"Busy" -  the new canned response when asked how you've been. What will your colleagues think of you if you answer with anything else? You're lazy, unproductive, uncommitted, not in demand? There's a significant disconnect between busyness and production in many organizations - performative busyness is the norm.

She slowly planted one small foot before moving the other, occasionally stopping to make sure she was being watched. Her face swelled with pride when she caught an encouraging look from her mother. She flashed a grin as if to say, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Syncretism most commonly describes beliefs derived from different theologies and schools of thought. And while this utility applies to me, I'm more interested in exploring how this methodology applies to other parts of my life.

I write a lot about ignoring the noise. You have to be careful in the midst of geopolitical events when the information war is raging at total capacity. During periods of chaos, there are false reports, propaganda machines at work, and journalists (both professional and amateur) desperate for clicks and likes. 

Counterintuitively, these moments also provide the most signal.

In 1999 Putin was confirmed as Prime Minister after Yeltsin chose him as a successor, accelerating the inevitable clash between Russia and the west. Of course, Russia has never returned to the prominence of the USSR, despite Putin's deepest desires. Since his swift rise to power, Putin has regularly flexed his muscle, testing the international community's appetite for war - but his latest invasion of Ukraine is a sequel to the Cold War that will likely end in his demise.

Awkward silence.

During a recent interview (link at the end), Elon Musk took 21 seconds to start answering a question. Prominent scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman interviewed Elon and asked, "When do you think SpaceX will land a human begin on Mars?"

My Dad is the most punctual person I've ever known - and it's not even close. I can't specifically recall a time when he was late to anything, no matter how casual the occasion. Fortunately, I seemed to have inherited this trait. But a few years ago, my wife pointed out my growing tardiness.

My heart sank as I listened to author Greg McKeowen describe his young daughter Eve's sudden neurological symptoms. A once thriving, joyful, and vibrant teenager suddenly struggled to write her name. At first, the slide seemed like normal teenager behavior. She started talking less, disconnected from her family, and generally seemed less vivacious. It wasn't long before it was clear that Eve's behavior wasn't a teenage phase but something far more severe.

Just like the dogs, we're chasing false rewards. Instead of the greyhound track, we waste our energy on the hedonic treadmill. Like the short high of a drug, we chase pleasure after pleasure, often at the expense of long-term happiness. We convince ourselves that catching these hares will unlock the next level of happiness. But they don't. In fact, in hindsight, the satisfaction is hardly noticeable at all, and we're left feeling as we were before, unfulfilled.

Starting and growing a business during a pandemic with a newborn at home? Launching a podcast amid a boom in an already crowded category? Creating a blog when you have no clue if anyone cares what you have to say? 

It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

Albert Schweitzer is credited with saying, "my life is my argument." I don't know much about the man, but I know he was a humanitarian, theologian, philosopher, musician, charitable doctor, and mustache extraordinaire. He was controversial, but he wasn't one to lash out at his critics, name-call opponents, or strike back at detractors. In describing his intellectual pacifism to a friend, he wrote,

James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits that “every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” IT REALLY RESONATED because developing and maintaining positive habits has long been something I’ve tried to achieve. Maybe due to being raised by two military parents or possibly an inherent personality trait, I’ve always needed an elevated level of structure.

The phrase "meeting with my wife" sounds a bit strange, as if we show up with briefcases and presentation decks, shake hands, and negotiate a deal. It's not that kind of meeting, but it's the most important one I have (almost) every week.

Technology provides a gateway to information. I read about Yale's Well-Being course, a popular choice among first-year students, and decided to check it on Coursera. The class helps students be happier and more productive.

In a series of posts, I'll share my favorite lessons from the course, along with thoughts and a few criticisms.

It's said that there is no such thing as science with a capital "S." The very idea of "the Science" is opposite the entire notion of real science. When the goal becomes consensus building, it is politics, not science. Further, a consensus is only valid to the extent that one has the freedom to disagree. When individual freedom is torn away, it's far worse than consensus building; it's coercion.

If you want to be often wrong and always miserable, you should be pessimistic. Pessimism might be the human default. It served us well during more dangerous eras of human existence when the outcomes of poor decisions were often deadly. But in the modern world, pessimism isn’t likely to save your life. Contrarily, pessimism leads to a life of stress, anxiety, and fear.

As Aristotle pointed out, “For what one has to learn to do, we learn by doing.” Public speaking mistakes helped me become a better public speaker. Horrendous investing mistakes helped me become a better investor. The fact is, errors are unavoidable, so we must welcome them as opportunities to get better.

First-order thinking is what most people engage in most of the time. Marks described it as "simplistic and superficial," noting that "just about everyone can do it." It's not that first-order thinking is wrong or inferior. In contrast, second-order thinking is complex and requires significantly more effort.

As someone who truly enjoys the hustle and bustle, I often find myself with a lot of obligations, both personal and business (maybe to a fault at times). No tool or application can make us productive; that's a personal decision and requires discipline to follow through. But certain tools jive with my methodology and mental processes. Here are five tools that I use daily to help me kick ass.

In music, the slight raising or lowering of pitch can brighten a song or alter its spirit. In paintings, a subtle color variation can change the tone of a work. And in fashion, nuance can tie a look together with "a little bit more, or a little bit less." But nuance is important far beyond the arts; it's key to a high functioning free society.