The greatest difficulty is that men do not think enough of themselves, do not consider what it is that they are sacrificing when they follow in a herd, or when they cater for their establishment.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Your entire reality is a reflection of how much you value your own life.
The people around you–bosses, business [...]

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you aren’t thinking for yourself, you aren’t thinking. [...]

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.
– Dale Carnegie
It’s Friday night and you’re getting ready to go out. You shower, [...]

Open source software is, roughly speaking, software released under a license that permits its users to use, modify, and redistribute the software in almost any way they see fit. This provides users of open source software a degree of liberty that is simply not found in proprietary alternatives. While it’s a bit silly and idealistic [...]

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing.
– George Bernard Shaw
A couple months ago I wrote an article on embracing rejection, the idea of which was that you can go a long way in life simply by developing a tolerance for blowouts. The [...]

Popularity is the one insult I have never suffered.
– Oscar Wilde
For all the writing I do about social skydiving, the vast majority of my interactions with women don’t go any further than our initial conversation. In fact, sometimes they barely get beyond “Hi”. I’ve talked to hundreds of women in the past year, but I’ve [...]

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.
– e.e. cummings
It’s the best and the worst advice: Just Be Yourself.
Worried about your job interview later today? Don’t [...]

(Warning: Spoilers ahead. :)
Fiction often pays truth a visit. Great stories expand your reality, encourage you to think about the world in new ways, and even provide inspiring role models. Whether you draw your inspiration from real-life strangers or imaginary icons, it all comes down listening to the voices that improve your results.
Rhett Butler is, [...]

I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection.
– Billy Joel

You aren’t attractive enough. You aren’t smart enough. You aren’t cool enough. You aren’t man enough. Your idea won’t work. You’re too short. You’re too tall. You’re too chunky. You don’t have enough money. I [...]

Authenticity and subordination are totally incompatible.
– Jean Baker Miller
How much time do you spend each day furthering the business objectives of other people?
Which days of the year are you allowed to be away from the office? How far in advance do you have to ask for permission?
At what time of the day are you allowed [...]