Writing
69 essays on philosophy, discipline, and the art of living.
Nothing Can Change Their Nature
He kept one belief at the centre of everything he did: "Men have always been the same, nothing can change their nature. It is from the past that I will draw my lessons to shape the present."
Stepping Into The Void: Faith & Trust
I want to tell you about something that took me most of my life to learn.
the art of living
two thousand years ago, a slave with a crippled leg became one of the freest men in rome.
If There Is No Enemy Within, the Enemy Outside Can Do You No Harm
I made a new friend recently. He just finished writing a book.
The Layer Above Thinking: Metacognition
The biggest predictor of whether you will succeed in life is not your IQ. It is not how fast you can solve a math problem or how many books you have read. It is not even what you think about.
Crossing the Abyss: Pain & Suffering
For a long time, I was doing everything in my power to bring as much happiness, joy, and peace into my life as possible. I focused heavily on what we would call positive emotions. But what I didn't realize at the time was that by doing this, I was subconsciously turning away from pain, suffering, sadness, and despair. I avoided them. I blocked them out. I tried to experience them as little as possible.
Drunk on Intellect, Starving for Wisdom
To put it bluntly, we're living in a world that's drunk on intellect and starving for wisdom.
As Within, So Without
There's a line in The Kybalion, an old book most people never read, and even fewer ever understand. It's called The Principle of Correspondence, and it goes like this:
The Timeless Spectrum
The tools are different, the language evolves, and the culture reinvents itself again and again. But if you strip all that away — the screens, the cities, the noise — what's left feels ancient.
Life's Paradox: Why Feeling Foolish Is the Path to Wisdom
Life has a strange way of teaching us. Almost always, the lesson feels opposite to the reward.
Go Slow to Go Fast
The world feels like it's always speeding up. Information floods in, calendars overflow, and every hour is spoken for. The natural response is to move faster—say yes to more things, fill every gap, keep running.
Living, Working, and Grieving All at Once
Loss doesn't wait for a convenient time. It doesn't ask if you're ready.
Wisdom Before Velocity: Power with restraint. Capability with conscience.
Fire is ancient in our story, but the wisdom to hold it without harm is still rare.
Begin Before You Feel Ready: Choose Faith Over Certainty
In 2023, I chose to quit my job and build my first real company. I had some savings from some small success in real estate—a cushion of time, not certainty. No guarantees. The choice was simple: move in faith, or stall in overthinking.
Dreaming in Color: You Are the Key the World Doesn't Know It's Missing
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world… the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." — George Bernard Shaw
In Leadership, Temperature Matters More Than You Think
And if you're not careful, you start reacting to everything —
Leadership Is Earned Every Day
Out of 1,435 companies, only 11 made the leap from good to great.
Mastering the Only Thing You Can Control: Your Inner World
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." — Marcus Aurelius
The Pendulum of Pain and Pleasure: Why Existence Craves Balance
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." — Lao Tzu
The Hidden Gift of Struggle: How Faith Shapes Your Success
Let's sit with something simple today. You're trying to build something great—a business, a dream, a better life. And if you've been at it for a while, you know one thing for sure: it's hard.
Genius Looks Like Madness (Until It Changes Everything)
"The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you." — Carl Jung
Life is Chess: Prepare for Your Next 5 Moves
Because in chess, you don't win by luck. You win by thinking ahead. You win by seeing the board clearly—not just where the pieces are now, but where they're going. One move won't change the game. But five? Five can flip the board.
The Philosophy of Discipline: Living With Intent
"Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life." — Jerzy Gregorek
How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything: The Power of Compounding in Life
Let's talk about an idea that a great teacher once shared with me. It's simple, yet it changes everything once you fully understand it: how you do anything is how you do everything. Think about that for a moment. Every small action we take, every little habit we reinforce, it's all building toward something. The question is, what are we building toward?
The Modern Luxury: Slowing Down to Enjoy the Journey
Let's take a breath together. A deep one. Hold it for a moment. Now exhale slowly. Do you feel that? It's a sliver of calm, a pause in the rush. Most of us are moving so fast—through meetings, meals, and life itself—that we've forgotten how to truly be present. The modern world celebrates speed, but have you ever stopped to wonder: where are we all rushing to?
The Universe Will Build Your Perfect Community When You Live Authentically
Have you ever noticed how life seems to flow effortlessly when you're being true to yourself? It's almost as if the universe breathes a sigh of relief when you stop pretending and start living as the person you were always meant to be.
The Power of Doing Hard Things: Strengthening Your Mind to Chase Your Dreams
Let's talk about something we often avoid—doing hard things. It's natural, right? Our brains are wired to seek comfort, to find the easiest path. But what if I told you that intentionally seeking out challenges could rewire your brain to help you achieve your biggest dreams?
