Most incidents appear far more severe in the moment than they do in hindsight:

Your quarterly sales are underperforming (how am I going to recover this?).

A valued team member leaves to go to another company (how are we ever going to function?).
  Your product receives a negative review (how...

Knowing what you want to do and what you don’t want to do go hand-in-hand when it comes to focusing your energy and spending your time in the wisest manner possible. 

Despite this, attention seems to be disproportionately paid towards the former: 

What do you want to be...

We rarely know exactly what we’re doing. 

And this is a good thing: 

Uncertainty gives you permission to ask “what if”, to tinker, to wonder, and to wander — all activities that have paved the way for valuable discoveries like penicillin, chocolate chip cookies, and x-rays. 

There’s...

The next time someone doesn’t show up to a meeting, 

or someone doesn’t respond in what you think is a timely manner, 

or someone seems frustrated, angered, or unenthusiastic,

Do yourself and that person a favor: pause your judgment and seek to understand first. 

People’s lives are...

Many outcomes are the byproduct of accumulation rather than defining moments or activities. 

There isn’t a specific moment where you become healthy; you achieve a healthy status through the cumulative effects of consistently eating well and exercising. 

There isn’t a specific moment where you build a thriving company...

Your worth is not determined by the approval of others. 

Your worth is not determined by your education.

Your worth is not determined by your salary. 

Your worth is not determined by what company you work for.

Your worth is not determined by how many likes or impressions...

Be kind. 

You can be kind anywhere: at home, at work, among friends, and among strangers. 
It’s not hard, and it will make the people around you feel better, which will make you feel better. 
Resolve to be kind, make it your default — it’s a virtuous cycle worth...

I’ve always been enamored and conflicted by Nike’s slogan: “just do it”. 

On the one hand, I admire the simplicity and conviction that emanates from the three words.

On the other hand, it always felt a bit rash: 

What do you mean just do it?

What if I’m...

The act of meeting is not as important as what you’re meeting for. 

More important than a product is the problem it is intended to solve. 

“Keeping things moving” and “hustling” doesn’t mean anything if it’s not clear what end you’re moving and working towards. 

Progress is...

It’s possible to acknowledge other people’s opinions without being beholden to them. 

It’s possible to go on vacation, never check your e-mail, and have your job and projects intact when you return. 

It’s possible to have productive discussions about points of disagreement.

It’s possible to be compassionate towards...