Gather ‘round for a quick story about storytelling.

Through observation and practice, I’ve come to realize that the art of effective storytelling is one of the most interesting, underrated, and overlooked skills a person can possess. That’s right – storytelling is both an art and a skill. But I don’t just mean the ability to accurately or enthusiastically recount tales from the past. No – to me, storytelling is a technique used not only to describe the past, but also to communicate both the present and future.

Because: a story is simply a narrative… hence why storytelling is not strictly reserved for literary publication. Every industry and organization is a constantly evolving ecosystem of stories. When deconstructing the ecosystem’s web, it’s in stories that we find recognizable patterns, and in those patterns we find meaning. Whether the goal is to inspire employees, excite partners, attract customers, or engage influencers, it’s stories that help to make sense of the world around us – they are the understanding within the noise.

Stories told well stick with the audience. They connect – by being compelling, concrete, credible, and comprehensive, yet still cultivate room to grow through natural momentum. What’s often forgotten is that storytelling is universal; it traverses all walks of our collective society. Business, politics, education, entertainment… you name it – all use stories to help shape and guide decisions, or, more powerfully, convey entire sets of cultural ideals.

It’s refreshing to recognize that in a digital world, driven by increasing automation and artificial intelligence, storytelling remains an essential human component to everyday life. Human beings communicate stories, because we’re built on the foundation of common language. Ergo, while it’s clear that effective storytelling is a necessary skill needed to successfully market an organization, it’s also an essential skill needed to successfully market yourself.

“So – what’s your story?”

Easy to ask, difficult to answer. Many people struggle to describe their own story for a simple and obvious reason – the content isn’t understood well enough. That’s because it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to deconstruct your own web. How well do you really understand yourself, and your life? You can’t explain what you don’t understand. Your journey: past, present, and future? Strengths and weaknesses, fears and ambitions? A small subset of questions that need answers, because they’re all a part of your personal story. By mastering the content first, your story will automatically exude more passion and energy when shared with the world.

Now, when you know what to say, how to say it is the easy part. Use descriptive and expressive words to boost charm and charisma. Fluctuate the tone and pace of your voice to captivate and engage the audience. Stand tall, hold your head high, make eye contact, and if all else fails… smile, it’s contagious!

Telling your own story well leads to greater inner confidence, and also proves to the world that you truly understand who you are as a person. Take the time to learn and communicate your story. You need it, and the world needs to hear it.

And, more often than not, whoever tells the best story, wins.

Therefore, remember: you narrate the story.

Tell it well.

Over the past decade of my life, I’ve spent considerable time thinking about my own comfort zone, and what the term really means in practice. While it’s comfortable, yes, as the name aptly implies, it’s also perhaps the most significant, yet unassuming, deterrent to realizing your full potential. It’s truly a misleading notion – that prioritizes short-term comfort over the possibility of long-term gain. Sadly, your comfort zone has likely quashed more ideas, spontaneous actions, and growth opportunities than any other single actor in your life. In reality, the comfort zone is merely a counterproductive psychological concept that discourages embracing risk that can lead to making tangible changes in your life.

By definition, a comfort zone is a behavioral space where activities fit a routine or pattern that minimizes stress and risk in order to function with ease and familiarity. Intuitively, minimizing stress to enhance comfort should translate to a runway for growth. But from my experience, growth and comfort can rarely co-exist.

Over 100 years ago, psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson posited that we should all strive to operate in a state of “optimal anxiety.” Think about it: if you’re too comfortable, you’re not productive, and if you’re too uncomfortable, you’re not productive. Optimal anxiety encourages finding the delicate balance between comfort and fear. By learning to frequently step outside of your comfort zone, you recognize that seemingly lofty ambitions are commonly just within an arm’s reach. And the beauty is that a comfort zone is never static, meaning the more often you push your boundaries by embracing new experiences, the larger that zone becomes.

Some philosophers even go as far as to say that life actually begins at the end of your comfort zone. It’s a bit dramatic, yes, but I get it. Great opportunity is often disguised as a scary unknown. What we often fear most about challenging ourselves is the possibility that we may fail in the process. Fear of failure can be immobilizing, which prevents the ability to accept risk. But, for better or worse, risk teaches you more about yourself. So – the trick is to let go of expectations, and simply accept the results of your actions. A person who never makes a mistake will never make anything – and truth be told, everyone possesses the ability to rise to occasions, overcome obstacles, and actually succeed in accomplishing new challenges.

