Business, Career Advice, Productivity

The Pomodoro Method: Take Strategic Breaks To Improve Productivity

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the pomodoro technique improves productivity

Do you spend the majority of your day at your desk? And do you find it difficult to concentrate throughout the day? There’s a simple solution to improve your productivity and focus: The Pomodoro method.

It’s human nature to have a desire to improve your output. For machines, it’s straightforward: You improve speed. Machines get faster and better every day. But what about your personal productivity? 

I’ve read dozens of books on productivity. I’ve read countless articles on time management. And I’ve tested different methods to boost my productivity.

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Happiness, Life Lessons, Personal Development

5 Ways To Build A Thick Skin So You Can Live Happily

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thick skin

Do you ever feel hurt by what people say about you? Well, it’s a part of life, so you better grow a thick skin. That’s what people often say.

Even tough it’s difficult to develop a thick skin, I agree with that advice. I’m amazed by how quickly people get upset. And I’m not talking about getting upset about real things like disease, death, not having food.

I’m talking about the small stuff of daily life. Why are our feelings hurt when the littlest things happen?

  • Someone disagrees with you.
  • A coworker says something bad about you.
  • Someone always is ‘lucky’ and you are not.
  • Your friend stabs you in the back.
  • You don’t like your job.
  • People don’t like your art.

So what?

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Career Advice, Leadership, Productivity

The Single Piece Of Advice That Changed The Course Of My Career

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piece of career advice

When I started my last corporate job, I asked experienced co-workers for advice and best-practices, and most of them told me something like: “Try to get in front of important people.”

That’s corporate code for sucking up.

It wasn’t my first time working for a large company. I’d seen a lot of suck-ups get promotions in the past, and in a moment of weakness, I decided to listen to those idiots.

You “get in front of important people” by scheduling unnecessary meetings with random people, always saying something during meetings, pretending you’re working while you’re watching YouTube videos and staying at the office until late when you’re not productive at all.

But sucking up didn’t feel right — I just couldn’t do it. It’s not my style. But it’s so tempting to do it because people get rewarded for that.

And who doesn’t want to get promoted? So you get lured in. That’s why I understand why people who start at corporations decide to play politics—you think it’s normal.

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Career Advice, Life Lessons

Stop Trying To Be Realistic

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stop trying to be realistic

We always try to think in “realistic” terms about everything:

  • “It can’t be done.”
  • “What? Do you want to build an airplane? You’re crazy.”
  • “You’ll never make it.”
  • “Everyone fails and so will you.”
  • “1,000 songs in your pocket? You must be kidding, right?”
  • “An electrical car with a range of 300 miles? What’s next? A time machine?”
  • “You want to be an artist? It’s safer to get a job.”
  • “Why would you travel the world?”

What does it take when everyone tells you that you’re wrong? Delusion. At least, a little of it.

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