’re sitting on the sidelines watching you actually do it.

Screw them, and do your thing.

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I just want to remind you how much I appreciate you.

You do not have to listen, read, or be are part of anything in the #R3ciprocity project.

It’s not every day that I get to meet people from around the world - virtually I can, but I get the impression that you are an awesome person.

Thank you so very much.

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I change the conversation to think about just focusing on having a good day, rather than focusing on productivity and efficiency.

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I talk about getting more done in the day, and becoming more efficient. Do you realize that productivity is a misnomer, and it is a somewhat meaningless term.

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Comedians often reflects culture. The reason that they reflect culture is that they practice defined the jokes and stories that resonate with a audience. I discuss the business of comedy and thinking about culture behind comedians.

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The only thing that you could do today that will get you ahead is to try.

You’re not gonna feel like trying, and you are gonna want to give up, but the way that you keep improving is to try.

Nothing much will happen. You will only see minor changes, and most likely no changes, but it is that relentless pressure that moves things forward.

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Push back against the environment. The only thing that you can possibly do to change where you’re at right now is to keep pushing back against the environment.

It will likely take you decades, but that’s actually how you make progress.

Progress is slow, but it happens.

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Deadlines are arbitrary dates that we choose to define our world. Deadlines are used a lot in #education, but are less relevant in the working world. They are not especially irrelevant in family life. #Deadlines are a product of Taylorism and the #professionalization of work.

Life is a continuous flow of information, and we punctuate this life with deadlines.

In academia, I have increasingly become aware that deadlines are not effective for some people if you enjoy your work. (However, they may be effective for many people that have difficulty working.)

The problem with deadlines is that they punctuate our life, which creates spikes of stress and anxiety, leading to problems in the future.

I believe that deadlines rob your future self - You work hard to get your work done by a deadlines and then your next day is shot because you are exhausted.

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rather than teach about fax and data, we need to start teaching science in terms of the stories behind scientists and the struggles that they actually face.

Science truly is not about facts, but it’s about a story of scientist standing up with weird ideas and trying to convince other people that they’re weird ideas are more valid in the ones that they currently possess. Once we tell the story of consensus building encourage, people will understand the scientific method and scientific findings a lot more than simply talking about fax and information.

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People don’t care as much as you think they do. So, why not be yourself?

I repeatedly think about how you think about other people and what they’re going to think about what you’re doing.

You realize when you do some thing that’s very public is it really nobody cares about it as much as you think that they will.

They are too worried about themselves.

They will look at it and do nothing. They will say that’s nice, and then go on with their the day.

It’s important to remember it’s OK to be yourself, because of the fact that everybody else is in there on their own little world.

Being afraid of what other people gonna say and think about you is wasted energy.

They don’t care as much as you think that they will.

Be yourself. And, love who you are.

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After continuously doing research, and devoting majority of my life to scientific research, I still do not understand how to do it better today than I did a few years ago when I started.

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Be the person that’s willing to get up and get going every day. Most people don’t really want to do that because it’s hard work. when you do that, people will laugh at you, and you will inevitably “feel” like an outsider.

You might be looking at me and thinking of this person is fortunate, he grew up in Canada and now he is a professor of Business in the United States. This is true. I don’t know much, and I might not represent you.

However, that doesn’t preclude everybody else from trying. It doesn’t matter where you live in the world, if you keep getting up and going, and you do that over a decade or more, good things will happen.

How much those good things would happen? That depends on many factors beyond your control.

And, if somebody steals everything at your year 10, you don’t let that get to you, you get back up and you do it again for another decade.

Anybody that’s willing to do that for a decade, and push forward and change as a human being, will go along way in life.

Keep trying.

Keep pushing forward.

You got this!

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Keep leveling up.

It might seem what you’re doing is really boring and tedious, but you need to remember that to develop and grow do you have to keep doing those boring things every day.

I am not saying to devote your life to work, but I am saying to keep at it, one little task at a time.

Just like in video games, to level out you have to do a lot of tedious work. It sucks to keep shoveling or hammering, but that is how you make a difference.

However, the tedious work that you have to do is over many weeks months and even years. Most likely decades.

Don’t get discouraged with not seeing results immediately. You are most likely underestimating the time is it going to take.

You only see results after a long period of time where you can look back and say “I was there” at one point in my life and now “I am here.”

Don’t step. Keep leveling up!

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The more I study strategy and economics, the more I realize that the idea of competition is getting people screwed up in the head. We need to start focusing on human traits of bonding and what one would consider ‘feminine’ traits. These more softer traits, like kindness, empathy, and being nurturing, are the drivers of competitive success because they bring us closer together with other humans.

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You get up and you do it anyways, everyday.

One of the harder things that entrepreneurs and researchers have to deal with is that nothing happens until you make it happen yourself.

There’s nothing you can do other than just getting up and working at it.

Here is the thing. You only become good at it after you have worked at it for twenty years.

It is much like playing the piano. You suck at it at the beginning, but it takes twenty years of dedication to get good at it.

When you start you really don’t know what you’re doing, but you get a little better. You don’t “want” to put the work in, but it really is the only way to improve.

As you work at it longer, you still don’t know what you are doing. You still are bumbling around, but you have a better sense of “how to” bumble.

But, it still feels like a bumble and you still don’t ‘want’ to do it.

In other words, it does not get easier, just more tolerable.

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There’s only so much you can do. Enjoy where you are in the moment.

There is substantial structure to #academic and #organizational life.

You might want to move up, or change your position, but in reality you’re part of a large network, matrix, or cellular structure. There’s only so much that you can move within a particular structure.

This used to make me upset. But, I am coming to terms with our positions given the resources that we have.

Consequently, you learn to enjoy who you are in the moment.

You learn your position within the particular #structure, acknowledge it, and keep persisting.

Moving up requires you to endlessly poke at the boundaries of where you are.

This does not happen overnight, and requires years of dedication.

Don’t give up because you are not there right this moment.

Your time will come with enough poking at the #barriers in life.

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Rejection says a lot more about them, than about you. As non-famous academic, rejection has become my default. I am generally rejected from most things I apply to.

I used to internalize rejection a lot. I used to think that it was somehow my fault for the rejection, or I didn’t explain myself enough. “I” was the problem.

However, I’ve come to realize that moments where you feel rejected, or are you experienced a harsh rejection says a lot more about the person that is rejecting than about you.

Feeling rejected, such as being ghosted, a harsh letter, or not so nice comments is a reflection of what is going on in the other persons mind.

Consequently, I am trying to learn to be a kinder person so that rejection does not feel like rejection. It takes a lot more effort, but you can wake up and look yourself in the mirror. You often have to remind yourself that on the other side are real people with their own insecurities and doubts.

Spend the time to be helpful, rather than being the person to reject.

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take a stand. It’s important to stand up and have courage to do the things that are right. Stand up when you say screw you to the rest of the world because you know what you’re doing is right, not because there is some performance aspect to it.

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People do not care about the technical details. They care about feeling more human.

With new products and innovations, nobody cares about the technical details of what you’re trying to do. This is boring. They feel like they could figure it out themselves.

They care about feeling more human. They care about “why” you’re actually doing it.

Telling “your story” is your theory behind why you’re actually doing something. People care about the story.

The technical details are the empirics, and nobody cares about the empirics. Only the hardcore gearheads do.

They only care about the story behind while you’re trying to do some thing.

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We all have struggles and challenges that we face, but whether that becomes a “hero story” really starts with you.

I’ve come to realize that in order for me to tackle many of the things that go on in my life that hold me back, I have to be more open and let other people know about the challenges that one faces.

One of the biggest challenges that I face is dealing with male authority figures. Authority figures is quite broad as I think about it.

But, I think these challenges are universal, especially of men. We can let our in our struggles dictate how we behave in the future, or we can openly talk about that and deal with them as they come out.

Don’t let yourself and your actions be dictated by these inner struggles.

Create your own hero story.

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I discussed driving around San Francisco and the feelings that we should do something about intercity poverty.

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It’s really just about work. I think we focus on what we can do easily, and we forget that the stuff that actually matter just takes grinding work.

When you’re done it, you’re extremely proud of the fact that you actually did it. I have never been proud of anything where I thought I’ve strategized my way there.

Put in the grinding work.

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In order to make substantial differences and to change the world, you will have to pursue moonshot ideas that seemingly don’t make sense.

Nobody will believe in the idea.

The idea behind moonshots is not necessarily around objective performance, but about search and discovery. It’s about pursuing things because you find it interesting and your playful.

Most of us will never do any moonshot ideas, but they are the most likely to lead to large change. Almost all ideas that have substantially change society would’ve appeared crazy a few decades before.

Don’t give up I’m being playful because you think other people believe your ideas are stupid.

Being stupid is what often makes the biggest change of all.

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Playing the #academic game and trying to impress other people never makes you feel good inside. It just does not.

Eventually, you start to reflect on what it means to be “you.”

For me, the mark of my own academic maturity is realizing you don’t need to “play the game.”

You can square your shoulders and be just a good person. There is no game. The only game is to help other people out, be kind, and just being a good person.

You don’t need to play a game, there’s no reason for it.

What happens when you play the game and get ahead? Nothing.

Be yourself. Be kind.

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I think a key thing to remember is you’re never going to feel good enough.

No matter how much I’ve actually done this academic game, I never feel good enough, smart enough, or accomplished enough.

You always feel lost and behind.

I’m beginning to realize that pursuing being good enough is not my objective.

Instead, it’s about being OK with you I am today.

It’s about chasing positive emotions in the moment.

It’s about enjoying the day, today.

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Become comfortable with who you are. You spend more time with yourself than anybody else. no matter how much social capital or relationship building that you do, you will always spend more time within your own head.

Consequently, it’s important to keep the conversations in your own head optimistic and positive. That person that you’re talking to in your mind can make all of the difference to how you feel.

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Much of what we do is a learning process, and if we’re gonna take learning seriously we have to focus on making the process enjoyable.

Learning is focused often on negation or falsification, and by it’s nature, it is not an enjoyable process. Look for creating and repertory responses that are positive, fun, and enjoyable, so that you will be more likely to repeat those responses in the future.

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Remember to have extended breaks so that you can recuperate and become yourself again.

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The goal with entrepreneurship and innovation is to figure out how to best help other people. You need to navigate not only the product market fit, but also figure out how to best talk to others.

The goal is to build friendships with other people so that they become part of your circle. So you have to provide context that best resonates on the specific platforms in the way that people will understand it on that particular platform.

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Think about when I actually metrics mean, rather than just simply measuring things in your life.

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I discuss some key differences between Innovation and Research and Development. It’s important to think about how these are different, and the similarities between the two. Innovation tends to be a lot more brighter than research and development.