Those who are willing to frequently take risks and step outside of their comfort zone, to experience short-term discomfort and uncertainty, will be those who will reap the greatest long-term rewards. Remember: nothing worth doing is ever easy… never settle for comfort. Let intellectual curiosity drive openness to experiences, and the necessary breakdown of artificial boundaries.

So – the next time your instinct is to pull back… lean in.

It’s the heart of summer, and peak wedding season! Recently, a friend reached out to me to ask for advice about how to approach an upcoming best man’s speech. I’m so lucky to have had the privilege of delivering three best man’s speeches over the last ~10 years, so I do have some experience on the topic. I offered my advice, and I hope it helps to ease the natural anxiety felt under the weight of the responsibility.

Below is the basic framework I’ve used for all of my best man speeches. If it seems simple, that’s because it is! But as I’m sure you’ve experienced if you’ve been to a few weddings, best men who deviate too far from a similar structure tend to crash and burn.

First – a few important overarching rules that supersede all else:

1. Brevity is your best friend. Be clear and concise – no more than ~5/6 minutes. It’s a wedding – everyone is attending to eat, drink, and celebrate… not to listen to you talk.
2. Don’t mention anything at any point that is completely exclusive to the groom. Inside jokes and stories will always fall flat. The groom may enjoy it, but the entire room will be silent because no one can relate.
3. Think hard about your transitions. A very important aspect of any type of speech, but particularly important in a best man’s speech, because it promotes a casual confidence. As you finish up each section of the framework, the last thing you say should effortlessly lead you into the next point.
4. Don’t use notes.

Now – the framework:

Ice Breaker: the opening is crucial. Don’t start with an introduction or a round of thanks. You need to capture everyone’s attention from the start, or you’ll never engage them throughout the duration of the speech. An ice breaker should only be a few sentences – a clever joke, insight, observation, or anecdote. There is a fine line between witty and trying too hard, so this part can be tricky. If you’re struggling to craft something that feels right, don’t hesitate to test a few options beforehand on people who won’t be attending the same wedding.

Introduction and Thanks: quickly introduce yourself. DO NOT say “for those who don’t know me, I’m…”. That is lame and makes you sound uncomfortable. Then, thank the bride’s parents for the beautiful wedding, the groom’s parents for hosting the rehearsal, and the entire room for being present (many of which traveled great distances). And of course, thank the bride and groom for the honor of standing beside them on their special day.

Groom Funny Story: the meat of the speech, and the most important – because it’s the most unique and time consuming. Again – see rule #2 –  you can’t tell an obscure inside story or joke where the audience cannot even begin to relate. Obviously, many in the room wouldn’t have been present for whatever story you do decide to reference, but it still has to be something broad enough where each person can imagine the situation vividly as they’re listening. It has to be comical, but it also can’t be something horribly embarrassing. No one (especially the groom) wants to listen to the best man embarrass the groom in front of hundreds of friends and family members. A good analogy is to compare this story to discussing your weaknesses in a job interview. While they are “weaknesses”, you have the ability to spin them into a positive light through a different perspective. Years of friendship should have presented you with a plethora of options to select from – so just spend ample time to brainstorm.

Groom Favorite Quality: no more jokes – time to show your emotional range. Here is where you describe why you’re such good friends with the groom, and what you respect most about him. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a specific story, but rather general sentimental statements about his character (loyal, optimistic, dependable, etc.). The goal is for these traits to then somehow also tie into the groom’s relationship with the bride, as well as their strength as a couple – which makes the point land exponentially better. As a result, you then don’t need to individually speak about the bride’s admirable qualities in succession. Remember: you’re present to honor the groom and YOUR relationship with him. The maid/matron of honor is present to honor the bride, so you technically don’t have to during your short time with the mic. The exception here is in a situation where you also have a very long-term or personal relationship with the bride. In that case, you’ll need to mention her specifically and/or speak to your relationship with her in a similar, yet abbreviated capacity.

Closing and Toast: wrap it up. Ask everyone to raise their glasses. Tell the couple congratulations again and that you wish them a lifetime of health and happiness (or something like that). Then end with a toast – it can be a quote, another anecdote, or just something pleasant and simple.

The end. Hit the bar, enjoy the party, and embrace all the compliments.

