Keep it simple

At some point in my life I thought it was a good idea to subscribe to a search engine optimisation newsletter.  This was a mistake on so many levels.  For a start I don't do search engine optimisation.  I do my best to do compelling content creation and just get into a few habits that help people find them.  My logic here is simple.  The Beatles didn't become the Beatles by getting good at album cover design and retail distribution.  If your offering is strong enough it will get noticed.  If it isn't it won't.  So far mine hasn't, but no amount of gaming Google would have changed that.

Giving Up Twitter

I love Twitter with the passion of a teenage lover for a girl he cannot have or a heavy metal band cover artist for a book of Gothic fonts.  But sometimes you have to sacrifice that which you love to achieve greater things.

Your idea is stupid - but go ahead anyway

If you've ever had an idea for a business or a project, you've probably had this experience.  You tell someone about it and they instantly see all the flaws in your reasoning.  Depending on what they are like and how well they know you, they'll do it with varying degrees of politeness.  But you'll have no doubt that think your idea is stupid.

The Chimp Paradox by Dr Steve Peters

Most of us are aware that we have more than one personality.  In fact the older you get the more aware of it you become, and the more you accept it.  Part of me is calm, logical and assesses facts and evidence before coming to a decision.  Another part is on a permanent emotional roller coaster always ready to get excited about, well, more or less anything.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

 

Do you want to be world class at something?  Playing an instrument?  Computer programming?  Writing? If Charles Duhigg is right - and his argument is quite convincing - you can.  All you have to do is get into the right habits and then put in the hours.  How many hours?  About 10,000.  To save you the mental arithmetic that is about three and half years at eight hours a day.  Take weekends off and it is about five.

Aristotle's Three Components of Rhetoric

I have been listening to the excellent podcast series on critical thinking by Jonathan Haber.  I have no idea who he is but I can recommend the podcast.  I have a drive to work of about 30 minutes, and each episode fits that gap quite nicely, leaving me with a warm feeling of having learned something of value.  One of the things that came up was Aristotle's three modes of argumentation.  I have been using this concept quite a bit since I picked up on it and it is having some surprising benefits.

Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself - Lesson from the Fry Chronicles

Stephen Fry is a very successful man by any standards.  But reading the latest instalment of his autobiography gives you the chance to see how well he matches up to his own standards.  And the answer is pretty well.  But there is a paradox.  He is well aware of how well he has done, but he is also well aware of his own shortcomings.