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Organizational design and product design are key aspects of creating new organizations. We don’t emphasize them enough and walk people through different elements of design.

Thinking about beauty, feeling, and aesthetic is important to both products and organizations. These traits require active thinking to make sure that not on the utility occurs, but also the aesthetic that you hope will occur.

My point is that you have to actually manage design in a way that is similar to managing other traits and features in the organization. The design that you prefer won’t naturally occur unless by chance, or you spend some resources ensuring that it does occur.

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We should all spend more time nerding out about the things that we live. Nerding out and allows you to do things that are wonderful in this world.

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The key ingredient from creating new products from nothing is persistence and using the feedback that you get to learn something. You have to assume it’s gonna take you many years by the time something actually is going to work, and most people are going to quit before it actually does.

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It’s important to focus on what you do well and realized it that drawing inferences from other people is likely problematic. It’s highly likely they’re not similar to you, and they have far different characteristics that can’t be generalized from.

In other words, you’re good enough. Just keep being you.

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it always takes a long time, and if you think about what you’re trying to do as a 30 year journey you’re likely going to make a lot different decisions. Here’s the thing it’s not a 30 year journey, but it’s likely a lot more than that.

Keep making decisions that will help you over the long run.

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The more I talk openly about my life and about everything that goes on, the more people come to me and let me know then I’m not alone. You need to know that you’re not alone either. Start being more open it feels pretty good.

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Minimize the risk of something bad happening. Everything in life has risk, and those risks increase when you interact with other people. However, you can’t rely on what other people are going to do.

Live your life such that you’re happy and joyful person, but minimize the amount of risk that you’re exposed to every day.

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I think about how to create a sustainable business that will persist for a long time. It’s not as intuitive as one would think it would be, and requires a lot of factors to go right to have a sustainable and persistent business.

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I walk you through dealing with gatekeepers, and how you might navigate gatekeepers. remember that gatekeepers are people too, and they often make flawed inferences. The goal is to disregard, and keep going if they give you negative feedback.

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I used to feel very guilty about blocking people that add crazy to my life, but I no longer do. It has been one of the best things that I’ve done in the last few years is to block out crazy. You don’t need more drama that sucks the life out of you. Best thing that you can possibly do is add positive voices in your world and remove those that pull you down.

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See Cogitations Podcast with Rahul Rathnakumar. Rahul is an Engineering graduate student at Arizona State University with varied interests. His podcast is going to feature conversations related to Science, Engineering, Machine Learning, Economics, and Public Policy and how they all interact with one another in the real world. https://anchor.fm/rahul-rathnakumar

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I talk about how entrepreneurship is about backwards induction of trying to figure out how to get people to care about some thing that you created. It’s about realizing that almost everybody does not care, and then figuring out how to build this particular product such that people do care. It’s not intuitive at all.

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Try out the platform, and give feedback on what we need to do to make it better. The only way that this is going to get better is through your feedback and by you actually using it. Let’s try to make work easier and reduce the grunt work that’s associated with what we do.

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how to find product market fit? Getting the product market fit is often challenging, and I walk you through how to actually get that product market fit over the long run. The goal is to find the feature set that best resonates with the audience. However you also have to add identify the audience, in the way that you do that is continuous iteration between the product and the audience.

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I remind you that the world is full of opportunities, and you simply just have to jump on them when they come your way.

The problem is is that you can’t forecast these opportunities, as the world works in nonlinear ways.

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I talk about how we often guess the objective Fran in academia, particularly with those of us who are focusing during research about organizations and management. The goal is not to get a hard at the cost of other people. The goal is to you help other people as much as possible, and live your life as a decent human being.

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I talked about the importance of going slow and not being too serious with new product development. The goal is to explore and try out as many things as you possibly can until you start getting product market fit. Once you get product market fit then you can start working on larger investments do you want you were doing.

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I’m excited to create the R3ciprocity.com platform, which is very much a revolution in how we actually write into work. It is a substantial improvement to writing, and it makes it a lot more fun.

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I suggest that nobody really knows what they’re doing and everybody is living their life for the first time. The only difference between somebody that understands what they’re doing right now is because they put in a tremendous amount of time and effort, and they really do not know what they’re doing right now. The only thing that we can do is just keep going and pushing forward.

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I stress the importance of realizing that the rest of the world does not care about you. When you begin to realize that you are a good person, regardless of whether you meet those expectations or a lot not.

As I begin to live my own life I realize that I’m never going to satisfy the expectations of the outside world. Consequently, I’ve learned to create my own cocoon where I’m OK with who I am inside, and I don’t have to meet those outside expectations. I say screw you to the rest of the world. You don’t know me, why should I care?

I live my life, I love my family, and I keep walking forward regardless of what the outside world says. I simply do my work, and go home.

It’s easy to get caught up with the expectations of other people. But you will never satisfy those expectations as they are amorphous and always increasing. The outside world neither knows who you are, or actually cares about you.

Live simply and stop trying to impress others. Once you do this, the priorities in your life become very clear.

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I encourage you to pass on positivity, and keep encouraging others to do well. You never know the impact that you’re going to have when you pass on positivity.

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when you start seeing that the world is really positive, and you have opportunities at your fingertips, you’re going to start being competitive. You’re going to view the world as if it is growing, and you are part of making the world grow.

You’re going to realize that there are a lot of positive people that he would never met otherwise. Rather than focusing on competing with everybody else, you’re going to view the larger pie and help grow that pie even bigger.

When you start smiling your life will change.

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The scientific effort is a political economy. Like everything else that involves humans, the scientific effort requires a political decision-making process. All decisions within science should be viewed through a political lens as the actors involved have limited information and limited resources.

Once you understand that scientific effort is a political process, and likely going to make different decisions. For example, you will think about gatekeepers and political skill within the larger scientific community.

Remember that science is not just about numbers and words, but it’s about the relationships that you form within the scientific community.

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I challenge how you are thinking and making inferences about the world. Take a step back and think about what you really want to prioritize in a world that has very few constraints.

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I encourage you to see what it’s really like to do some thing by taking the romance out of an occupation. Most often we are going to view a certain occupation or career through a romantic lens. However, what you need to do is actually take an account of what people really do in those particular careers. Once you understand what they really do then you’ll have a good sense that it’s not very romantic.

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Take your time with your decision-making, and never look for the quick win. Anybody that thinks you can “fail fast” to make a lot of money doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Failure still hurts.

You need to take your time and do a good job. Going for the quick win is going to get you burnt, every time.

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You need to remember that it’s not about your skills at or inherent abilities. You have to remember that it is just repetition to get good at some thing. Unbelievable amounts of repetition. Just keep showing up.

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It’s important to have adequate celebrations and treats in your life. Member that treats and celebrations build the life. You don’t build a life by being efficient and focusing on productivity all the time. Treats make your life.

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Encourage you to keep taking steps forward in. It’s the only thing that you can do in your life to make progress. Even if you don’t have any gifts, you can work more than everybody else.

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I just want to share my sincere appreciation to all single parents, other people that have dependents, people that they care for, and everybody else that has some sort of constraint that prevents them from “performing” in #academic life.

Academic life unfortunately has placed “performance” above all else. Understandably, with budget constraints and global competition, it makes sense to focus on “productivity” and “performance.” However, “productivity” has all sorts of baggage attached to it that leads to unhealthy behavior.

Screw the culture of “productivity,” and focus on just doing good work that you are currently capable of doing. Worrying about “productivity”does not make you productive anyways. It leads to unhealthy strategic behavior. Everytime.

I just want you to remember that your life and how it is right now is perfectly awesome. What you get to, and how much you “perform” right now is exactly what you need to do, and what you can possibly do with what you have.

Don’t let the outside world tell you otherwise, and you are at the right stage for who you are right now. Don’t forget how amazing that you actually are.

You’re absolutely remarkable. The outside world does not who know who you are, so why should they ever give you any sort of special consideration? That’s why it’s extra important for you to remember that you are amazing.

You be you. You are good enough.

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always try to focus on how appreciative you actually are to be in the world around us. The world is quirky, unusual, and interesting. You have to realize that just being part of this interesting world is the gift.

Be grateful for all that you have, and remember that adversity is just part of the journey. The adversity that you experience allows you to tell a story in the future.

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I talk about the challenges of dealing with the rolls and schedule of PhD life. It’s important to take breaks and spend time doing the things that you would like to do, in as well as actually doing the work.

Work happens when you try and you naturally gravitate towards it. It doesn’t happen when you actually force it. You have to have the desire to keep going with research.

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You are going to fall for the hacky stuff and get persuaded it’s gonna be very easy. If you need to actually get there, you have to put in a slow steady effort to get there.

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Every venture that you ever do is gonna take you an awful lot of time and effort, just like how your train for the Olympics. You don’t get to the Olympics overnight. You have to train for 15 to 20 years by the time something actually happens.

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I can’t really do too much in terms of improving your performance more than just putting in the work. The key is just repetition and enjoying it when you’re doing it.

Keep trading off your pleasure today for tomorrow, and repeatedly do that with all of your decisions to build wealth. It requires you to be constantly doing that day in and day out for you to actually get to where you would like to be.

For me, I see the R3ciprocity project being an important part of the world, and I will continue to forgo pleasure today for tomorrow by working on it.

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Important lessons that you learn when you build software (as an academic)

The two most important things that you realize when you build software is that nobody cares, and it’s going to take you a lot longer than you ever thought it would.

The reason why it’s going take you a lot longer to build it’s because you experience a lot of problems that you have to work through. Just think it how difficult it actually is to build any software. Try to write 100 lines of code and see how long that takes.

You also realize that nobody cares, and you simply have to deal with that and keep going regardless of what they say and do. What you do find out is that there are very cool people that are “distant” that might actually understand why what you’re doing is important.

Regardless, what you learned is to keep going and have your own determination. You learn an inner strength that you did not think it was possible.

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I discuss how you deal with complex interpersonal situations and management. I like to think of myself in the third person, so that I can detach myself from the emotional situation.

Thinking of myself and the third person allows me to better walk-through went outcomes that one would expect to see in the future.

The goal is to not to necessarily win in the short term, but I think of better long-term outcomes for everyone

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keep building, and keep persisting. It’s gonna take you a heck of a lot longer than you think it will, but if you keep persisting at something things to get better.

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You have to remember that you need to constantly feel like a failure to get better at something.

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it’s absolutely fascinating to me that I have very strong emotions about corporations, and other made up entities. Emotions I feel are just as strong as if they are real people.

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I talk about dealing with crashing in the afternoon, and how I deal with it. The afternoon crash is real depending on what you eat.