Growing up is such a generic and ambiguous phrase.

“Where did you grow up?”: a seemingly simple question – commonly asked in both personal and professional settings. I certainly recognize the intent of the question. The obvious answer is to describe where you spent the majority of childhood and adolescence. In many ways, that answer is correct, and it’s without a doubt the expected response.

But I contest that growing up is not a singular event.

I “grew up” in suburban Ohio. Born and raised in one location, I spent my K-12 years all within the same school district and… bubble. Looking back fondly on that period of development, it seems strange to acknowledge the fact that so much physical and mental change occurred over only ~12 years. At the time, it felt like a lifetime, although relatively speaking, I guess it was! Perspective is funny – everything seems bigger up close.

At 18, we’re adults by legal standards, yet still very much children in the chaotic web of life. Maturity comes with experience, and experience comes with time. There is no substitute. Ever notice how a child genius still tends to act like a child? Even an abnormally high IQ can never replace the necessary time it takes to mature, gather experience, and grow up.

Ultimately, maturation is a reflection of attitude. Each person experiences early life differently, but it’s only through a personal collection of trial and error that lessons can lead to growth. Learning – to listen more and talk less, to honor commitments, to be grateful and gracious, and to become rational and self-sufficient – are all discoveries adopted through periods of growing up, and are not innate character traits.

I turned 35 this month, and have been a permanent resident of Chicago for the last ~12 years. I sit here, entering ‘mid-life’ according to popular human lifelines, and recognize that growing up is not singular and specific, but rather continuous and subjective. In the last ~12 years, I’ve grown up again – this time in Chicago, a city rich with diversity and culture. I’ve solidified life-long friendships, accumulated some wealth, married, became a father, and learned to think independently along the way. It feels so much more meaningful than the first time around, when every new experience was met with caution or wonder.

Life’s stages pass in the blink of an eye: being parented, parenting ourselves, then parenting children. Each stage requires a different form of growing up that is necessary not only for survival, but also success. It’s refreshing to know that at mid-life, I’m far from done growing up. It will be interesting and humbling to reflect again in 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years – and to smile back at that 35-year-old who still had so much to learn. Life has many lessons waiting in the wings, and I’m excited to grow up, again and again.

Because the purpose of growing up is not to age, but rather, to experience growth. And our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue to grow through experience as long as we live.

So at 35, I say cheers to growing older – and still growing up.

Nothing fascinates me more than the concept of a wormhole in spacetime. And I can explain why with one sentence:

Human beings are tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote.

For that reason, the open road always softly calls. A wormhole – specifically a traversable wormhole – is a speculative passage through spacetime that can connect one part of the universe with another. Meaningful human space exploration, and the ability to colonize other parts of the galaxy, rests solely on the necessity for the existence of shortcuts through the fabric of spacetime.

Why? Because space is big. The nearest exoplanet to Earth is Proxima B, which orbits the star Proxima Centauri, located ~4.22 light-years away. In 2016, NASA’s Juno probe reached speeds up to ~165,000 mph (~0.0246% the speed of light) as it entered Jupiter’s obit, making it the fastest spacecraft ever built. At that speed, it would take Juno ~17,154 years to reach Proxima B. Of course, Juno was a small unmanned probe, and there is currently no feasible way to accelerate (or decelerate) a spacecraft large enough to carry human beings at that speed. Not to mention the extensive laundry list of currently unsolvable issues associated with preserving human life for many millennia during an interstellar voyage between the stars.

Wormholes could be the solution to the problem – that distant space exploration via propulsion methods doesn’t even qualify as futile. Unfortunately, wormholes have never actually been proven to exist in any capacity. However, mathematically speaking, Einstein’s general relativity predicts that wormholes theoretically COULD exist, and do not violate the fundamental laws of physics (though they are not likely to occur naturally). He’s saying there’s a chance!

So… what’s missing? Let’s get into specifics with a clever trick question: how much energy would it take to open and stabilize a traversable wormhole? The answer is simple – none. Unless for some reason you’re quantifying using absolute values. That’s because to open and contain a wormhole, tremendous amounts of negative energy would be required because its properties would need to be gravitationally repulsive.

