The 5 F’s Of Stress Response (Fight, Flight, Follow, Freeze, F*** It)

In Peter Atwater’s book, The Confidence Map, he says the situations where we are MOST stressed, are those when our feeling of certainty and control are the lowest.  Makes sense.  I remember sitting down for a class in high school and having the teacher say, “Clear your desks, pens and pencils only, I’m passing out … Continue reading The 5 F’s Of Stress Response (Fight, Flight, Follow, Freeze, F*** It)

More Evil Doesn’t Beat Evil, Good Beats Evil. Duh.

If you haven’t read The Lord of the Rings, or seen the movies, or even if you only half-remember The Hobbit cartoon from the ‘70s - I have a non-spoiling spoiler for you (because it applies to writing online and life in general): More evil doesn’t beat evil. Good beats evil. Duh.  You can try … Continue reading More Evil Doesn’t Beat Evil, Good Beats Evil. Duh.

Podcast Of The Week: Merve Emre’s New Criticism Podcast Might Be My New Favorite Thing

It’s one episode in and I’m prone to hyperbole, but.  I found Merve Emre via her book The Personality Brokers back in 2018ish. This book helped me better understand the Meyers-Briggs personality test. Not my particular personality (INTJ, as discussed here, or anyone else’s for that matter), but - where the test came from, who … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Merve Emre’s New Criticism Podcast Might Be My New Favorite Thing

Before You Assume You’re Right, Try This

Before you assume you’re right about anything, remember to ask this question.  From Will Storr (as told to David McRaney, as relayed to Bogumil Baranowski): Am I right about everything? The answer is, “No.” It’s not even hard to say. Try it (we'll say it together. 1, 2, 3 and) - "I am most certainly … Continue reading Before You Assume You’re Right, Try This

Cross-Generational Quick Connection Hacks

“OK, Boomer.” “OK, Zoomer.” “OK, _____” Want to forge stronger connections and build relationships outside of your age range? Do it the same way you do it within your own age range.  Start with something they care about.  It helps if you care about it too.  AKA be curious.  And skip over the boring stuff. … Continue reading Cross-Generational Quick Connection Hacks

How To Write A Foreword That Disses The Author (McKee vs. Pressfield)

When Steven Pressfield asked Robert McKee to write the foreword to The War of Art, he probably didn’t expect McKee to include a strong disagreement. You know, in the intro of HIS book. But McKee did it.  It makes McKee’s War of Art intro one of my favorite forewords ever, if not the gold standard … Continue reading How To Write A Foreword That Disses The Author (McKee vs. Pressfield)