Poking through 11+ years of posts I find information that’s as useful now as when it was written.

Golden Oldies is a collection of the most relevant and timeless posts during that time.

This Oldie doesn’t need commentary. It was valid when I wrote it in 2006, it’s even more valid in today’s world of social media and will still be valid at all times in the future.

Read other Golden Oldies here.

I frequently tell clients and readers to slow down; unwire themselves; learn to say no.

So my next rule may sound counterproductive, but it’s not.

Don’t live with the brakes on!

Taking off the brakes isn’t about going faster, it’s about taking time for the stuff that stops when you move too fast—such as creativity.

So take the brakes off your imagination; take time to dream; make more time for doing nothing and watch your world expand and sizzle.

Image credit: Paul Fris

Another year, another birthday and I’m taking my day off.

Eventually I won’t be here, nor will I have a tombstone, but if I did here is what it would say…

Instead, I’ll be enriching the soil around the redwood I grew from a burl and planted at my friend’s ranch (how cool is that?).

And if you’re interested, today’s image comes from a 2014 post.

There will always be people who disappoint, whether in your personal or professional life.

If their presence is outside of your control and/or they are part of your long-term world there is a simple-to-understand, but difficult-to-implement approach to dealing with them.

You can not control other people’s words or actions.

You can only control your expectations and reactions.

Any form of self-control is a hands-on effort that can’t be outsourced or multi-tasked.

And while both involve control, investing your energy in the second type will provide far higher ROI.

Flickr image credit: fatbwoy

I was reading a post from Mark Suster and I realized that something he said near the end really encompasses the way I try to live.

Life is an informational interview.

Informational interviews are how you learn; they entail talking to people in different walks of life, different positions and different ways of thinking.

Informational interviews require you to come with an open mind and your listening skills fully engaged.

It’s an approach that should flavor all parts of your MAP—reflect in your mindset, inform your attitude and permeate your philosophy.

Try it; you may be surprised, not only at how much you learn, but also how much fun it is.

Flickr image credit: Gangplank HQ

Henry David Thoreau said, “Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.”

I say, “Avoid being either fool.”

stock.xchng image credit: alexwall

I keep getting asked why I’m not more surprised at what’s happened, both good and bad, in 2008. People know that I deplore the duplicity and stupidity that got us into this mess; they also know that I’m an econ-idiot and didn’t see it coming.

So why am I so calm? How can I just shrug and focus on moving forward, with nary a backward glance? Come to think of it, why is that my typical reaction to so many screw-ups?

So in deference to my friends and colleagues who’ve been asking, and in honor of the start of a new year, I’m going to share my secret here, publicly, with everyone.

While many people are adherents of Murphy’s Law, it doesn’t give nearly the mental, emotional, physical, even psychic protection that O’Brien’s Law gives.

What? You’re not familiar with O’Brien’s Law?

Then for your erudition I will state them here together, so you can understand why I’m a passionate believer in the O-Law as opposed to Murphy’s.

Murphy’s Law
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

O’Brien’s Law
Murphy was an optimist.

And that, my friends, is why nothing really surprises me any more.