The Einstein field equations comprise the set of 10 equations in Einstein’s general theory of relativity that describe the fundamental interaction of gravitation as a result of spacetime being curved by mass and energy. The strength of the gravitational attraction between two objects represents the amount of gravitational energy in the field which attracts the objects towards each other (Einstein was smart). Now, imagine a tunnel through spacetime, where intuitively, any and all parts of the walls would contain some form of mass and energy. If so, the hypothetical tunnel would instantaneously become unstable and collapse on itself before even a single photon could traverse the passage.

Hence the need for some form of exotic matter that exhibits negative gravitational mass and energy density properties to combat the inward force from the distorted fabric of spacetime. Presently, it’s not entirely clear if such matter exists in the universe. But consider this: a universe in which positive energy dominates should theoretically condense and eventually collapse under its own weight. But our universe is actually expanding, indicating that negative energy dominates the cosmological tug-of-war!

The expansion of our universe is attributed to the unknown phenomenon called dark energy, which is believed to account for 68% of all mass-energy in the universe. The strange form of energy could, in fact, be the missing particle needed to act as a gravitational repellent to stabilize a wormhole. However, while dark energy may somehow occur naturally – detecting, gathering, and introducing it deliberately is well beyond our technological capabilities. In theory, only a Kardashev scale Type II + civilization would comprehend such complexity and could possess such technology (for reference, Earth’s power output is believed to be 0.7279 on the Kardashev non-linear scale).

Astronomy is such a challenging science because you cannot recreate a celestial object in a lab and study its mannerisms directly. However, we’ve got to start somewhere – but where?

How about with black holes? Awareness of black holes has been around for many decades, I even recall learning of the mysterious objects as early as elementary school. Now, direct visual evidence has been produced to further confirm their existence. An incredibly massive and dense region of space that exerts a powerful gravitational force such that not even light can escape its pull. What’s intriguing is that a black hole may not be a one-way ticket to nowhere! That is, if both Hawking radiation and the law of conservation of quantum information theories are accurate.

Enter the black hole paradox. Stephen Hawking famously predicted and provided a theoretical argument stating that, despite consuming large amounts of energy and information, black holes will shed mass and eventually evaporate over incredibly long periods of time. But how can that be? The law of conservation of quantum information states that information exists forever, it can never be erased. If a black hole consumes information and nothing can escape – and will eventually shrink and evaporate – yet information cannot be erased or destroyed – where does all the energy and information go?! It must exit through a white hole in another part of the universe, or in another universe altogether.

The far lesser known white hole is essentially the opposite of a black hole. A hypothetical region of spacetime which cannot be entered from the outside, yet matter, energy, and information can escape from within. If a black hole has a corresponding white hole (or multiple white holes) somewhere in the universe, a wormhole would be their bridge, indicating that shortcuts through spacetime do exist.

But again, we can’t exactly travel to a black or white hole and take a peek at what’s going on inside. So instead of examining the large and distant, how about the small and present? Quantum mechanics, and specifically, quantum entanglement may hold the key. Some physicists theorize that wormholes already exist, appearing and disappearing all around, but are just too small to observe. Quantum mechanics is the fundamental theory of nature at its smallest scale of energy levels. It rose to popularity due to the inability to reconcile observations with classical physics.

Entanglement is a bizarre and exciting phenomenon that occurs when particles interact or share spatial proximity, such that their quantum state cannot be described independently, even when separated by large distances. If you observe a particle in one place, its entangled particle counterpart – even if light years away – will instantly change its properties, as if the particles are connected by a mysterious communication channel. Wild! Until recently, entanglement had only been observed in tiny objects such as atoms, but now, new studies report seeing entanglement in devices almost visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the unanswered question is – how far can it scale? Unclear. But further identifying a link between theoretical wormholes and quantum entanglement could give a concrete realization of the idea that wormhole geometry and entanglement are correlated manifestations of the same physical reality.

I’ll be the first to admit, it’s certainly unreasonable to expect wormhole travel to exist anytime soon. The necessary advancements in knowledge of exotic matter, energy inverters, supergeometry, and quantum math will likely require generations of innovation. And even once the math checks out, there will be monumental hurdles with engineering the hardware. BUT it’s also unreasonable to call it impossible.

There were times in human history when the brightest minds on the planet thought the earth was flat, that the atom was the smallest particle, that mankind would never take flight. All disproven through advancements in research and technology. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) has become an extremely prominent part of today’s education. As a result, the youth of today will be well-equipped to rethink the “impossible”, and I am wildly optimistic and genuinely excited about the scientific discoveries of the future.