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I talk about pushing against the outside world, so that you can have the time to do your work. It’s always just work, and you don’t have to worry about what other people are thinking of you. Just do the work and keep going.

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I talk about whether we should be focusing on creating unified theories of this world. Talk about the complex thing that we face within this world, and the difficulty and challenges that you’re going to face of coming up with a unified theory. The question then become should we actually be creating unified theories? Or should we just be pondering stuff?

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You are absolutely privileged.

If you’d simply just look at any category of your life and compared it to one it was even a few decades ago, you’ll quickly realize that you are doing better than most people I have ever done in the past.

This goes for almost everybody in society today.

Don’t let the cynicism and negative news get into your mind. We are doing way better than we have ever been.

Keep moving forward and keep a positive mind every day.

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Please push against the outside world. The objective is to do the thing that you’re interested in, and to do better work within that particular area.

In order to do better work and to see greater improvements, you have to slow down every single time. From research to piano to swimming, you have to slow down to get better, not speed up.

It’s about the focus on specific areas, not about focusing on breadth, that gives you the greatest gain.

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Important lesson that I’ve learned is to remove me out of the situation, and view myself as a third-party. It almost always allows me to collectively think about complicated and emotional decisions. It helps me figure out how much I should actually care in the moment.

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I talk openly about my life as a researcher, particularly one that is very open online. One of the things that I learn, is just how many people are actually feeling bad about themselves in the research game. remind you, feeling bad about yourself is an endemic to research life. Rather than think about all of my limitations and what I actually don’t have, I have chosen to think about all the positive things and the things that I have going right in my life. I think the subtle switch, has helped me out immensely with imagining where I fit in with the world.

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stop thinking about how you can get to greater efficiencies, and really drastically improving your life. What you can do instead is focus on just doing a little better every day at little aspects of your life. There’s no need to drastically change who you are. You’re good enough.

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I talk about the problems that we face ecological impact. We have a rather large impact on the environment, and as we become more wealthier we’re going to have an increasingly large impact. We have to think about how to solve this problem, that fits the way that we actually operate as human beings.

Solving these problems is particularly challenging, given the constraints that we have in the macro environment. One way that we can solve these problems is to use entrepreneurship and innovation. we also have to think about ways to minimize the diffusion of the waste that we actually produce.

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if you frame everything in your life as obtaining the least possible good that you can get, you will completely change how you view the world. Imagine that you were living in a tent eating rice and beans, and everybody else around you has died, you will quickly realize that everything that you have is nothing but pure joy.

You don’t have to keep up with what everybody else has, and you don’t need that much to survive. Everything else is golden and apple pie.

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It’s important to have boundaries in your life. One of the challenges with doing research is that there’s few boundaries between your life and work. You quickly realize that we need to create boundaries so that you can live a healthy life.

Remember to set boundaries in where and when you work, and who you work with, and what you work on.

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I talk about making decisions about investments when the stock market is doing poorly. There’s no right answers, and know that whatever you choose is the best thing that you could possibly do for you at the moment.

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you need to remember that you’re not alone, and most of the thoughts and feelings that you’re going through is completely normal. Many people experience the same thoughts and emotions that you are feeling.

Part of the reason why we have these thoughts and feelings are structural, in the sense that it is because of how society is set up then encourages a large number of people to feel in the way that they do.

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You’re being measured or proper because you were thinking about other people’s reactions to who you really are, and how they will judge you.

Remember that any negative reactions is on them. How they deal with their self has a little to do with you.

Be more of who you are, and less of who they are.

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don’t ever think that your life is gonna be a linear process. It’s not going to be a step-by-step process.

Your life is going to be utter chaos, and you bob and weave to get to where you want to go to.

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Just keep going, and keep taking Luke steps forward. It’s going to feel like nothings happening in in the day today, but what matters is what happens over the years.

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Doing anything that’s major in your life takes a lot of work and most people are not gonna believe in you. Screw that just keep working at it and do your thing focus on the good things that you’re actually building and continue to do that for a long time.

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I really changed and how I view the world. Partly this is due to like circumstance, and partly this is due to becoming a parent. I think the key to remember is that it’s not about competition and getting ahead, but it’s about unconditional love where you just love on the person that you want to encourage.

The key is that people will choose to succeed if they’re given the support and encouragement to do that. Remember, it’s a choice to want to push yourself.

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just keep going, and remember whatever everything that you’re working on just takes a lot of determination. Everything ever existed with Trenta. Don’t forget that first read it that cool thing that you’re thinking of, whatever it is, who is discouraged and healthy feelings that you’re feeling.

Just remember that if you really want to do it you can just requires unbelievable amount of work. Don’t deviate from that.

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Remember to focus on helping yourself out the people that are closest to you first. Nobody else is going to be there for you, so you have to be independent and strong.

Much of doing well is making sure that you are taking care of yourself and managing your emotions.

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try to look for people that are gonna be on your team and cut out the people that are not that are pulling you down the quicker that you do this the better often experience that you’re gonna have the more that you are going to enjoy your life.

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I talk about how it’s not the technology that actually matters when you create something new. Rather it is the audience and how you actually solve the problems with the audience. Remember that it is all about people and not the artifacts of white people actually do.

I talk about how college and University is valuable for some people. The problem is is you have to determine whether it’s actually valuable for you.

You also have to figure out how you’re going to leverage the opportunities that you get from going to college and university. Remember, a good education means that you are going to work really hard.

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I discuss what depreciating in appreciating acids are, and think about how most people think about appreciating depreciating assets. It’s important to remember that things either go up in value or go down in value over time and if you are aware of the fact that things go up in value and down in value, you’ll likely make far different decisions in your life.

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I talk about the balancing of your portfolio of happiness, and maximizing short run, medium and long run benefits.

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The most important thing that I have learned to quit negative rumination is to keep as busy as possible. Having as many possible things going at once keeps you from feeling overly negative and keeps you overwhelmingly positive.

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i’m honest that I think a lot of motivational contents is hokey, but if it hits the right person at the right time it can make a big difference in their life.

I will continue to put out this inspirational, motivational, and educational content as long as I possibly can just to actually resonate with the one person that needs it.

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Remember you can either play up the magnitude, or quality, or you can focus on frequency. If you’re trying to have an impact it’s both of those that actually matter.

Consistency will almost always outperform magnitude over the long run.

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The natural state most is chaotic and messy.

Don’t expect anything to go in a straight path, and come easy at the beginning. All of what we actually do it’s a growth process, or we have to learn the steps as we go.

Few things come easy, and most of the things that we do are not inherited. They require a lot of trial and error, and social interaction. As a consequence, you have to remember that will take you a long time to do anything that you will be proud of.

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Remember that there are limits to what you can possibly do. However, you have to reflect on where you are right now and focus on building on what you already have.

Fixating on somebody or some thing that has a lot more than you and as I had a different position than you doesn’t solve your problem. You need to work on where you are.

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Think it’s important to remember that to get your point across you have to focus on making your writing more dense. The goal is to be a straightforward as possible. Saying the same thing and fewer morons is almost always better.

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It’s important to focus on the positive aspects of the work that you’re doing. Also remember to try to make it a fun experience by thinking about how you can be more social.

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One of the key lessons Apple learned is that adversity is actually the key. You have to keep remembering to build overtime. it has little to do with what you are given, and more to do with the slow grind.

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I remind you that you have unbelievable opportunities, but how you get there is by executing on what you wanna do in the future repeatedly.

It never happens overnight, and each step feels small.

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I talk about the pros and cons of labeling in science. It’s important to label because then you understand how the thing that you’re looking at has pros and cons.

However, the challenge is that labeling creates opportunities to stigmatize specific groups and identify those groups as problematic.

We need to be careful when we label but realize that labeling is an important part to develop new knowledge.

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You have to practice being yourself, and making time for yourself. It’s a Learnt scale and it requires constant effort just like any other confidence in your life.

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Remember that you can mimic other people, and figure out how to craft your own story. Think about how you can be more of yourself by using other people as a role model.

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I talk about how I stumbled in to being a online therapist for Innovators, Academics, Entrepreneurs.

I discuss how we’re all the same, and we simply have to manage the uncertainty that we feel. How we deal with anxiety and uncertainty predicts where we’ll end up going.

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It’s just flat out wrong to focus on scientific research productivity. Your goal is to simply just put in the work, and ignore scientific research productivity. If we train future scientist just to focus on the numbers, there is no incentive for them to do good work.

In my view scientific research productivity is a banal construct, and there is no, or minimal, direct relationship between action and outcomes in scientific research.

Instead, we need to encourage people to just put in the work regardless of the outcome they receive. We need to encourage people to be good people, and remember why they actually got into science in the first place. You become a scientist because you were a curious kid not because you want to get one more publication.

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I talk about the culture of research, and what it’s like in the academic game. Remember that you’re a good person and that you are remarkable. Keep those in mind as you’re going about your day.

Have confidence in who you are, and always help out other people when given the opportunity.

I talk about social influence and content creation. I discussed through what it means to be a social influencer, and why there is a considerable amount of sales people considering themselves as social influencers, when they really are not.

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I talk about why it’s important to provide a tremendous amount of content online. The goal is to build a reputation overtime, and use some of the factors or characteristics of the Internet. Three of the biggest factors is the fact that information storage is inexpensive, there are compound effects, and heterogeneous preferences across people.

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How come business professors don’t use their empirical findings for investment strategies in financial markets? I suggest that the world is a lot more complicated than the simplistic models that we use for our research findings. Our goal is for generalization and not prediction.

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My message is always consistent. It is just keeping the steps forward. Keep moving towards where you want to go, no matter what is going on in your life.

It’s the consistency that it’s going to get you to where you need to go. Nothing else.

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I talk about how it’s very difficult to figure out how to make money quickly. However if you focus on your ha and skill over the long-term, and constantly build your competence in that area you can do extremely well.

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for some reason, my days are almost always completely filled, no matter how I plan my day. I am always rushing to get my work done, and no matter how much rushing that I do, there’s always more work to be done at the end of the day.

It’s an interesting phenomenon where we fill our day with work, no matter what you actually are accomplishing throughout the day. There is always a mad rush to complete your work at the end of the day.

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I talk about why I am doing the R3ciprocity project. And talk about the personal journey that I’ve been going through, and hopefully bring you on this journey. Talk about the challenges of academia, and life in general, where you do everything right and things just don’t work out despite that.

You simply have to remember that you’re a good person no matter what happens to you. Reminding everybody that they are good people hopefully will matter someday.

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There’s no secret to building some sort of skill or capability, or any other thing in your life that matters to you. The secret is to show up when nobody else wants to.

