Mmm coffee. Piping hot, ice cold, and pumpkin spiced. Caffeine is a core part of our lives and culture. And, we’ve put caffeine on a pedestal. But should we? “What makes creative people tingle are interesting problems, the chance to impress their friends, and caffeine,” Alex Steffen, a futurist, said. And we all use or…
How valuable is trust? Well, everything falls apart without cooperation. And cooperation requires trust. For example, let’s examine Todd’s life. Todd is an everyperson – he lives with a partner and children in his house, works a desk job, and enjoys time with friends. His day consists of waking up, getting the kids ready, then…
Creating is good for the spirit. And between photography, drawing, podcasting, and all the other forms of expression, folks are doing it more than ever. Now, there are an estimated 50 million creators worldwide. The ease of distribution by platforms like Youtube, Spotify, Twitter, etc. make it easier to share what is created. Good, because…
I want to win. The fires of competition alight inside, and we’re ready to battle. We win and are worthwhile; we lose and are ashamed. That goes for everything from a World Series Game Seven to the family game of Guess Who. We compete, and we compete. And we do it to win. It shows…
You may be reading these words long after I’ve written them. And, in part, that’s the point—building and creating things that last motivates. And legacy motivates our heroes, too: Lebron James and Tom Brady pursue more championships, and it causes those who haven’t won to seek a ring desperately. It’s the GOAT debate between Lebron…
You’re free, and the world is your playground. What do you do? That’s empowering and scary. Free time is our opportunity for pleasure and play. We go to the beach, gather with family, or do house chores. More than that, what we do with our free time speaks volumes about our values. So what are…
It’s hard to share with others. In particular, things we care about or have put effort into. Not the weather, but something you’re passionate about. Yet involving others creates the best results and is the most rewarding. Social media bloomed as I grew up. And I’d have the most outrageous AIM away messages when I…
I should be doing this, and I should be doing that. But too often, I’m not doing any of it until I have to. I want to eat healthy, for example. What goes into my body is what comes out of it. And I have everything for salads and vegetables and nutrition. But Saturday night,…
You’ve been to someone else’s thing. A wedding, housewarming, shower, or another event for someone. One where you’re there, but someone else is calling the shots. I’m breaking it to you, star; you’ve played the supporting role. And it’s hard. Every day, we do things our way and call our shots. But occasionally, we give…
There’s a vast mountain ahead, and we’re eager to get going. The peak looks terrific, and imagine the views. Plus, you’re talented, so you’ve got what it takes to reach the summit. That mountaintop – a promotion, a dream trip, or a simple hike – excites us. We look at it and want to be…