Remember – man would have never discovered new oceans without the courage to lose sight of the shore.

Wormholes are a gateway to the stars. An opening to countless exotic and potentially habitable worlds, quietly waiting in silence for the first courageous explorers to pay a visit.

I often find myself considering how to pair principles for governing behavior. Two principles are better than one, right? Sometimes. The popular McKinsey ‘MECE Framework’ states that the optimal arrangement of information should aim to group principles into subsets, such that items are both mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. Pairs can be exclusive, but rarely exhaustive of all extraneous information. As such, pairing principles allows for a simplified thought process that is both clear and concise, yet also exclusive – without the need to be completely exhaustive.

So when working to achieve short-term goals or towards a long-term vision, allow for persistence and patience to act as a foundation for the path to accomplishment.

Few things in life can take the place of persistence – not talent, not intelligence, not education. Talent is common, and too often falls victim to apathy. Intelligence is a gift, and too often genius awaits its reward. Education is a privilege, and too often is taken for granted.

Persistence means to persevere in spite of fatigue or frustration. It is the voluntary continuation of action in spite of obstacles, difficulties, or discouragement. Remarkable things can happen when you simply refuse to give up – when failure is not an acceptable option. Persistence is indeed a personality trait, innate to some, but not exclusive to those with heritable fortune. If persistence does not come naturally from within, then it, like anything else, can be learned. But how?

Identify your wants and needs, but also identify the motivation behind the existence of those desires. Outline a defined and actionable plan, but leave room for the ability to adapt and adjust. Remember, there are many ways to move forward, but only one way to stand still. Persistence is NOT doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result – in fact, Einstein called that insanity. Draw on inner-confidence or willpower, wherever it comes from, to remain positive and focused. Stay disciplined to keep accountable and to promote habit. And finally, be patient.

Because patience is… a virtue? Sure, but how does that help? Patience allows time for strategic thinking and thorough assessment, to develop skills and improve knowledge. Patience is NOT synonymous with passivity or inactivity. Don’t wait – evaluate. The goal graveyard is full of unrealized objectives that failed to utilize the power of patience. Patience means to establish realistic expectations, so that goals can be shaped into achievement through calculated, continuous action. If seemingly meaningful accomplishment comes quickly and often, you’re either very lucky, or you’re not testing the limits of your full potential.

To promote patience, recognize that forms of frustration and disappointment are a part of every person’s life. Re-frame each pain point as a learning opportunity, as to better prepare for the ongoing or next challenge. Embrace the fact that regardless of individual effort and tenacity, some things are simply out of your control. Never expect or rely on immediate results, but rather accept that delayed gratification will come through determination and an inability to accept failure.

On the surface, persistence and patience can be seen as contradictory, but in reality, they are complementary! A yin and yang that interact to form a dynamic system for governing behavior in which the whole is greater than the individual parts. How? Persistence with action, but patience with results. A balanced foundation that will lead to a more comprehensive and rewarding outcome.

Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

So be persistent but patient – and turn dreams into reality.

Decisions are the fabric of our daily life. We make thousands of decisions every single day, many of which are easy and completely innate, requiring little to no thought. But sometimes, even the smallest decision can change a life forever, and it’s that simple truth that instills subtle fear into the decision-making process.

The reality is that the decision-making process itself is not frightening. What is frightening, however, is the uncertainty surrounding the near or long-term outcomes produced from the decision. For example: is anyone actually afraid of flying in an airplane? No. People are afraid of dying in an airplane crash.

The decision-making process can be complicated, and the paradox of choice is real. Autonomy and freedom of choice are critical to our well-being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy. Therefore, we assume that more choice means better options and greater utility. But in practice, excessive choice can cause stasis and make you question every decision well before it’s ever made, leading to decision-making apathy, stress, and ongoing anxiety.

While I’ll always advocate for the value in “winging it” and in using data when it comes to taking action, it’s also important to develop a personalized framework for evaluating complex decisions and their potential ramifications. As such, where does one begin when facing an important decision and when presented with a variety of choices?

Unfortunately, a universal decision-making process doesn’t exist. Many different frameworks have proven adequate at creating well-reasoned decisions. What’s often forgotten is the fact that difficult decisions require both decision-making AND problem-solving skills. To solve any problem, the first step is to understand the problem at its very core. Once the cause-effect relationship of a problem is identified, the most appropriate decision-making framework can be applied to draw a conclusion.