Everything that matters in your life always sucks when you’re actually trying to get it. Once you actually get there, you’ll realize that it’s the act of showing up, and that grind, that allowed you to actually achieve it.

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I talked about the right amount of abstraction and research paper. The more abstract the idea is the more it’s gonna account for more things, however the less that is going to be contextual. The problem is is that contextual understanding is a lot easier than extract understanding.

I think the only way that you know what is the correct amount of abstraction is simply through trial and error.

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One of the things that I’ve learned with the reciprocity project is realizing that most people are very self-centered. Coming to terms with the fact that people are self-centered is challenging, however I am learning to exploit the fact that most people are self-centered. In other words you work within the domain better self centered and then you figure out a structure such that people will naturally organize based on their self centeredness.

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One thing that I’ve learned is that you need to be OK with who you are and not be so caring about other people. You really have to take a step back and just be fine with who you are.

You have to learn how to speak your thoughts, but then if nobody’s willing to listen to you, you have to be OK with that.

We really need to step back, and simply wait until other people are ready to meet you halfway. You can’t force them to like you for listen to your thoughts, and tell their ready.

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I talk about using intuition in your decision making. I think we should be incorporating more intuitive thought into our major decisions, and really pay attention to the subtle cues within decision that you make.

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I talk about how many times we blame the leaders when there are changes in the macro economy, but it’s often not tied to their actions. I also discuss how consistency is often the best way to create economic growth.

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it’s important to focus on the basic idea of what you’re trying to show. Statistical techniques I think I have overrun our literature, and we really need to think about whether we should be using fancier statistical techniques and science or not. In my personal appealing mean, we should be going back to basic plots.

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Don’t just stop when you get a negative feedback. Keep working at it and refining it, all ideas are not good when you start.

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I think we need to stop putting on as many airs as we put on, and stop pretending.

Just try to be yourself, and ask for help when you need it. It’s an absolute learned skill to do so. This means that you need to stop projecting like you’re somebody, when we know none of us really are.

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so one thing that you’ll notice as you grow in your career is that who you are as a person is not gonna change that much. In my view, I’m still just the boy that I used to be many years ago.

I think what changes is how other people perceive you, and then act that you have to play to meet those expectations from others.

But, the most important thing is to remember just to be yourself, and to leverage the traits that made you who you are.

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Online education likely will not work as good as one would hope. We fail to recognize that students require: 1. a coach to see the right information. 2. significant monitoring because they are human.

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You’re never gonna know if it’s actually gonna work. When you start out if you have the intention that it’s gonna work, but turns out that it often doesn’t. You can stop and not try, or you can take those steps forward knowing that it is going to fail. It’s your job to keep marching forward, even if your expectation is that it’s actually going to fail.

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I talk about the benefits of being nice and helpful. In the short run there’s almost always a cost of being nice, within the long run there’s likely significant benefits. We have to think about this long run and what it actually means to us as people. You might never ever see the benefits for being nice, but at least you tried.

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It’s important to mimic best practices. Remember that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to absolutely everything you do. You can get inspiration from other people.

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Often you’ll see people that you admire, whether it’s because of their performance or their stature. You look at them like they are heroic or superhuman.

But, what you don’t realize is that those people have their own problems.

Maybe not in what you see, bug they do in other areas. You’re only seeing one small aspect of their life. If you saw their life completely and holistically, you would seem to discover that they’re just as messed up as everybody else.

One thing that I repeat is remind myself is that everybody has their own problems. We are all human. Most of us deal with many other things in our lives.

Don’t idolize other people.

You need to understand their complete picture, before you start thinking about how wonderful they actually are.

I guess what I’m saying is that you should learn to appreciate your own life, before you start looking to other people.

Most people are no better or worse than you, you just don’t understand the complete picture.

Everybody sucks just like you.

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I give a lengthy and complete guide on how to live a long and healthy life, using principles related to personal finance. I talk about how everything in life is a trade-off between short run benefit in the long run benefit.

The goal is to get you to realize that living a long and healthy life is at your fingertips, and you simply have to keep applying yourself no matter what people are saying around you.

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As a #Business #professor who has kids, I think about their success a lot. But, how I aim to raise them is a lot different than you think.

Raising successful kids is not about the resources that they have access to. It’s also not about the grit that they may have.

The important thing with raising kids, just like everybody else, is teaching them that real life kicks you in the gut sometimes.

And then, you work together to creating a family unit where you have an us against the world perspective. You work together as a team to “take on the world” no matter what happens to you.

You also teach that you get up and you get going no matter what, every day.

It’s not about having all of the resources and opportunities, and it’s also not about having no resources and opportunities, but it is working through all of the challenges that you might face every day.

It’s about knowing that everybody in your family unit is loved no matter who they are and what happens, even if your a family of one.

The goal is not to raise successful kids today, but it’s to get them to be successful adults when they’re 50 years old.

Success is not defined by your house cars, or money, but it’s defined by how you feel about yourself and other people around you.

Try to raise your kids and yourself well.

parenting #teaching

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I talk about that it is foolish to assume all people are good.

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Scientists are essentially content creators, and understanding the fact that you are building content is important as a scientist. Research is not just about providing facts, but about telling the stories that you have as a content creator.

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And discuss how to do good science, you have to present simple data. The simpler the data that you can present the better. It’s important to remember to think about how your audience well actually pay attention to what you are writing.

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The biggest perk for research life is the facilities that you get to go explore. The ability to look at beautiful architecture and as well be a part of nature on many university campuses and institution campuses is one of the biggest perks that research life provides.

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I discuss whether we should be celebrating failure. Failure is where you perform below what you expected you were going to perform. In short, when you experience failure it sucks. But managing this experience of failure requires you to grind through it, or manage failure in an incremental slow way. Instead of experiencing a catastrophic failure, think about ways that you can minimize the extent of the feeling of failure that you were going to feel.

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I try to answer whether innovation is profitable. In the short term innovation is often not profitable, but in the long term there is a strong robust relationship between innovation and profitability.

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I think about creating organizations in which you have an emotional attachment to, and that we have positive feelings whenever anybody talks about them. Companies and organizations like Disney, the United Nations, and google have an emotional vision in her head.

I talk about how I wish to build some of these ideas into the R3ciprocity Project. In my view, it will help to make work more fun, and also give people home and feel a sense of belonging.

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The idea behind “strategizing,” where you are pushing to get ahead by doing some competitive actions is often not helpful.

It often creates nasty behaviors, and does not make you feel good inside. Thinking about your position relative to others often makes me feel very down.

A better way to frame strategy is thinking about how you can be helpful to others, and at the same time trying to capture a bit of the benefit that you’re creating for others.

It is really about serving other people, not about elbowing your way to the top. It is not about having a short supply and being in a fixed environment.

Strategy is about thinking of new ways that you can grow the environment so that everybody else benefits.

instead of thinking about ways that you can tear other people down, or push past them, think about ways that you can make other people feel joy, and as a reward for what you are doing, they’re happy to pay you.

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I talk about the challenges of being a good leader, and not focusing on being an authority.

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I discuss some relevant issues with new product development that everyone needs to know when they innovate

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From Wisdom conversation

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All the little things that happened to you on a regular basis are interesting, and they show you all the uniqueness is who you are as a person. Enjoy the little moments every day.

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I try to give you some encouragement for the day.

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I talk about the challenges of calculating how much you made from an asset. It seems easy that it should be just how much you got back compared to how much you put in. However if you’re doing proper investment overtime, it’s almost impossible to calculate your earnings easily.

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Talk about how a lot of business school education is wrong, and needs improvement. This is based on experience in building a platform.

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I talk about the three most important moments of insight and research papers that I personally enjoy. The first moment of insight is when you discover the idea, the second is when your idea is confirmed in the data, and third is when you get to write up the entire paper.

It’s important to remember to grind through all of the rest to get to the moment we actually have some insight in the paper. It’s going to take a awful lot more work than simply just having a basic insight.

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I talk about the story behind why I actually started the reciprocity project. I wanted to encourage you to keep going, despite all of the problems that you’re going to experience.

It will likely be very hard for you to get a good job even though that you’re doing everything right, that was my experience. But, you need to know that you’re a good person in the process.

If I could be that one person that encourages you to do good things and to keep your spirits up, despite what is going on around you, I think I would’ve done my job.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns and I will be glad to talk about it.

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I talk about the effectiveness of teaching evaluations in terms of understanding performance, and looking at ways to improve. Generally teaching a valuations are not a very good indicator of performance, and they don’t give you very much information and how to actually improve.

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talk about all it different features and adding to the reciprize the platform in the short term, and give a little hint of these features for long-term. The idea is to create a platform to make our life easier when we actually work. Also, it’s to provide a central place to get feedback on how well we’re actually doing.

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Presenting scientific information is very much an art, and it is difficult to know how to actually present it. Presenting scientific information requires empathy and interpreting how a reader is going to see the scientific information.

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I talk about productivity, and in particular academic productivity, where we think about efficiency of what we’re trying to do, and maximize the efficiency of performing those particular tasks. I suggest that short run productivity almost always drowns out long run productivity. And we need to focus on Longterm productivity to do well in life.

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I talk about what it feels like to create some thing new, and your expectation of having everybody care about the thing that you built.

But the reality is nobody really cares about it. They only care about whether it’s going to solve their own individual problems. And if it doesn’t, it’s your job to figure out how to convince him that it does.

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I talk about the challenges of dealing with the real world data. I talk about how much of the data that is presented is quite sanitized, and we should start being more honest with data that is dirty.

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I think about the effect of systems and various different groupings of cohorts. If you look at the general effect of this generally it often has a large impact on outcomes of the actors of interest.

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I talk about why most people actually suck. And I discuss the underlying factors that are driving the phenomenon where 80% of any population are not going to perform like the top 20% of the population.

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encourage you to create your own game of life so that you can be the hero in your own story. Figure out a project that you would love to work on and pursue that particular project. Remember to keep the project big enough so that you can do this over your lifetime.

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I talk about how I can wish for somebody to come help me with the R3ciprocity project, so that I can do my job better. The problem is is nobody’s coming to the rescue, so I have to do it myself

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being an innovator means that you have to be a non-conformist. You have to think about to what degree you’re not gonna conform and by how much. You also have to think about what aspects in your life you’re not gonna conform to the norms. Further, you never quite know whether you’re actually doing the right thing. The only thing that I can say is that you have to practice being an innovator in managing the motions that you feel when you’re doing that.

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I discuss the problem of trying to figure out when is the appropriate time to take money out of your investments. It’s not clearer in terms of when you should do that.