Finding Freedom: Becoming the Observer of Your Thoughts
Have you ever felt like your mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, swirling nonstop? Sometimes, it might even feel like you're not in control—that your thoughts are running the show. But what if you could take a step back and just watch those thoughts without getting caught up in them?
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life: Unlocking the 7 Hermetic Principles
In the heart of ancient Egypt, sages contemplated the mysteries of the universe and distilled them into seven timeless principles. Far from being mere historical artifacts, these Hermetic Principles offer profound insights that can transform our everyday lives and elevate our businesses. Let's journey back in time to uncover this wisdom and see how it can spark growth and understanding in the modern world.
The Quiet Power of Focus: Where Your Attention Goes, Energy Flows
Picture this: every day, you wake up with a limited amount of energy—a finite bank of attention. How you spend it determines everything about your life. Yet, how often do we let this precious resource slip away? In a world flooded with distractions, it's easy to feel like we're constantly reacting, constantly pulled off course. But what if you could harness that power? What if, by focusing only on what you control, you could transform your attention into a quiet, steady strength?
The Hidden Path: Harmony of Body, Mind, and the Cosmic Ledger
Have you ever felt there's more to success than just hard work and strategy? Like an invisible thread weaving through our lives, connecting our actions to outcomes in ways we can't always see. Lately, I've been pondering this mystery, and I'd like to share some thoughts with you.
A Bird and a Branch: Trusting Yourself Over the World
Leaving a job is a lot like a bird stepping off a branch. For a while, that job feels secure—like a strong branch that you can rely on. It supports you, provides stability, and you grow used to it holding you up. But there comes a moment when you look at that branch and realize: it's not where your real strength comes from.
Who You Are Matters More Than What You Do
Most people focus on what they need to do. Few consider who they need to be. Yet, it's the being that drives the doing.
Why Simplicity Drives Greatness: A Good to Great Approach
Sometimes, in business, it's easy to get caught up in complexity. There's a tendency to think that the more elaborate the plan, the better the outcome. But let's take a step back for a moment. What if the real key to lasting success wasn't complexity at all? What if it was simplicity?
A Yearly Ritual: Reflecting on Naval Ravikant's Timeless Lessons
We all have those moments when life feels overwhelming—like there's too much noise, too much complexity, and we're moving faster than we really want to. When that happens to me, I find myself reaching for a book that grounds me, one I come back to at least once a year: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. It's not just another self-help book. It's more like a toolkit for living thoughtfully.
The Timeless Pursuit of Greatness: Why Your Journey Can Begin Today
We often wait for the perfect moment to start something significant. We think we need more time, more experience, or maybe even someone's approval. But history shows us time and again that greatness doesn't wait. It begins when you decide it does—no matter your age or past.
The Power of Micro-Habits: Small Actions, Big Impact
Have you ever noticed how the little things often end up making the biggest difference? It's easy to overlook the small actions we take every day, but those micro-habits—those seemingly insignificant choices—are what shape our lives over time.
Talk Less, Do More: The True Mark of Goodness
Imagine you're sitting with a friend, sipping coffee, and the conversation drifts towards the concept of goodness. What does it mean to be a "good person"? This question has been around for as long as humans have thought about how we should live. But sometimes, we get so caught up in talking about it, defining it, and analyzing it, that we forget the most important part: actually being good.
Eternal Wisdom for Today's World: Insights from the Bhagavad Gita and Vedas
Have you ever stopped to think about how ancient wisdom could help guide us through the constant business of modern life? Let's take a stroll through the rich traditions of Hindu philosophy and see what treasures we can uncover from ancient texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas, and how they can be applied in our Western lifestyle.
The Metamorphosis of Innovation: Humanity's Butterfly Effect
How often have you marvelled at a butterfly, its vibrant colours and delicate wings, and wondered about the profound transformation it underwent to reach that stage? This metamorphosis from a humble caterpillar into a soaring butterfly offers a striking metaphor for humanity's own evolutionary journey—especially our relentless drive to create and innovate.
The Quiet Revolution of Buying Back Your Time
Have you ever paused and wondered what your time is truly worth? In Dan Martell's Buy Back Your Time, we are invited to explore this not just as a concept, but as a tangible action we can take every day.
Navigating the Chessboard of Life: Insights from "Your Next Five Moves"
In the intricate game of life and business, are we players or merely pieces? This question reverberates through Patrick Bet-David's insightful book, "Your Next Five Moves." As we journey through its pages, we uncover strategies not just for business, but for personal evolution. But what can we really learn from thinking multiple moves ahead?