So, take your pick: Decision Matrix Analysis, Decision Tree Analysis, Paired Comparison Analysis, and The Analytic Hierarchy Process are among the common and road-tested frameworks for effective decision-making. Jeff Bezos used a Regret-Minimization decision-making framework when he chose to quit a high-paying Wall Street job in order to launch Amazon. Warren Buffett leans on his ‘Circle of Competence’ framework when evaluating important investment decisions. And yes, I’d say both men know what they’re doing.

…Uh oh, I realize what I’ve just done. I’ve introduced too many decision-making framework options in an attempt to help simplify the decision-making process! A classic chicken or the egg dilemma.

The truth is, thanks to free will, I can’t make decisions for anyone other than myself. I can’t definitively dictate which framework(s) will work best for each person or situation. For basic decisions, I prefer a simple combination of pro/con analysis and expected value analysis, as long as I can generate rational assumptions for the required inputs. For more complex and multi-party decisions, I sometimes enjoy introducing a little Game Theory, which can be both tactful and shamefully gratifying.

But what works for me might not work for everyone, or even anyone, else. The value of a framework isn’t to assure the correct answer, but rather to provide a starting point and to help avoid fatal flaws that can occur in an unstructured decision-making process. Flaws such as satisficing or self-censoring, and biases such as confirmation, anchoring, and framing are all common culprits of a poor decision-making process that can create unintended results.

Yet, no framework is without flaw. However, what will always help to improve a decision-making process is the ability to learn through experience. Making a bad decision in life is inevitable, but learning from mistakes is what drives personal growth. Successful people make both good decisions and bad decisions, but also take responsibility for the results of each decision and reflect to progressively improve their decision-making criteria and framework.

Choose a framework to be your guide, but recognize that only you are the decision-making force in your life.

Because if all else fails, trust your gut.

It’s free, but priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back. What did I describe?

Time.

Every person – regardless of age, gender, nationality, or socioeconomic status – exists in four-dimensional space where time is forever linear. In a world where so much emphasis is placed on money and tangible products, it is actually time that is the most valuable and universal asset.

Why? Because time is evenly distributed and the one thing that creates a level playing field worldwide. Everyone gets just 24 hours in a day. Therefore, everything in life should start and end with proper time management. Yet somehow, most people typically think very little about how they spend their time.

Psychologically, the underlying issue could be that people simply don’t value what they didn’t earn. A sense of value is often created when there is an observable cost associated with an immediate or eventual outcome. Time is free, yes, but it definitely is not without cost. Opportunity cost is a concept in microeconomic theory that can be described as expressing the basic relationship between scarcity and choice. In practice, the cost of time is NOT free, but rather the value of the most valuable use of time that is not taken.

Unfortunately, opportunity cost is difficult to evaluate in the present, and is often only clear in hindsight. But that can’t deter a person from making a habit out of allocating their time in a meaningful way. Successful individuals spend their time deliberately, as if every action is on purpose, and the result of thoughtfully using all available resources.

What’s referred to as “time management” is all about spending time in the right places on the right things, and taking control of your environment. It requires discipline, but shouldn’t require extreme effort. Know your priorities, obligations, and schedule, and use all present information to plan ahead. When you manage your time, you benefit across the board.

But wait… that sounds more like self-management, not time management. Yep! Time itself actually cannot be changed or controlled, but it CAN be accounted for. As a result, the way to capture the real value of time as an asset is to manage your self, through time!

Self-management requires initiative, organization, and most importantly, accountability. Take action and identify short-term goals, and a long-term vision. Organize your life by eliminating distractions and placing identified priorities in the spotlight. Urgent and important are not synonymous – understand the difference to recognize where to start. Set deadlines and hold yourself accountable. Punctuality and reliability are crucial and underrated character traits, but they must be internalized before being deployed effectively. Lastly, recognize your own limitations and set realistic expectations. Attempting to accomplish too much all at once ends up counterproductive, so listen to your body and respect its needs. An alert and high-functioning mind has near limitless potential.

When you learn to manage your self, it becomes abundantly clear that time IS the most valuable asset, but perhaps better described more holistically…time is opportunity! I’ll admit, I’m as guilty as anyone of stealing time from both myself and others. I’ve wasted minutes without meaning, and even days without dedication. But recognition is the first step to correction. There are a finite number of tomorrows – you may delay, but time will not! As the past increases and the future recedes, possibilities decrease and regrets mount. Manage your self and use the precious time you have effectively to shape the future, now. Every minute of every day is time for you to create and seize new opportunities.

