I say these words to myself daily or nearly so. I’ve posted them before and I expect I will again. They bear repeating and deserve a post to themselves. You have to say no to a lot of good things to have a great life. I don’t see declining an opportunity as giving it up so much as giving myself more time and resources for something I value more. I[…] Keep reading →

We’re now several dozen episodes into the Leadership and the Environment podcast. This conversation with Balint Horvath is actually my very first recording for the podcast. I did Balint’s podcast when I was promoting my book Leadership: Step by Step. We became friends and he was a big guide for me and helped me mentor into getting start with a podcast. And I hope you can hear the chemistry that[…] Keep reading →

You Have to Say No to Many Good Things to Have a Great Life It’s a matter of priorities. If you don’t know yours, and how to act on them, you’ll end up mediocre. As a leadership professor at New York University, I see some of the world’s top students. A recent conversation reminded me that our university’s culture still misguides them. Our corporate worlds suffer the same problem as my[…] Keep reading →

Continuing my Saturday blog series of posting my answers from Quora here… This week’s questions: What is the best way to start reading philosophy? For leadership training purposes, what’s more important, knowledge or imagination? What are the advantages of university courses over just reading textbooks? Can there be disadvantages to calling your business a “startup”? What are some of the best time management tips for college students? Who are some[…] Keep reading →

I find material things beyond the basics become a burden. What constitutes “basics” depends on everyone’s unique values, but I find the more I get rid of, and the more free I feel as a result, the fewer things I need as basic, which lets me get rid of more. The less “stuff” I have, the more freedom I have, mental and physical. I value few things more than freedom.[…] Keep reading →

I spent years juggling three passions—my company, making art, and teaching leadership—waiting for something external to show which I should devote myself to. I was doing above average in each, but wanted to excel. The sign never came. Having said “You have to say no to a lot of good things to have a great life” many times, I decided to live by it. I chose to focus on leadership[…] Keep reading →

You get chances to do cool things: classes to take, hobbies to try, relationships to develop, books to read, movies to watch, and so on. How do you decide which to do? Most people look at the new thing and ask if it’s worth doing. I recommend not asking that question. There are many things worth doing in the abstract. Too many. I recommend instead asking what you’d have to[…] Keep reading →