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I discuss how coming up with scientific findings is not necessarily about coming up with facts, but is much more about storytelling. You have to come up with a convincing story that other people will believe, and to get through gate keepers within science.

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it’s important to remember that when you have young kids at home to give yourself some leeway. Stop being so difficult on yourself. These moments are the things that you can remember. I looked back and I remember the number of times and I actually snuggled with my kids compared to the number of times I was in my office. I’ll never remember the times have been my office.

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I talk about whether we should be aspirational education and think about reforms to education that might improve being more aspirational. I use the example of take your kid to work day to think about existing systematic biases that might exist.

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I talk about how you can be a good editor and reviewer for naked internal. It’s important to remember to be developmental and to think about how you can actually improve the paper that you’re reviewing or are in the editor for. Think of it as just being a helpful friend.

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I talk about giving you encouragement to go do crazy things. Once you start looking at the odds of doing some thing, and you whittle away at those odds it becomes quite possible to do many outrageous things in your life. You simply have to just keep working at it.

I talk about my diet of eating fruits and vegetables before dinner. I find it very easy to manage this diet, and I don’t feel nearly as tired starving throughout the day. It also allows me to enjoy dinner with my family.

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I talk about my journey building reciprocity platform, and what it it requires to actually get people to use the software. Building software from scratch requires an unbelievable amount of determination to get people to know about it and use it.

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I talk about the importance of gossiping to establish social norms that are appropriate. I also discussed it’s important for bonding between people.

Remember that gossiping is not necessarily a bad thing, and it often provide a great deal of benefit to establishing what is appropriate and what is not.

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member to practice forgiveness, it’s more for you it’s been a days for them. It’s entirely selfish act to practice forgiveness. You’re practicing forgiveness so that you can move on and become a better person.

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wanna remind everybody to keep up their battles. Remember that it’s OK to be you, and there’s gonna be a lot of people that are gonna suppress who you are, but you need to keep going with being a good person. It’s important for yourself to be you as much as you possibly are.

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It’s important to teach your kids that manual labor is actually a fun experience. We’ve tried to teach them to do little chores around the house and pay them to do that. It’s a really fun experience, and kids get to understand pride in their work.

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it’s important to remember that most people‘s lives are pretty ordinary and pretty boring. We do ordinary things because that’s what people do. Don’t get diluted with the fact that your life is somehow more boring than somebody else’s. It’s a myth to believe that everybody has a lot more of a spectacular life than you do.

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I talk about the problem of specifying that there is one possible best way to view the world. Micro scholars might say that their approach to understanding how the world works is better than macro folks view of the world, and macro folks may say the same thing - their way is better. The fact is they both matter, and we really don’t have a good sense of how the world actually works either way.

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It’s a big assumption to believe that the world exist beyond you. I know that seems very unusual to say that, but there is a great deal of evidence that we can never actually confirm.

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I contemplate why I became a professor and for me it’s because it’s a challenging career.

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just be consistent every day regardless of what happens. There’s gonna be a lot of things thrown at you you simply have to ignore those things and get up and get going. There’s no other way to get around it.

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I talk about the challenges of analyzing large data set with billions of characters in it. Often it’s just finding one or two characters that leads to problems within the dataset

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One of the biggest lessons that I learned by building software is how self interested people actually are in this world they’re very much motivated by helping themselves out rather than helping out the greater community.

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I ponder about alternative fuels and energy sources. I think about what we can possibly do to mitigate some of the damage that we’re doing to fossil fuels. I also said that the real problem is not that we’re consuming fossil fuels, it’s that we’re consuming some form of resource that is millions of years old that we can’t get back.

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I want everybody to realize that kindness and empathy is important in this world. I know I’m not gonna be able to teach everybody back, because everybody is different. However, it does matter and people do pay attention to that.

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I want you to marvel in the complexity of the things around you. Once you realize that the world is a heck of a lot more complicated and more difficult than you think that it would be, begin to realize that be very grateful for everything that is around you.

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I talk about how to measure productivity in organizations and I propose some new insights in terms of productivity where we focus on what truly we want to get to, rather than things that are just easy to measure.

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to build anything that’s great requires a tremendous amount of perseverance. As Jimmy Cliff says you can get it if you really try, but you must try try try try. I talk about how there is a castle in Atikokan Ontario and it’s the story of somebody building a castle from nothing.

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I talk about how entrepreneurship and innovation is absolutely crazy making. A matter how hard you try out some thing, it always feels like you’re digging hole. The only thing that I can do is suggest just keep going and dig deeper hole.

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I talk about how to pay off your home by the time that you’re 40, and it requires a tremendous amount of consistency and dedication. You have to continuously make a lot of decisions that minimize your expenses and maximize your revenue that’s coming in.

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I am becoming increasingly more disillusioned with academia. I understand how it all works and to be part of a research team, however if you’re not part of a research team you’re never going to make it matter how much work that you put in.

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The two biggest irritations of having ADHD is forgetting about events, and forgetting peoples names.

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remember that metrics are almost always wrong, and even when you spend a great deal of time trying to make them better, they’re often way off the mark. Base your actions and just grinding away, or just being you.

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and talk about how you create a product or organization that has raving fans. The idea is that you simply need to be intentional towards building products such that it has raving fans. It’s not going to happen on its own. Being intentional over a long time actually does create the product or organization that has raving fans.

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It is important to think about the incentives that occur in science. If you actually want to change the behavior of scientist, you need to focus on the financial incentives behind science itself. The validity of scientific research is a function of the financial incentives that are available to them.

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I give some important lessons of how to do new product launches very simply and easily. The goal is to minimize the cost and time of development. Remember you do not need to spend a lot of money on a new product.

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I talk about how science is really about writing and not necessarily about science since you think it is. If you love writing and or believe yourself to be a journalist, and science is a great career. To put it in perspective the expectation is to write 10 to 15 pages a day. In normal journal publication will take around 500 pages by the time it actually gets published.

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I stress the importance of simplicity with every research article that you write. If it’s not simple and straightforward it’s never gonna be published. It’s gotta be so simple that you think that it’s just as obvious.

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I just wanted to give you some encouragement to care, and to focus on being a good person. You might be pressured to do social comparison in competitive positioning games, but you don’t need to. Just be you.

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Encourage you to invest broadly, And not trying to look for fast cash quick wins.

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I want to remind you that your work is not going get any easier. In fact, it may even get much harder as you grow and develop. But, you will get better. You won’t see these changes day today, but overtime day very much compound.

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often, companies want to encourage employees become more entrepreneurial. The best way that companies can encourage entrepreneurship is to ensure that employees have downtime, and the ability to pursue hobbies. Allow them to explore and play with things that they’re interested in.

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Remember to appreciate the rainy days that you have. They’re just as good as a Sunnie ones, if not better.

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How do you see the world matters. You will either see the world is grinding, endless problems with considerable oppression and unbelievable suffering. Or, you can see all of these things as opportunities to make a change. You have the opportunity to either lead your life out of these endless grinding problems, or not.

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i’m always gonna feel like I’m late and rushing for something, and that’s totally fine with me. That is the spice of life and it’s something to actually appreciate.

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I talk about my philosophy for PhD program admissions, and I specify that you should be very thoughtful on selection, but then give encouragement and motivation once people are in a program.

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remember that most projects are tiny when they start. Don’t believe that it has to start big and impressive.

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I talk about the power of marketing, the emotional responses that we get to just dumb physical assets. Remember many other things in your life are just stupid physical things. The reason why you feel the way that you feel about those assets is because of the power of marketing.

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I marvel in how importance social status is in our world. We have the ability to create unprecedented wealth, but many of us forgo that opportunity to improve our current social status.

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it’s important to think about your decisions of why you don’t actually want to build more wealth. Remember you have to intentionally control the things in your life, and your financial life it’s just one small aspect. But it requires you to take charge.

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Mastery requires a lot of mundane work. You have to keep repeating the same thing day in a day out and most people will give up.

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The name of the game is not hustle, but just keeping busy and keeping active. Remember there is a lot to life and having different moments of doing different things it’s actually quite enjoyable. Focus on just keeping busy rather than grinding it out.

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projects and the things that you pursue are always more complicated when you actually do it. Most people assume that things are easy, but just try to do it and see what happens. It’s an interesting activity and you realize it is a lot more complicated than he ever thought.

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I encourage you to think about what you’re going to do, but then execute as quick as possible. There’s nothing that is going to kill a project quicker than people thinking about all of the potential problems that you can experience before you even start. You simply have to jump into it blindly and disregard all of the problems that you might experience. Build a dang thing and then figure out how to mitigate the problems that you actually are experiencing.

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I talk about how complicated and difficult most things are in life once you actually start doing it. From the outside it looks like it’s very simple, but when you actually start executing you realize it is a lot more difficult than you’ve ever imagined.

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The answer to how to become an effective professor is I don’t know. I don’t think that there’s any secret, and you simply just have to do it overtime.

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I talk about how you’re gonna feel when you first start something and you innovate in your life. Remember you’re always gonna feel silly whenever you first start some thing. That feeling will never go away. So don’t worry about how you feel and just simply jump into it.

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You will get ghosted in management, and just assume it’s actually gonna happen. there are many reasons why people might disappear from the project, and it’s likely for reasons would never expect. You can’t plan for it, but just assume it’s gonna happen.

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We have set foods for certain meals. Enjoy life, and try things a little different some days.

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I talk about building wealth overtime, and what it actually takes to build wealth. I talk about all of the endogenous choices that you have to make to build wealth over many years. You often have to forgo pleasure today for benefit in the future.

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Podcasting has been very therapeutic for me as a researcher, as I spend most my time not talking to anybody throughout the day. Podcasting allows me to speak openly to an audience.

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I discuss what the difference is between the economics and strategy. I discuss some defining features of strategy, however I also discuss is really difficult to car route differences between fields. Often we borrow ideas from multiple fields whenever we are creating new science. I also do not want to create distinction between fields as we want to encourage community building.

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Know that you can’t do it all yourself. When you get other people to do actions, you almost always have to realize that the quality is not going to be the same degree of what you were expecting. However coming to terms with being able to let go and letting other people do things in your life is an important skill that you learn as you get older.

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I did not understand watching professional sports and dedicating a significant portion of my life to understanding professional sports. It’s never been something that I’ve done, and I just don’t understand the entire infrastructure behind professional sports.

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When you feel behind, remember most likely you are exactly where you should be. Look at the real numbers, and see what the real numbers actually say.

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Despite having some major problems in the world that we need to solve, we need to recognize that there’s a tremendous amount of human potential and we should be optimistic about the future.

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you simply have to sit down and say that you’re gonna do it, and actually carry through and actually do it. There’s no magic just a matter of dedicating your time and effort.