The time you just spent reading my thoughts is gone forever – so THANK YOU – I hope it was worth it.

Remember: account for time → manage your self → improve your life.

And the clock is ticking.

Death and taxes, as the idiom suggests, are the two certainties in life.

In reality, the only true certainty in all human life is death. Morbid, I know…but in a way, human beings are programmed to die, and death is unavoidable – for now.

A favorite sketch of mine is an anonymous German drawing from 1635 that features a standing, smiling skeleton aiming a crossbow. An hourglass rests by his back foot and a broken arrow sits beside it, while another arrow rests in the quiver. It’s a piece of art designed to hang at eye level so that the arrow – the one locked and loaded into the crossbow – is pointing directly at the viewer.

Translated, the inscription at the top can be summarized as saying: “My arrow, I promise you, spares no one. You will all dance the ballet of which I sing.” The piece titled Death Stays on Target is a fantastic Memento Mori, the medieval Latin Christian theory and practice of reflection on mortality. The symbolism is dark, but it’s meant to be a reminder to live life with urgency and to its fullest. Death smiles at every person, and all we can do is smile back.

Age-related deaths currently account for approximately two-thirds of the ~150,000 deaths that occur across the globe every day. What strikes me as fascinating is the lack of total understanding as to why aging and age-related death is, indeed, a fact of life. From DNA damage to cellular miscommunication, the act of aging itself is a mysterious process. Hypothetically, if the mystery were to be solved, would that mean that humans could learn to control aging, and as a result, prevent non-accidental death? If so, would the outcome be in the best interest of humankind? Many biological, social, and philosophical inputs must be considered to arrive at a well-reasoned conclusion, but what’s called science fiction today may just be called science in the future.

Theories about aging can be broadly lumped into two distinct categories: error theories and programmed theories. Error theories assert that aging is a result of environmental damage to the body, which accumulates over time. Conversely, programmed theories assert that the human body is designed to age and follows a certain biological timeline. I subscribe to most aspects of programmed theories, and they’re also more fun to discuss and debate.

Aging seems to be an innate and essential part of human biology. While it’s common to compare the human body to a machine, the analogy is actually quite inaccurate. Machines encapsulate only the original materials they’re built with, whereas the human body is constantly repairing and replacing cells. In fact, every 7-10 years, roughly 90% of the cells in a human body are brand new – and it’s the organs that work the hardest that have the fastest cellular changeover. Since the body has the ability to renew itself, technically, there should be no reason it should ever “wear out.” So – what’s happening? George Church, famous geneticist/synthetic biologist and Harvard professor, is attempting to figure it out.

Medically speaking, geneticists and biogerontologists identify the seven main reasons for aging as: genome damage, epigenetic factors, telomere shortening, unfolded protein response, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and stem cell exhaustion. But all of these factors can potentially be mitigated by using gene therapy to load new DNA instructions into a virus, and administering that virus into a body. Church’s new start-up, Rejuvenate Bio, has made the bold prediction that they will be able to reverse aging in dogs by the year 2030, and preliminary trials are already underway. If dog trials are successful and ethical standards are strictly defined and followed, human trials won’t be far behind. Church describes the desired outcome as: “the idea is to live to 130 in the body of a 22-year-old.”

Church certainly isn’t the only person on the hunt for the fountain of youth. Remember Time Magazine’s popular 2013 article titled: “Google vs. Death”? Calico, Google’s ultra-secretive health venture start-up, is solely tasked with performing gene-editing and anti-aging research and employs some of the most well-respected academics and researchers in the industry. Further, gene-editing is being researched and performed all over the world. In late 2018, a Chinese researcher, He JianKui, claimed he used a powerful editing technique called CRISPR to make the first genetically edited babies, though the evidence is still being evaluated.

But biogerontology aside, maybe aging and death are actually programmed components of what’s largely considered evolution, not biology. My thoughts on the origin of our species and “evolution” are already documented in a previous post, but if human beings didn’t age and die, logically, there would be no reason to ever reproduce out of necessity for survival. If biological individuals lived forever, modern evolution wouldn’t exist, which could be why human beings are genetically engineered in their source code to age and die.

