Embed Block Add an embed URL or code. Learn more In 2006 actress Reese Witherspoon was awarded the Oscar for her epic role in Walk the Line. In her acceptance speech she summarized her thoughts on her career. “I’m just trying to matter and live a good life and make work that means something to somebody.” The key word in that 2006 speech is “matter”. Witherspoon was just named by Forbes as The World’s Richest Actress, with a net worth of $440 million. I’d say that’s enough good work and cash to matter for a lifetime. We human beings possess a remarkable, innate desire to create meaning and pur ..read more

‘Tis the season of giving—the time to focus on those we love and those less fortunate than us. A time to do things “not for ourselves, but for others,” as Sir Thomas Carlyle once wrote. Which brings me to Wit & Wisdom’s 2023 Altruist of the Year: Jimmy Donaldson. Jimmy is a big deal. But, you’ve never heard of him, right? I didn’t think so. See, Jimmy goes by the pseudonym of MrBeast, and he can cure blindness. Wait, what? Okay, hold that question for 90 seconds, and I’ll try to explain. MrBeast kicks back between videos MrBeast is what’s known on the interwebs as a stunt philanthropist ..read more

It’s the single most important question of every man’s life. And, it’s imperative that you know the answer. The answer to this single question can provide much needed grounding throughout the course of your life. Men need other men to do life with. Part of doing life together is arming each other for the battles of life. In those battles, friends can serve as moral guideposts, as guardrails. As bulwarks in the eye of the storm. Because, from time to time, we simply do not have our own best interest at-heart. That’s why it’s important to be able to answer the question: “What do you want ..read more

“Jimmy Buffett passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st, surrounded by family, friends, music, and dogs. He lived his life like a song until the very last breath.” The announcement that rocked the ? heads. That was the announcement that rocked Parrot Heads around the world on September 2nd. (Jimmy's most ardent fans were known as Parrot Heads.) Buffett was an American icon. He leaves behind a body of work that is a testament to a life well-lived: years and years of experiences told through lyrics and melodies spanning decades. While never known for his poetic lyrics, he leaves be ..read more

Pretty much everyone wants to be rich—not purely for the sake of money, but for the fragile promise of happiness that comes with being a total baller. But, what does it mean to be rich today? How much money do you really need to be considered rich? Image courtesy of Mahdi Bafande via Unsplash The answer might just surprise you. See, it’s all a matter of relativity. We often think of Musk, Bezos, and Zuck as our benchmarks for wealth. That’s like comparing your golf game to Viktor Hovland of Norway, who won the FedEx Cup and $18M a few weeks ago. Things are tougher for us financially than th ..read more

Researchers, scientists and women have spent the last 500 or so years trying to determine what men are thinking about. After all that research and exploration into the male mind, the most meaningful conclusion comes from an unlikely source: Tik-Tok. Tik-Tok is the Chinese owned video hosting platform that promotes pranks, stunts, dancing, jokes and entertainment. The platform is responsible for thousands of hours of lost productivity in the US. It rarely generates anything of substance, but it’s the fastest growing social media platform. More on that in 60 seconds. The simple truth about men ..read more

Embed Block Add an embed URL or code. Learn more Let me guess: you work from home. You don’t miss the commute, the traffic, the wasted time, the business attire, etc. You love the flexibility, the freedom and the day-jammie’s. But, are you happy? Image courtesy of Chris Gray via Unsplash According to a recent survey, you haven’t been this unhappy at work since before the pandemic forced you into those day-jammies and the endless Zoom calls. Let’s see if we can unpack this together. The Great Resignation Prior to the pandemic, we had all been operating a warp speed. Then everything just stoppe ..read more

Whether you’re a church-goer or not, you’ve probably heard of The Seven Deadly Sins. These are the seven behaviors or feelings that are guaranteed to lead to trouble. As a refresher, they are typically ordered as pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Basically, all the fun stuff. While this list of damning delights is attributed to Roman Catholic theology, it does not appear anywhere in the Good Book. Tavern Scene or The Orgy is a work by William Hogarth from 1735 The seven deadliest sins have served as inspiration for countless paintings, sculptures, and other art forms. In 1 ..read more

Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, and for about $150,000 and 24 months of training, professional guides can safely lead you to the summit. Photo courtesy of Christopher Burns via Unsplash However, if you are going to invest all that time and money to reach the top of the world, there's something crucial you should know: most people die on the way down, not on the way up. Why? As Jeff Matlow points out in his recent article, “life is full of milestones. Don’t mistake them for the finish line.” See, the simple truth about Everest (and goals, in general) is that reaching the top ..read more

Quick question: when are you going to die? No, seriously, at what age will you die? Courtesy of Rhodi Lopez via Unsplash Okay, now that we’ve established the age of your death, how exactly will it happen? Do you want it to be a surprise or a long drawn out affair? A peaceful, painless and quiet drifting away. Your mind quieted by the images of memories created with the people who love you most? Courtesy of Alexander Gray via Unsplash Take a minute to ponder these questions. We’ll wait.. Okay, let me guess that you are now more than a little uncomfortable. (Some of you stopped reading already ..read more