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don’t underestimate the power of encouragement and recognition as a manager. It goes a lot further than you ever think it will.

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I talk about reciprocity, and most peoples actions in life. Remember, most people are self interested, and you should expect them to behave that way. However, your goal should not be about performance, or else you will become bitter.

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There are significant barriers to academic entrepreneurship, and we need to address these issues before progress is made in widespread entrepreneurship across universities.

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today’s gonna be a very good day, and I’m very hopeful about what is gonna happen in this world. It’s been a long time since I felt this hopeful, but the bravery of the people in the Ukraine have demonstrated to the rest of the world what we need to stand up for.

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I talk about all of the scams that you might experience in entrepreneurship, and people selling in courses that add little value. Remember, there’s not much to it other than just long grinding work, and working towards the goal of your entrepreneurial venture.

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I discuss the various factors behind why professors don’t go working ind history, despite having considerable opportunities that they can pursue in industry. There are many different factors behind why one might not go into industry.

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I talk about the challenges of playing the lessons that you learn in social sciences to your own life. And I discuss why we might find it challenging, and why many people don’t do it.

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I remind everybody that we have a lot to be hopeful for, and we’re at a time of unprecedented human prosperity. We also are making significant progress across-the-board in almost every indicator of well-being.

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I talk about the challenges of dealing with ultra wealth and extreme wealth disparities.

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I make an analogy between puppy training and learning between two parties. The teacher in a situation has to realize that the student has to come to the situation on their own accord. Forced training is unlikely to work out in a positive outcome.

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I talk about the challenges of being too nice and trying to find business relationships. I talk about how it’s it making decisions about an unknown asset is really challenging.

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I talk about when you build an innovation, it feels like you’re throwing money out the window. You’re likely never to get that money back, and if you do get it back it’ll be much further in the distance than you think it will be. You have to get used to it feeling like charity or that you are supporting an important cause.

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It’s important to remember democracy and human ingenuity will always win. When you invest in the stock market you’re recognizing the fact that human ingenuity is driving this progress.

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It appears as if Russia has attacked Ukraine, and they talk about the reality that we live in.

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People will take advantage of you. You have to set your boundaries about who you are and what you’re about. Remember that. It is absolutely fine to have your boundaries and to be stern.

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Here’s some important dad advice. Spend the time to minimize risks in your life. The resources that you spend on risk minimization will allow you to excel in the long run.

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I think we should spend more time and being honest about having guilty pleasures like watching television or enjoying something silly. Silly things are important to everybody’s life. Especially important when you are dealing with stress in your life.

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I talk about how it’s important to find a little moments to do the things that you would like to do. Don’t forget that you’ll never have time to do everything that you want to do perfectly. You simply just have to do it to your best of your ability within the constraints that you have.

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I talk about how I could be the person that gives encouragement when they need it and because the Internet is persistent, it might be somebody that will listen to this and 2750.

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I talk about about the differences between PhD, Masters, & Undergrad / college classes.

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I talk about how you can find good PhD students and the traditional set up of university system. I talk about how the Internet is changing university system, and I talk about the struggles of being somebody that is part of this innovation.

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I talk about how Costco does many unique things that matter to the customer. They don’t do many of the things that their competitors do, so many ways that they are actually offering a worst experience. However, what they do is they focus on the things that matter to customers and then they really accentuate those.

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If you are a scientist or researcher you have to realize that reviewers are absolutely ruthless in the scientific pure review process. They’re trained to be very skeptical and any additional effort that they have to do to interpret your results will be very detrimental to whether you actually get a paper accepted or not.

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I talk about how to actually do business in an environment and appears to be unstable. The best that you can do is just keep moving forward, despite uncertainty that is occurring around you. Enjoy the small moments in your local environment.

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Remember that building a business or a product is just a slow grind. Remember it’s gonna take a lot longer and you ever think it’s gonna take, and you just have to be happy actually doing it a little bit at a time. Get pleasure in the slow build.

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I use the analogy of a little bit of paint goes along ways to many things in her life that can actually make a positive difference. Making a very minor investment early on can have tremendous benefits and who you are as a person.

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I talk about the nature of innovation, and talk about how negative experiences are really important to why innovation occurs within an organization. Negative experiences lead to some identification of a problem, and then firms search for the solutions to the particular problem.

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The environment that you’re part of does hold you back, but the only thing that you can do to change that is to try every day. Get up and try and keep going.

I talk about the importance of moving forward and nonstopping. No matter what happens in what you’re going through don’t stop focusing and pushing towards your goal.

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I discuss what is cozzle identification and try to briefly have a short conversation about how to think about cause in research.

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Don’t invest in single stocks. More than likely going to get hurt when you do that and you can’t beat the market. You might think that you’re smarter than everybody else, but you’re not.

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You talk about the importance of keep being in the grind even when you don’t feel like it and you don’t know what to do. Simply just keep moving forward and repeating what you’re doing. There’s no magic to it.

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It’s important to plan and mitigate risk in your life. Remember everybody’s going to experience some negative things. You can either let the negative thing destroy your life or work towards mitigating its affects before it happens.

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I talk about competitive analysis, and why I am not necessarily a big fan of it. I suggest that you’re better off focusing on what you can improve and identifying your unique traits that make you and your company different.

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Just wanted to give you a little bit of encouragement and tell you that you’re doing a good job today. Keep it up keep going don’t let other people pull you down.

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Take one more step every day and I’ll tell you actually get to where you want to go to. Nobody wants to hear that but that’s really what it is. Period.

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I talk about the difference between what heirs mean and what failure means. I define errors. I also define failures. And I get some insight on what to think about with failure

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I talk about how you have to stop thinking about beating the market. And start thinking about long-term investing that’s boring and non-sexy. Investing is boring.

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I try to walk you through how do you know when you should quit. Question is challenging and there’s not a lot of definitive answers. It’s a personal choice, but there’s some great ways to think about how you know you should quit.

Talk about diversity and inclusion, in the importance of thinking about diversity and inclusion. I also chat a little bit about the challenges people face and why one should pursue diversity and inclusion.

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I talk about how you invest in risky ventures properly in your life. Technology is one key area where lots of people get mixed up in how you actually invest.

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I talk about the possible activities that you can do that will let you decent returns in the short-term. These tend to be dirty jobs that nobody wants to do and yet everybody needs to get them done. They tend to be very close to what you currently are doing right now. If you actually want to have long run sustainable returns you often have to get an education in a degree that has recognizable returns.

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I talk about the challenges of judging risk in our lives and something bad happening. Problem is is that bad things don’t happen until it happens so we don’t have a good sense just how risky things are.

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When you have autonomy at work we often celebrate as a positive. However, you often face a lot of challenges that can be very debilitating. Many people don’t realize how much that you actually absorb the negativity and challenges when you have a lot of autonomy in your work.

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I just talk about how some days you feel exhausted at the end of the day and that’s actually a good thing. If you learn to appreciate when you feel tired.

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I talk about the nature of some people to talk a really big game and talk things out like they know what they’re talking about, but you realize that they really don’t. It takes a long time to build a relationship and build trust. Take that time and be true to who you are.

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Boring and doing ordinary plain things is really good for investing. Yet we don’t want to do that as human beings we want to look for the hero story or the quick win. You got a refrain from doing those quick wins and keep doing the boring.

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I talk about the cost benefit analysis of being open and public on the Internet. I talk about what it feels like to be very transparent on an open forum like YouTube or podcasting. I talk about the benefits of being very open and the cost of being very open.

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I talk about the challenges of conforming and nonconforming to society. This is important for innovating.

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When I see blue skies in a January day I am reminded that it is going to be a very good day. I have romantic notions of white blue skies in the cold snow or crisp day actually means.

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I talk about the large gap between the practical and theoretical when you build a business. There is a lot of tacit knowledge that you learn, that really never gets written down. Moreover, there’s a lot of questions that never get ass because they are not considered theoretical enough.

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Remember that you can’t change everything. Try your best every day, and then go home and relax knowing that you tried your best.

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I talk about the challenges of thinking of your life in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. I discuss that the world is often a lot more complicated than you assume, and even when you do things as efficiently and effectively as he possibly can often things that are outside of your control.

The only thing that you can do is to learn to live a good life smile and be happy.

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We often misperceive how long things will take and how short they will actually take one to start doing it. Discuss some of the challenges and how to deal with this and think about doing projects that will take a long time and as well as doing things so that when you’re old you all have everything ready and be OK.

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realizing that nobody cares as much as you do had some thing is a hard pill to swallow for many people. However once you get over that and you realize that you simply have to try to resonate or appeal to those folks rather than thinking that you have to sell to them you start accomplishing a lot more. Just do your thing.

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Try to view work as a playful process and try to get in the mindset of where work is simply playing just like puppies do. We have to remember that plays a vital to exploring our environment, to see new things in different lights.

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I discuss some common models of failure and disaster that occur within the literature. I talk about how multi modality is often useful for science.

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When you believe that other people are taking a vantage of you and academia, it is probably true. You have to recognize that many people are going to take it vantage of you and academia. However, you don’t have to behave that way and you can try to be a good person simply because that is what you are to do, or that is who you are. If they take advantage of you, realize it’s their issues and not you.

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I talk about challenges that we face and talk about how we can address conversations that are currently going on within society in 2022. I suggest that we systematically address some of the concerns that many people have, and start working on how to solve those problems.

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I talk about how most people are not gonna wanna make a change. But you often have to do things that stand out to make a positive change. And if you do that realize that you have to simply do it based on your moral philosophy.

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Just create as much content as you possibly can. There’s always somebody someplace that he’s gonna listen to what you’re saying.

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Everything in this world starts small. It all doesn’t look like much when you begin. You’re also going to be very afraid to do it every day. Just do it anyways.

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For me, my mantra is just to do one more day. I keep pushing forward through the negative experiences of doing research because I know that it just takes one more day for positive results to happen.

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I stress the importance of doing things that are truly just him and he nothing but pleasure and joy. Watching TV relaxing playing with your kids and family are all super important to living a healthy life.

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Remember that there’s only so much that you can accomplish in the day. You might want to be able to do a lot more, however you only can possibly do what you can do.

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Look at what you’re afraid of, and try to figure out why you’re afraid of those things. If there is a basis for being afraid based on real statistical numbers, then it makes sense that you should be afraid of it. However if it’s simply based on what other people have said or done, you should question it.

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Remember to be consistent and repetitive with what you’re doing. It’s important to continue to be consistent every single day in order to get performance gains with anything that you’re working on.

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Don’t give up on yourself. Remember to ignore everything else that’s going on around you and keep pushing forward. There’s nothing that you can do other than just keep working. That you is the only thing that you have in your control.