What would society look like in a world where human rejuvenation was cyclical and people didn’t die, yet still had the capacity to reproduce? Issues with overpopulation and consumption of resources, which are both already a problem in some parts of the world, would increase by orders of magnitude, because we’re still stuck on just one planet. But perhaps less obvious are the unavoidable consequences to social norms and cultural trends. Societal values change, often for the better, with each passing generation. New generations, which are created as a by-product of aging and death, have the ability to rethink social structures and improve the standard of life. Therefore, aging and death inadvertently contribute favorably to the progression of human beings as a species.

Many people fear death. It may be rational to fear the unknown, but it’s futile and irrational to fear the unavoidable. Think about it… you’ll never again be as young as you are right now, and I believe no one is ever truly “old” until their regrets begin to replace their dreams.

So wake up every day with a smile! A day older, a day wiser…and realize that life is in fact a journey – enjoy it – because part of every journey, is the end.

No.

The concept of originality is misused, overused, and has become lost in translation, both in work and in life.

But it actually goes beyond misuse – true originality doesn’t exist. Think about it: what is an original thought, idea, or business? The perception of originality is subjective, and is purely based on the frame of reference onto which a thought, idea, or business is bound at that particular moment in time. However, what seems like originality is simply a derivative of an existing concept. In reality, all ideas are constructed by assembling pieces of information from a variety of sources that came before. By creating a world of shared information and social interaction, we have permanently closed the door on true originality.

History is a book filled with many pages that can refute originality. Some of the most well-known entrepreneurs and thought-leaders of the 20th century include Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Sam Walton, Madam CJ Walker, and Steve Jobs. I have tremendous respect for these people, their accomplishments, and their contributions to human progression. Are these individuals trailblazers and visionaries? Yes. Are these individuals and their businesses original? No. Each person built their business, in some way, by leveraging pre-existing ideas, processes, and technologies.

Other examples long pre-date the 20th century. In ~550 BC, King Croesus was credited with minting the world’s first coin currency, bringing liquidity and cash flow into existence. Standardizing value as a means of exchange streamlined the process for trade, but other forms of value had previously been exchanged to promote commerce in early society. King Croesus wasn’t original – he just made an existing process better.

The fallacy of originality extends to the concept of a “self-made” man or woman – another misused term. Self-made individuals don’t exist. The term was first coined in 1832 by Henry Clay, and is generally used to describe an individual who achieved wealth through his/her own efforts, not through an inheritance. But for anyone to claim to be self-made would be both arrogant and inaccurate. Every individual who has experienced success and earned fortunes owes a least a portion of their accomplishments to the countless family members, friends, teachers, mentors, and/or colleagues who provided the resources, motivation, and inspiration for them to reach their potential. Without the positive influencers in a “self-made” individual’s life, would that individual have achieved the same success while having to navigate each challenge completely alone? No.

Popular theories even suggest that every individual is primarily an average of the five closest people in their life. I contend that the number extends well beyond just five people – but agree in principle, and the argument is thought-provoking nonetheless. It’s important to evaluate the influencers in one’s life that can drive the generation of thoughts and actions. Take a look around the room – if you’re the smartest person in the room, it may be time to find a new room.

To come full circle, this blog post even reiterates the exact point I’m making! The very theory that originality doesn’t exist isn’t original. I’m not the first person to present thoughts that combat the use of the term originality. My opinion is unique because of my own words and presentation, but I’ve drawn many conclusions from the thoughts and experiences of others before me that have helped to shape my stance on originality.

There is no such thing as an original idea – only new ways of framing and executing existing ideas. It seems, then, what’s been mistaken as originality can more accurately be described as creativity. Creativity involves the production of novel and useful ideas or products – but creativity is never spawned instantaneously, it’s derived from existing structure. All learning and progress requires some degree of imitation that’s then repurposed. Therefore, creativity can never be completely original. Imitate and iterate, again and again… because a broader scope of imitation is what leads to creativity, and the corresponding perception of originality.

Stop searching for the next “original” idea. Roughly 108 billion people have previously walked the Earth – it’s been done before! Instead, leverage the ideas of others and add a fresh perspective to create new, innovative solutions to existing problems. Future generations will then leverage the contributions produced today, and thus creates a compounding effect of unoriginality, which has – and will continue to – serve society well.

So go ahead, be unoriginal but creative – and the sky’s the limit.