Bringing the Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita into Everyday Life
Let's take a moment to unwind and chat about something timeless—the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. You might think that an ancient conversation between a prince and a divine guide has nothing to do with our modern lives, but you'd be surprised. The Gita is packed with insights that can help us navigate our daily challenges with grace and wisdom. So, let's explore how these age-old teachings can make a real difference in our everyday lives.
Embracing the Journey to Mastery: Lessons from Leonardo da Vinci and Mozart
Have you ever wondered what transforms an ordinary person into a master? Robert Greene's Mastery delves into this mystery, extracting timeless lessons from the lives of some of the greatest minds in history. Among these luminaries, Leonardo da Vinci and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stand out—not just for their unparalleled contributions to art and music but for their profound journeys to mastery.
Balancing Creation and Leadership: The Dual Schedules of a Startup Founder
In his insightful essay on "Maker's vs. Manager's Schedule," Paul Graham presents a compelling distinction between two fundamentally different types of work schedules. Makers, like programmers or writers, thrive on uninterrupted blocks of time, whereas managers operate on a schedule sliced into one-hour intervals, typically filled with meetings. For startup founders, the challenge is not choosing one over the other but mastering both simultaneously to nurture their company's growth.
Ancient Wisdom in Modern Endeavours
In a world where every moment brims with demands and digital distractions, how can we anchor ourselves in the wisdom that has withstood the test of time? Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor and stoic philosopher, penned his reflections in "Meditations," a work echoing through the ages. These musings offer a compass for navigating the complexities of life and business. But how, you might wonder, can ancient philosophy illuminate our path today?
Finding Our Inner da Vinci: The Philosophical Art of Work
In the grand tapestry of human endeavour, there lies a thread that connects us back to the likes of Leonardo da Vinci—a thread woven from the fibers of curiosity, creativity, and a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. This is not merely about adopting da Vinci's techniques but about embracing his mindset, his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and his ability to see the art in everything. In my own journey, designing saunas has become a canvas for this exploration, a means through which I strive to channel da Vinci's spirit into the modern world.
Work Like a Lion, Not Like a Cow: A Fresh Take on Productivity Inspired by Naval Ravikant
How often do you feel like you're constantly busy, always on the move, but at the end of the day, you can't quite pinpoint what you've accomplished? It's like you've been grazing in the field all day like a cow, moving slowly but steadily, without really achieving anything significant. Naval Ravikant, a thinker who blends deep wisdom with practical advice, offers a fascinating alternative: why not work like a lion instead?
Authenticity is the Key
Being yourself—your true self—feels like a challenge, doesn't it? Everywhere we look, there are pictures, videos, and stories telling us how we should act, what we should like, and even who we should be. But have you ever stopped to think about how special and freeing it is to just be you?
The Modern Stoic: Finding Peace and Purpose with Marcus Aurelius
Imagine if your daily guide to life's toughest questions could be a Roman emperor from the second century. Sounds unlikely? Marcus Aurelius, one of the most revered Stoic philosophers, left behind 'Meditations' – a series of personal writings packed with insights that feel tailor-made for today's fast-paced, highly connected world.
How Our Attention Shapes Our Lives: The Commodity of the 21st Century
We live in a world where there is a war for attention. Every app notification, advertisement, and email is fighting for a slice of your mental bandwidth, have you ever stopped to consider the true value of your attention? Unlike the endless scroll of social media feeds or the 24/7 news cycle, your attention is a finite resource. It's perhaps your most precious commodity, yet we often spend it with less caution than we do our money. But what if I told you that where you direct your attention not only shapes your day-to-day experiences but essentially dictates the trajectory of your life?
Mastering the Art of a Meaningful Life
Naval Ravikant stands as a guiding light in my quest for wisdom, success, and inner peace. Though I have never met him, he has become one of my greatest mentors, shaping my worldview and approach to life through his profound insights and reflections. His "Almanack" is not just a book to me; it's a treasure trove of enlightenment, offering lessons that resonate deeply with those of us seeking both success and contentment. Here, we distill some of the most potent lessons from his work, aiming to illuminate the path to a life that's not just lived but fully experienced and fulfilled.
The Alchemy of Great Work: A Fusion of Passion, Autonomy, and Mastery
In an era where the ordinary is increasingly untenable, the quest for great work becomes not just an aspiration but a necessity. Drawing from the wisdom of Paul Graham, we uncover a roadmap that promises more than success; it offers fulfillment. This journey, while uniquely personal, shares universal signposts: passion, autonomy, and mastery.
Scaling Success: The Critical Role of Systems and Processes in Business Growth
In the dynamic journey of business growth, scalability is often the make-or-break factor. This article delves into why robust systems and processes are not just beneficial but essential for businesses aiming to scale successfully.