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There’s no secret to gaining impact other than being friendly and helpful over a long period of time. Don’t worry about the impact worry about being nice.

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I talk about the importance of being nice to other people. It is probably one of the biggest factors in terms of what makes a successful company. Remember to be kind of nice to other people as much as you can.

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A certain portion of being a leader requires you not to conform. Have the ability to stand on your own 2 feet.

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I talk about how you can build wealth over the long term. It’s actually very simple to build wealth in a technical sense, however behaviorally is very difficult to do. You need to simply save and invest, and be generous over a long period of time. However, when you do this you’re gonna feel like you are behind everybody else.

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We need to remember how tippy the world actually is. There is a tremendous amount of structure and path dependency with most things in our lives. You have to look back and be appreciative of the positive things that happened to you because it could easily go one way or the other.

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The world has unlimited number of implicit biases against you. You have to realize that you just got to get up and get going and not worry about those biases. They do hold you back, however your goal is to simply just kick butt despite those biases.

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I talk about what you should expect with new product development and a new start up. Expect that it’s going to be a long slow grind and there’s not gonna be much going on. It’s gonna take a heck of a lot longer than you think it’s going to take.

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What starting a business is actually about and what you’d expect if you get a college degree about. It is not the fact that you’re getting these endpoints that matter, but is the fact that you’re doing the daily grind every day.

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I talk about the importance of being a role model and living a healthy and good life. Sometime in the future perhaps other people will respond to what you’re doing, but other than that there’s nothing you can do to change how they behave. The only thing you could do is simply just live a healthy and good life so that others might actually come talk to you in the future.

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I talk about how it is stressful to not know whether you should work or not work during the holiday season. Remember that it’s OK not to work and it’s OK to work during the holidays. Just find a thing that works for you.

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Remember that your life is unique. Quit looking for the quick win, and look to lean into what you do best. It’s going to be hard, but you just have to keep taking one step after the other.

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Whether you’re homeless or Fortune 500 CEO, remember to address the things that you need to address.

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have patience today. It’s important for us to realize it just takes a little bit of time to get things done.

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I talk about the importance of emotional regulation in making wise choices in business and in life. I talk about how important it is to be able to control your emotions when things are negative.

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I talk about inequalities in academia and what you can do to navigate the inequalities inherent in academia.

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I talk about my experiences with Nero diversity, and dealing with imposter syndrome in academi and leadership positions. I talk about how you never quite feel like you fit in despite all of your accomplishments. It’s important to remember that I need to give yourself some grace with the things that you deal with every day.

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Should we base our decisions in life, in particular the purchase decisions of Christmas lights on financial cost and benefit alone? We do many things in life because of the ritual, culture, or human well-being. Christmas lights is one example where it’s hard to justify the financial costs of them, and we do Christmas lights for their sheer beauty, belongingness, and ritual.

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I discuss whether shopping malls are dead, and what the future of shopping malls might look like. I discuss how shopping malls might be much more intertwined with online experiences than what we currently have. I also discussed that shopping malls will have a lot more community features that bring people in in their every day lives.

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I talk about why it’s unusual that more people don’t take advantage of significant opportunities that are available online. There are significant opportunities because of the nature of the Internet, and yet we still feel afraid to take advantage of those opportunities even when those opportunities are quite modest in terms of the effort to capture those opportunities.

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I talk about various factors under which entrepreneurs fail. and discuss how you can prevent some of that failure, and think about what you can do to not fail in entrepreneurship yourself.

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I discuss how you build wealth over the longterm and not worry about those folks that are pressuring you to do other wise. Be wise with your income for a long time.

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I talk about the importance of making wife choices and listening to experts that understand things more than you do.

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I just wanted to remind you to be kind to yourself as you’re going through buying gifts in the holiday season. We are remarkably predictable in our purchasing behaviors, and remember to be kind when you’re making these decisions. Try your best.

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It’s important for us to think about what failure actually means to human beings. The notion of learning as being simply reinforcement Has a tendency to deemphasize emotional meaning of failure. I talk about how we need to change strategy and organizational theory.

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If you needed this today, I just wanted to pass on some positivity because I’m feeling pretty good at this moment. Remember that you’re an awesome person in the world is not great, and the one good thing in this world is you.

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I get you to think about what you can and cannot change in your life as a researcher. Remember that there’s many things in Academia and the Research Career that just plain suck. However, you can’t change those things because that they’re part of the larger institution. The only thing that you can truly change is how you feel about the situation. Be a good person, and actually care about yourself and be a positive influence in the academic arena.

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I talk about citation counts and how to measure your self-worth in academia. Talk about how it’s important for you to do things simply because it’s the right thing to do rather than to measure it based on some performance indicators. Remember citation counts are lagging indicator of doing the right thing. Even still, you may never get those citation counts.

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I talk about the challenges of being an academic when other people don’t understand. It’s a difficult field to understand, however it is very competitive and challenging. Many people do not understand how competitive and challenging it actually is. You have to actually do it to figure out how challenging it actually is.

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You have to be willing to have respect for yourself and others. It’s really important for you to have those moments where you just change your mind and you start being a good person. Really just have to stop fighting things that are good in your life and except it for what it is. Becoming accepting challenging, but I really change who you are for the better.

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You are going to feel like a failure. Your success IS about feeling like a failure all of the time. You know you are on the right track when you are getting a beat down.

Rinse and repeat.

I talk about how you can get work to feel like play. I also talk about how you can easily confused one task to feel like work and the other one to feel like play. It’s often matter of just how you feel about that work.

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I talk about how making a new product better requires continuous improvement. There’s continuously new problems and issues that you have to work out.

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There’s no magic, and the only thing that you can do is to focus on doing your work. The whole game of academia is just a grind and you have to keep reminding yourself that you are doing good and giving yourself encouragement.

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I talk about how there will come a day when it will be your last day. You have to reflect on what you’re trying to do in your life, and realize that accumulating things that’s not matter as much as being able to enjoy little moments in your life.

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I talk about the challenges of managing multiple identities as an academic and as a parent. I talk about how to manage these multiple identities, but also how to leverage these multiple identities to do better in your life.

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I talk about self-promotion, and feeling uncomfortable promoting myself. I talk about how it’s important to promote yourself, but then also find the right amount of uncomfortableness in promoting yourself.

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I talk about what value means and how we understand what value is. I talk about how value as social construct it and we don’t have a very good understanding what value is. It is more than just the supply and demand have a good or service.

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Talk about how it would be wonderful to see older folks tell their stories online. It’s important to tally stories not for anybody else, except for other people that want to hear the stories that you might now.

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I talk about how it’s important to do things that take a lot of time and effort, and get used to having the feelings of not accomplishing as much as you would like to accomplish. Keep applying your time and effort every day.

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I talk about how mundane things in life like folding socks are often difficult to automate. There’s a lot of challenges to automating mundane things even though we want to. Also talk about even if we did automate and make our life that much more easier off with a sock folding robot, we probably find ourselves finding other mundane things in our lives to replace that.

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Just wanted to say how much I appreciate you actually listening to this channel and I just wanted to give you some encouragement to brighten your day.

I talk about the scientific method. I describe what the scientific method is, and how it is being applied in different areas of culture and our life. The scientific method has made a considerable progress in many aspects of our life. This is primarily a very positive view of the scientific method, and I don’t get into the downfalls and troubles that we’re facing by using this more scientific approach and culture.

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I talk about whether getting a PhD degree is a job, and some things that we need to change interference of the institutional norms of the profession. We need to start recognizing that there are other outcomes in the career, and stop stigmatizing these outcomes. We need to recognize that Outcomes outside of academia are just as valuable.

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I talk about research and development. I talk about how research and development is very important for firms and governments, and people. I talked with all of the challenges that you might experience by doing research and development as an individual but also as a firm in government. In the long run research and development is very beneficial. In the short run, you’re going to experience a lot of hardship and challenges that are not obvious when you first start.

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I ponder and think about the challenges that academia faces with accommodating families in different lifestyles. I talk openly about the challenges that academia faces in terms of being more accommodating and inclusive. I talk frankly that we need to be open to some dramatic changes within academia.

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I hope you walk through it dealing with a holes. I hope you think about managing nasty people in your life. It’s an important skill for you to deal with and thanking about how to deal with difficult people will help you do well in your career and life.

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I talk about why I was just invest broadly within the stock market, and not invest in specific technologies like cryptocurrency.

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I talk about how parenting and management are similar and learning how to do dispute resolution is important to having healthy kids and adults.

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I talk about Clayton Christiansen‘s question and then he used to ask his students “how do you ensure that you live a life worth living?” This is important question that we often fail to think about. We also tend to prioritize things that are measurable in our life, like salary, wages, and profitability. things that are more important in our life like virtues, such as joy, happiness, and love are difficult to measure. As a consequence, we tend not to prioritize them in our lives. How might you go about prioritizing these important virtues so that you live a life worth living?

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Remember to try.Just want to give you some words of encouragement, because we can always use those words. Most of us feel like we can’t accomplish what we want to, and that might be true. However, it doesn’t hurt to try.

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I talk about how we all are insecure and being open with feeling uncomfortable is an important first step to growing as a person.

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I describe why it’s important for you to provide more value than you think. I also go into details and how you can do that in your day-to-day life. You can leverage available technologies provide value for others.

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I want to remind everybody that we’re rather fortunate to be living here. Every day that we have, we could be doing something really remarkable. Take advantage of these opportunities to do good things in your life.

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And talk about how that there is abundant opportunities in this world. But you cannot view opportunities in the short term.

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I talk about how you can get rich and wealthy. Talk about the importance of thinking that it’s gonna take you several decades to actually get there. I also talk about that you have to make a lot of very small repeated decisions day in and day out.

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And talk about the importance of standing on your own 2 feet and following what you want to pursue. Doesn’t matter how old you are really pursue that thing if you want to. Don’t rely on other people to make the decision for you.

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I talk about how we should think about history and context behind the decisions that we make. There’s a lot of debate about whether we should acknowledge that history and contacts but it’s very important for us to understand where we’re going to go over the next few years. We need to understand the context in the institutions that shaped our decision making so that we can better understand the world going forward.

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I get you to perform a thought experiment where are you think about how valuable information technology is to you and how valuable innovations within the social domain are to you. Hopefully this helps you to think about innovation in a little bit more of a healthier perspective.

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I talk about what people actually truly mean when they say I’m too busy. I talk about two signs of what it means to be I’m too busy. One side is that you platelets are declining a particular activity, and the other side is communicating status in a environment that prioritizes Productivity.

