We love to talk about ourselves, but many of us won't listen. Therefore, aspire to become an attentive listener and great at asking questions. It takes practice and it's hard sometimes. One thing that helps is to be genuinely interested in people, what and how they do, what they know. You will learn a lot and make friends quickly. But there's at least another benefit. Something that isn't abundant is by definition rare and valuable. It's the same with speaking. If you're mostly quiet, but speak smartly and when it's important, people will appreciate what you have to say. The onl ..read more

Consciously follow interesting, successful and aspirational individuals. Follow them on social media, listen to the podcasts they appear on and read the articles they write. There's an infinite supply of information about them online. Ignore the rest. Additionally, try to avoid the algorithms. Don't fall for the "For you" tabs. There's a reason why they're there - to brainwash you. This method is so effective in changing your mindset and how you think that big tech is based on it. A side effect is that you will stop spending time on social media. With an internet connection and ..read more

The other day I read an interesting perspective in the first chapter of 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson. It turns out lobsters were vital for uncovering a lot about the human nervous system and how it works. Peterson argues that in some ways, they could also be thought of as a very advanced species, having been around for hundreds of millions of years. The most interesting part about lobsters, however, is their social dynamic and how it all has to do with levels of serotonin and their posture. In the end, you'll see that it's similar to humans'. As in all species, lobsters get into fight ..read more

The first Derek Sivers book I've ever read left a big impression on me. Normally, each one of us has their own way to live. It's extraordinary how he's been able to come up with 27 different ones. According to his website, Derek Sivers, has been a musician, circus performer, entrepreneur, and speaker. He's a slow thinker, explorer, xenophile, and loves a different point of view. California native, he now lives in New Zealand. It's not just a book on 27 different lessons on how to live. Rather, it's also a collection of lessons ordered into chapters. I found myself in every chapter, just as I ..read more

Right after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was very much into blogging and newsletters, trying to make it big in the creator economy. That didn’t age very well. Nevertheless, writing online paid off. Around the same time, I got a LinkedIn connection request and message from a medical student in the UK. She found my website appealing and what I was writing about insightful. She mentioned she might create a healthcare startup and if I’d be willing to be a part of it once it takes off. A year later, she messaged me that indeed will need help with the website. Naturally, I could also help ..read more

When I began my medical studies, I chose to continue living in my home city and commute to Ljubljana, our capital, each day. The choices were pretty clear: car, bus, or train. Most people commute to Ljubljana by car. I would rather not be stuck in rush hour every morning, let alone pay for a car and all its expenses. Public transport, though not as well-developed as in other European countries, is a viable alternative. But buses get stuck in that same traffic. That’s when the idea of taking the train to and from school each day truly began to appeal. I was amazed at the difference the train m ..read more

The trend in the last couple of years has been moving our lives online. Whatever you think of also has its online version. Restaurants, music, photos, meetings…you name it, we got it. Many of these online services improve our lives. But as with every exciting new thing, there’s a flip-side. Did we forget how to live offline? Quite possible when it comes to social media. I’ve long been a proponent of limiting our use of social media. In fact, one of my first ever blogposts has been about social media (now long deleted). But during the last couple of years, I came to realise social media is bet ..read more

Getting out of my comfort zone I forgot about my comfort zone during the last few years of studying in Slovenia because I was living in one. Quite early on in my medical school journey, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In my opinion, this made studying medicine much more pleasant and comfortable. Sleeping more, eating better quality food and not losing time with commuting are just a few benefits. The biggest downside was the lack of clinical practices. However, because it was more pleasant, the comfort zone became more comfortable. This all changed by going to Heidelberg. Suddenly, I was by myself ..read more

When you open the Amazon online bookstore, you’re hit with numerous filters, categories, and recommendations. Currently, there are about 4 sections of books Amazon thinks I’d be interested in on my Kindle bookstore. That’s all great because the probability that I’ll like the book I buy is greater than if I just see a random set of books. On the other hand, by reading only what Amazon recommends to us, we’re limiting ourselves by default. We eventually start reading the same things over and over again, written in a slightly different way. Just take a look at the financial books section. Pretty ..read more

The worst that could happen is that someone will say no. Or unfollow you on social media when you post something. Big deal! But even if that’s our mindset, we sometimes fall into the trap of not acting. Not writing that email. Not sending that LinkedIn connection request. Not sharing the article we wrote. Most notably, this was the case for me when I started communicating with doctors. I genuinely felt intimidated. Sometimes I wrote the email, other times I chickened out. And it still happens. Now and again, I need a reminder that the worst thing that could happen is a “no”. And maybe get rej ..read more