Unleashing Success through Mastermind Relationships: A Key to Professional Growth
In the ever-evolving landscape of business, the significance of Mastermind relationships stands out as a beacon of collaborative success. Often overlooked, these partnerships are the linchpins of enduring achievement and professional growth. This article delves into the essence of Mastermind relationships, highlighting how they can be a powerful catalyst for success.
Why the Post-Sale Process is the Cornerstone of Business Success
In the bustling arena of sales and business, much emphasis is traditionally placed on the acquisition of new customers. However, astute business leaders and sales professionals know that the real game-changer lies in what happens after the sale: the post-sale process. This critical phase, often overshadowed by the pursuit of closing deals, is where customer loyalty is built and where the most sustainable business growth is nurtured.
Unlocking Your Potential with Ikigai: A Guide for Professionals
It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of what truly motivates us. That's where the Japanese concept of Ikigai comes in. This ancient philosophy, deeply rooted in Japan's culture, offers a unique perspective on finding personal fulfillment and professional success.
Embracing Abundance: The Key to Unleashing Business Success
In the act of achieving our goals, success hinges not just on resources or opportunities but significantly on the mindset we cultivate. At the forefront of this is the abundance mindset, a transformative approach that can redefine the path to business success.
Synergy for Success: Harnessing the Power of Aligned Values in Business
In the dynamic world of business, success is often portrayed as a solo journey. Yet, the untapped power that lies in uniting with a group that shares aligned values can be a game changer. This is not just about networking or forming alliances; it's about creating a synergy where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Let's explore how concentrating your energy in a group with aligned values can catapult your business to unparalleled heights.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business: Navigating the Future with AI
In an era where technology reigns supreme, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a revolutionary force in the business world. It's transforming how we work, make decisions, and interact with customers. But how exactly is AI reshaping the business landscape, and what implications does it have for businesses and professionals alike?
The 9 Essential Traits Every Entrepreneur Must Have: Are You Equipped for Success?
Entrepreneurship isn't just a career choice; it's a journey of passion, resilience, and continuous learning. But what does it really take to step into the shoes of an entrepreneur? Let's delve into the nine key traits that can set the stage for entrepreneurial success. As you read, ask yourself: Do these traits resonate with you?
Building Your Life's Foundation: The Indispensable Role of Physical Health
Imagine your life as a towering skyscraper. Its grandeur reaches high, symbolizing personal and professional achievements. But what holds this structure steady against the winds of stress and the quakes of daily challenges? The answer lies beneath, in the robust foundation — your physical health.
The Power of Simplicity: Why Returning to Basics is a Game-Changer in Business and Life
In the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, it's easy to get swept away by the allure of sophistication and complexity. In the business realm, we often find ourselves entangled in intricate strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and continuous innovation. While these elements are crucial for growth and success, there's a foundational principle that often gets overshadowed: the importance of basics.
Keeping Your Mind Organized in an Overstimulating World
In a world where the professional landscape is evolving rapidly, staying on top of your game requires more than just skill—it demands a clear, organized mind. The modern-day professional juggles numerous tasks each day. Meetings, emails, deadlines, and unexpected challenges are part and parcel of the daily grind. But amidst this whirlwind, how can you maintain clarity and efficiency?
Staying Ahead in the Fast-paced World of AI: Tips to Keep You Up-to-Date and Future-Proof
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has caused waves of disruption and transformation across multiple industries. With new advances and breakthroughs happening almost daily, it's crucial to stay updated and adapt to the changing landscape. Here are some tips to help you stay informed, learn continuously, and ensure that you are not left behind in this exciting AI revolution.
How to Stay Up to Date with Technology Trends
Are you tired of feeling like you're always playing catch-up when it comes to the latest technology trends? In today's fast-paced world, it can be challenging to stay up to date with the latest advancements in tech. However, if you're looking to remain competitive in your industry and continue to grow your skill set, it's crucial to make staying informed a priority.
Don't Miss Out on the Great Wealth Transfer That Has Already Begun
It's time to pay attention! We are currently experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime transfer of wealth as baby-boomers retire, sell their businesses, or close them down. This presents an incredible opportunity for those who are ready to seize it.
Communication: The Single Thing That Can Make or Break Your Company
It's no secret that communication is a crucial component of any business. In fact, clear and effective communication is the foundation upon which successful businesses are built. Yet, despite its importance, poor communication continues to be a major problem in many organizations.
Adapt to Change or DIE
As we enter an era of constant technological advancements, globalization, and rapidly changing customer preferences, it is more important than ever for businesses to be open-minded and adaptable to change. The ability to pivot and evolve quickly is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for survival in today's fast-paced business environment.