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I talk about the importance of just keep plugging along no matter what you’re doing. Everybody else is insecure and view themselves as a giant mess just like you do. I know that many of you don’t believe that but it’s absolutely true. We’re all messed up.

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I talk about the importance of not giving up on yourself in a daily basis. I was in talk about how we need to have more of a long-term mindset and not to go too hard and too little and a daily basis.

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I talk about the great resignation, which is the phenomenon where a large portion of the labor force has left the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is some interesting phenomenon that are occurring due to the great resignation, and I think ultimately in the long run it’s going to allow for increased opportunities and improved employee benefits.

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I discuss how we need to start broaching very big and difficult questions with organizational theory and strategy. We need to start looking at how we can use organizations to maximize human potential, so members feel completely self actualized by being part of that organization. This is a tall call for managers to not only do this, but also a challenge for organizational theorists to tackle.

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It’s important to remember that if humility is critical to you framing your story. We often listen and hear about top performers in peoples feelings, but then we don’t recognize how people actually got to the top performance. We need to listen to the stories behind why people get to top performance.

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I talk about how I deal with feeling anxious to work out the time. I talked about the balance of work with letting it go. It’s important to let go so that you can re-calibrate every week.

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I talk about the game of academic publishing and research. Talk about how productivity is missing lying to what were actually talking about with academic publishing. There’s very much a game to academic publishing.

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it’s important to practice reminding yourself that you’re a good person, and practice small things in your life that make you feel positive inside. Little things like smiling, laughing, and giving hugs really truly matter to how you feel and where are you actually go. Leadership is about doing unusual things, and you need to remind yourself that you’re not a bad person for doing those unusual things.

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I talk about reinforcing dynamics and learning processes that lead to inequality within organizations. We have to be very careful with the systems that we have in recognize that there’s natural biases that will evolve because of learning processes.

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I talk about how to predict the next big thing that we might encounter. Talk about things like the platform economy, and how institutions are changing based on algorithms within the economy. We have to be aware that in the next 20 years things will be a lot different than where they are right now. And, it’s gonna look like something that we couldn’t possibly imagine..

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Rules for riches generally do not exist, and if they were they would be competed away very rapidly. You simply just have to keep working at it and that’s the only solution.

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Productivity and measuring productivity is a false metric. I am come to realize that what people want with productivity is not necessarily how much you work, but the symbolism of proving your worth to the outside world. Its more about the institutionalization of how we understand productivity, than actually about improved performance.

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I talk about how business school education is focused on the extremes and focused on making sure that only the best get the best education. We need to start focusing on how do we move the average or below average, and those lessons are a lot different than the lessons that you got for making the best you well.

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I discuss how problem-solving is central to building a business that will thrive over the long run. Do you have to get used to continuously problem-solving day in and day out.

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I want you to get into the mindset of thinking that things are going to take several decades by the time you actually do something that’s really meaningful and cool in your life. Just get used to the slow grind day in and day out.

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Talk about how my wife and I work together to pay off our mortgage on our house by the time we were 40. I talked about how you have to work together as a team, and trade off different objectives that are dueling with each other.

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I talk about the idea that social media is blurring the lines between the front stage and back stage of your life. You get to see the backstage of people’s lives, but social media is really projecting the front stage. And so even if you’re seeing the backstage it becomes a front stage overtime.

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I talk about the idea where people strive to have others proud of you. You have to realize that nobody is ever going to be proud of you because of their own insecurities. You have to do it just because you want to do it and you know it’s important.

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I talk about my experience of building r3ciprocity.com, and providing new features and have a new product launches of those features. It always is less climactic than you ever think and it’s just a gradual slow grind overtime. You don’t get the big explosion of users and people using it when you get is just this gradual slow growth.

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The R3ciprocity project is going to be a beacon for researchers and business in a decade from now, where people will understand how they can balance the desire to provide practical implications with strong research that matters in this world. I also think it’s going to contribute significantly to research and development by funding PhD students and graduate level research far beyond what I can personally do myself.

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Having a reasonable understanding of your own personal identity will help you make decisions, and be OK with yourself when you do them. The challenge that most of us face is that we don’t know who we actually are.

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I discuss the education versus experience debate. I think it is almost foolhardy to think that education has limited impact in your career performance. What we have to stop doing is having a debate between education versus experience, and start having a debate about what type of experience and what type of education.

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I discussed that we should question things in the world that have no technical value. There’s lots of things that we do in this world that are because of legitimacy or it’s just the thing that we do. The sooner we start questioning these things that have a little value the quicker we are too accomplishing new innovations in this world.

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just wanted to point out that you should do things for the sake of you finding enjoyment with it, not for the glamour. What do you end up finding is that it will fall around you as you be yourself.

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Friendship is a strange conceptualization, and I really think that we should remove this notion of friendship in our life. Rather we should focus on being a friend with the only person that matters which is in your head. Then just be happy and nice to the people let you bump into throughout the day.

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I talk about whether having breakfast for dinner is better than breakfast itself. Fun episode!

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Define Innovation, and also give you some encouragement to pursue innovative things. I also give you some tips and thoughts and how to manage Innovation Inc your own life, and do things that are not on the innovative but also entrepreneurial and enjoy the process at the time that you’re doing it.

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I talk about the challenges of parenting as a professor, and how the tenure system sometimes it’s hard to work around with diversity concerns. We have to be very cognizant of diversity with the tenure process, and help people work through their own individual concerns.

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I talk about the feelings I get as an educator when I teach. Describe the excitement that you feel when you’re in front of the classroom and have to lead a large class of students. I also talk about the down feelings that you can after you teach the next few days. Few days.

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I give advice on how to look for opportunities in to do interesting things in this world. I suggest that you look for areas in society where there are uncertainties and social norms that prevent people from going into those spaces.

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Remember that outcomes do not happen overnight. The overnight success is a myth. Remember that it’s a gradual build to get to where you want to go, and you should try to focus on enjoying it as you’re going.

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I talk about the irony of being a management professor and knowing the problems of how to manage better.

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I discuss it’s important for you to live a good life, and not worry about the judgment of others. Those people can’t be changed by you. When somebody is not nice to you it’s more of a reflection on them than it is on you. You simply just have to live a good life and not worry about others.

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I tried to provide advice and how to avoid getting scammed if you are building a start up or a new business. I talk about building slow, getting referrals, and using legitimate organizations as your partners.

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I talk about me external pressure to innovate all of the time and always have something new with a new start up idea. However knowing that you can’t accomplish everything and you have a limited amount of resources makes you feel a little stressful.

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it’s important to remember when you’re working towards some sort of goal, that it’s gonna take a lot of time and a lot of effort and many many one hour things that seem like you’re not doing that much but overtime things to improve but you’ll never notice it in the moment.

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I talk about our notions of time, in our notions of wasting time. Time is a lot more tricky than you ever think it would be. And we have to start appreciating the fact that wasting time is important in your life and it’s about doing things for other people. It’s also about figuring out things that may be more important than what you’re doing at this moment.

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many of us think about the decisions we make in life in terms of one or two ways. We think of the daily grind in trying to push to get to some higher place. We also think of contentment and enjoyment in the moment. But you also have to think about the third way. It’s not about you. It’s about serving and honoring other people in your life.

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I talk about always comparing your investment to the S&P 500 index funds. And the largest mistake that most in entrepreneurs or investors make that are not racist I don’t compared to the possibility of the returns that you’re going to get from the S&P 500 index. Unless you have an extraordinary possibility that it’s going to need a lot of money, most investments in your life or probably not worth the time in trouble.

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I talk about trying to find the thing that bothers you so much that you can’t stop thinking about it. It’s important to imagine this thing in your mind. As you think about this thing it likely means that is the thing that you should pursue for a long time.

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he is in Porten to test all of your assumptions and worry because they often do not carry out. You have to simply try the thing that you’re working on observe some information on what’s actually happening, and then iterate from there. Remember that most of your worries and stresses actually do not carry out, but make sure you have safeguards in place to prevent problems from happening in the future.

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Swimming is the best sport for strength training and conditioning. I get more gains from swimming in all areas of fitness then I get in any other sport.

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I talk about the challenges of being a creator, and the pros and cons of creative spaces. I talk about how it’s important that we do have autonomy to do this sort of things that we want to do, but also the challenges that come with us and the uncertainty that comes from dealing with this autonomy in a creative space.

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Perfectionism is the death to creativity in accomplishing work. Just put your work out there and see what happens. Perfectionism is your way of saying that you’re afraid of what other people are gonna say about the thing that you’re working on.

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I have come to realize is that it’s very important to have conversations about aspects of your life that emphasize performance versus those that emphasize morality, and try to think about how we can balance the two. Over the past few years I’ve noticed a considerable amount of division in culture, and we need to come back and start thinking about how could we bridge these gaps and encourage more inclusivity.

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It is important to teach about probability, and have it deeply embedded within the scientific structure. I think a lot of scientist understand probability quite well, however there is a lack of understanding in the general elementary, high school, and college education about probability in science. We need to emphasize a lot more probabilistic understanding, such that people will understand that diversity is important.

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Leaning into your nervousness and anxiety when you’re doing anything that’s entrepreneurial or innovative is very important. By leaning in and owning what you’re doing you’re giving legitimacy to yourself in the project that you’re working on. Don’t be afraid to be damn proud of what you were doing.

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Teaching is an important part of a professors job. And my beliefs on how to teach have changed considerably over the years. My belief now is that I’m not trying to prove my point when I teach, but rather be an earworm where people are annoyed enough where they will look up the ideas themselves.

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and talk about the delusion and performance metrics that we use in business, science, and education. I talk about how rather than focusing on performance metrics we should focus on the things that matter, and these things that matter are inevitably difficult to measure. And if we do measure those things, we will do such a poor job measuring the things that matter that we will likely get poor insights.

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I talk about because our expectations of the future are almost always off, to do entrepreneurial or innovative things you have to account for that. And make your life as easy as possible around any potential venture.

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I talk about how you are part of a bigger system and to give yourself some grace if you don’t accomplish everything throughout the day. Know that when you go to bed you tried and then that’s all that matters.

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I talk about the challenge of building some entrepreneurial venture. Most things that you’ve built will end in a complete flop, however if you can get to the moment where you’ve built a community and people care and understand what you’re doing, that’s when you can actually build a entrepreneurial venture that changes this world.

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I discuss how sometimes you might get tunnel vision in your career choice. I discussed that you have options in this world, and it’s important to think about these options. I also discuss how to move towards what you actually want to do and gradually do so overtime.

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I talk about my journey in building the ct. Iart from the beginning to give you an overview of what is going on with the reciprocity project, and where I would like to take it in the future.

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