The gist: To spread an important message, use “schema learning” to connect your idea to other ideas people already understand and accept so they’ll accept yours, too. “When I go to a baseball game, I can eat six, maybe seven hot dogs. I love hot dogs more than anything on Earth.” This is the opening line from Mr. Hourigan, my high school Economics teacher. We’re learning the law of diminishing returns. He goes on to explain how, though his love for brats runs deeper than human understanding, he starts to get tired of them after a while. Sure, each of those first three dogs make him happier and ..read more

The gist: Decades of research have found 6 primary qualities that go into a successful first impression. To make better first impressions, implement these 6 rules. You probably don’t realize as you’re doing it—I don’t—but every day you quietly judge the people you meet. You look for clues that will tell you what type of person they are, if they’re confident in themselves, and whether you can trust them. And everyone you meet is doing the same to you. Have you ever met someone a few times and thought, “I really should like this person… but I don’t.” That’s the first impression at work. Som ..read more

Gist: Find your internal motivation to build strong systems and drive results. When you control what motivates you, inspiration is more reliable and routines stick. On my running routes, there are a few folks—the regulars—I can always count on seeing. We don’t know each other, but we wave and say “hi.” I like to add, “Enjoy the run!” for good measure. “Thanks, I always do!” is a typical reply. I was talking to a friend about exercise recently. It can be so hard to get into any kind of rhythm. Productive routines are difficult to build. You want to be more reliable and accountabl ..read more

As you read this, I’m flying back to The U.S. from China. Alone. While I was there, I ran a marathon. Alone. I stayed in a hotel room alone (mostly). I wandered around Beijing alone. I sat down to eat at the local restaurants alone. This is normal for me. Sometimes, people ask, “Tyler, wouldn’t you have more fun traveling if you had someone to go with?” And my answer is always both yes and no. Traveling with a friend or someone close can be a really rewarding experience. You don’t truly know someone until you travel with them, and getting to know someone like that can be a lot of fun (or not ..read more

Research shows that introversion is actually a positive trait for leaders. Although introverts and extroverts can both make excellent bosses, managers, and business owners, there have been studies on introversion and leadership that show a higher rate of productivity in employees who had an introvert as a manager. That said, no matter how much success you have, and no matter how much you love your work, you have to take care of yourself. So, what steps can you take? Taking Care Of Yourself As A Business Owner Here are some ways to take care of yourself, prioritize your mental health, and maint ..read more

Is caring for your mental health different for an introvert than it is for an extrovert? For some, it might be. No matter who you are, it’s important to learn how to best care for yourself. So, what can you do? Here are four ways to care for yourself and your mental health as an introvert: Set Boundaries Learning how to set boundaries is a crucial skill not just for introverts but for everyone. However, introverts may need to set specific boundaries that allow them the time they need for self-care and preservation. Know that it isn’t selfish to need alone time. The word “boundary” can be scary ..read more

The gist: Even when the world is in turmoil, opportunities for a better future are all around. But to seize them, you must control your anxiety. If you’re thinking, “The last thing I need right now is another article explaining the coronavirus” then I have good news for you. This is a message about the coronavirus, but not anything like the 500+ others you’ve read telling you how afraid to be or not to be and how to protect yourself, etc. That shall be left to the medical experts. Instead, this message is about how to rise above the global panic and seize the opportunities that exist all arou ..read more

The gist: Serotonin can treat all kinds of psychological issues, but research suggests people who suffer from social anxiety actually need less of it. You’re hardly alone if you’d describe yourself as “socially anxious.” Almost 5% of people suffer from some form of it. That doesn’t seem like a big number but, when you consider the whole world, that’s 350 million people. You go to a party and freeze because everyone is looking at you. In meetings, you hope no one asks a question because you’re certain whatever you say will be wrong. Maybe you avoid close relationships because you can’t stand t ..read more

So, you’re standing in line at the grocery store. You weren’t paying attention, though, and now you see the cart ahead of you has about 1,000 groceries in it, and the person pushing it is an older woman getting out her checkbook. You think to yourself, “Damn, did I make the right choice?” There’s still time to switch if you want. All the lines look busy, but one of them—a few aisles down—looks pretty good. But what if it slows down as soon as you get there? Should you switch? Let’s try again. You’ve been at your job for a few years, and you haven’t gotten the raises you expect. The economy has ..read more

The gist: We all have nervous habits we display in uncomfortable situations that make us look weak. Once you recognize yours, they’re surprisingly easy to correct. We all have lots of insecure behaviors we put on display every day. Whether it’s pulling on your shirt collar like I do, avoiding eye contact, or something else, your nervous habits scream to others that you’re feeling anxious. The problem with nervous habits is that they show that you’re not confident in what you’re saying, which means other people won’t be either. When this happens, you undermine your own words. Here’s an examp ..read more