Creating from Nothing (or Where Creativity is Created)
In this audio, I speak about creativity and the ability to create “from nothing” — without prior knowledge of what’s been invented and without a goal in mind....
What is Luck (and Why You Don’t Have to Work for It)
In this audio, I talk about how these 2 quotes related to luck are completely false: “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity” (Roman philosopher Seneca) “The Harder I Work, the Luckier I Get” (Samuel Goldwyn)...
Two New Thoughts (That Changed Everything)
In this audio, I describe how, at a time of extreme crisis, when I thought there was absolutely no way to recover, someone introduced two new thoughts to me, which literally changed everything....
The Only Principles You’ll Ever Need To Be Successful In Any Business
You don’t need a better strategy or more tactics! The current landscape of business advice — on the Web, in business books and from business gurus’ mega-events — is primarily focused on strategy and tactics and always points to something outside as the solution...
You Already Have Abundance
In this audio, I talk about the “self help” industry’s obsession with “abundance” and why there’s really no “abundance” “out there” that you need to chase....
Avoiding the Addiction of Overworking
Here’s a short audio that I recorded after reading an article in the Washington Post titled, “Stop touting the crazy hours you work. It helps no one.”. The ending is a bit abrupt, intentionally. I’d love to hear your feedback. [1:51]...
How We Rescued Our Company from the Brink of Disaster
(Audio version) In 1997, when I was 24, I started an Internet software consulting company. To be frank, I started it mostly out of frustration of the way that other companies (mostly prominent “interactive agencies”) I’d worked for treated people. While I knew that...
Everything Always Works Out / We’re All Resilient
This audio clip (2:14) is excerpted from my friend Justus Eapen’s Podcast, “Hacker Practice”. In it, I talk about how all humans have a built in system of resilience, and how worrying about what’s about to come really serves no purpose, since...
Dealing with Bad Behavior (at Work or Elsewhere)
Hint: Don’t address the behavior. What do you do when someone throws a fit or yells at an annoying customer or repeatedly shows up to work late or maybe not at all for a few days? © Naphtali Visser Where Bad Behavior Comes From Bad behavior often comes from a...
Hiring the Unhireable
There’s a bakery in South Yonkers, NY called Greyston Bakery. I got pretty excited when I learned that the brownies they make (17 tons of them a day) are sold at Whole Foods and are key ingredients in Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. But my excitement grew when I learned...
Capital One: The Un-Predator?
I often find myself at the new Captial One 360/Peets Café in Brookline, the town next to Boston, where I live, spending a few hours doing some work. I’ve gotten to know everyone that works there, and it’s kind of become my “Cheers”. One bright morning at the café, a...