Essays tagged Personal Growth

The Eskimo Village That Lost Its Eyesight

Modern Life

The Eskimo Village That Lost Its Eyesight

After World War II, something strange began happening to the Inuit people of Barrow, Alaska. Their children were becoming nearsighted — at an alarming rate. That’s around the time an optometry researcher named Francis A. Young decided to find out why.

· 7 min read
I Found This at the Bottom of a Doom Scroll

Technology & Attention

I Found This at the Bottom of a Doom Scroll

I went down a doom scroll this week and what I found at the bottom was not what I expected.

· 3 min read
What is the Meaning of Life?

Meaning & Being Human

What is the Meaning of Life?

We've all asked it. Sometimes in different words. Why am I here? What's the point of all this? Three thinkers helped me find my answer.

· 3 min read
Are You the Side Project of Your Own Life?

Meaning & Being Human

Are You the Side Project of Your Own Life?

Most of us are living as secondary characters in our own lives. Here's how it happened.

· 4 min read
You're Not Watching the Movie. You're Watching 1987.

Culture & Identity

You're Not Watching the Movie. You're Watching 1987.

Every era has an operating system the people in it can't see. 1987 thought American suburbia was the center of the universe. What does 2025 think? Here's what I learned watching He-Man fight rubber monsters in a New Jersey high school parking lot.

· 6 min read
Do A Students Really Work for C Students?

Work & Economy

Do A Students Really Work for C Students?

"A students end up working for C students." It hit close to home. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized it's pointing at something way more interesting than grades.

· 4 min read
Michelangelo Never Tasted Tomato Sauce

Culture & Identity

Michelangelo Never Tasted Tomato Sauce

Most famous Italians from history never tasted tomato sauce. That matters more than you think — especially if you've ever felt guilty for changing careers. In this week's newsletter, I unpack why so much of what feels permanent is actually just... inherited.

· 2 min read
The Healer and the Warrior

Meaning & Being Human

The Healer and the Warrior

Are you the healer or the warrior? The optimist or the critic? What if the answer is both — and the real trap is thinking you have to choose?

· 5 min read
The Ouija Board Called Civilization

Modern Life

The Ouija Board Called Civilization

A childhood Ouija board taught me something about how the world works. And once you see it, you can't unsee it.

· 5 min read
The Comfort of Having an Enemy

Meaning & Being Human

The Comfort of Having an Enemy

Two months into an expensive legal battle, I noticed something uncomfortable: I feel less anxious fighting than I do on a quiet afternoon. This week, I explore why conflict often feels easier than facing ourselves.

· 4 min read
Finding the Lesson in the Chaos: When Life Starts “Life-ing”

Meaning & Being Human

Finding the Lesson in the Chaos

When Life Starts “Life-ing”

A few weeks ago, my wife and I had to pack up and leave our home overnight. What followed was weeks of living out of Airbnbs, sorting through chaos, and trying to keep our sanity — and businesses — intact. In the middle of it all, I rediscovered what freedom really means. It’s not about control or comfort. It’s about being equipped to handle whatever life throws your way.

· 2 min read
Future Generations Will Wonder: What Were We Thinking?

Modern Life

Future Generations Will Wonder: What Were We Thinking?

We built a system that was supposed to make life easier. Instead, it turned luxuries into necessities and trapped us in fear of falling behind. In this article, I break down how everyday problem-solving spiraled into invisible chains — and what it means for anyone trying to reclaim their freedom

· 7 min read
After 40 years, it took me 18 months to learn this

Meaning & Being Human

After 40 years, it took me 18 months to learn this

Most people spend their whole lives in work they don’t enjoy. Here’s what 18 months outside the script taught me.

· 5 min read
The Freedom Paradox: What I Learned Testing Every Path to Freedom

Meaning & Being Human

The Freedom Paradox

What I Learned Testing Every Path to Freedom

Most people chase freedom the wrong way. Some escape their boss, some build businesses, others try to “find their passion” — but each path alone leaves you stuck in a different kind of cage. Real freedom comes when you learn how to integrate them all.

· 6 min read
From Finding Meaning to Creating It: Your Invitation to 5D Living

Meaning & Being Human

From Finding Meaning to Creating It

Your Invitation to 5D Living

I used to think meaning was something you found. Now I know it’s something you create. When I launched my business last year, my mission was simple — escape the 9-to-5, work for myself, replace my income. Instead, I discovered something far greater… meaning.

· 4 min read
You're Building a Business. So Why Do You Feel More Like an Artist?

Meaning & Being Human

You're Building a Business. So Why Do You Feel More Like an Artist?

Most creators think they’re building a business. But it starts feeling a lot more personal. More vulnerable. More like art. I didn’t expect that either. But it explains everything. If you’ve been feeling torn between growth and soul, read this.

· 4 min read
Stop Watering Down Your Message: For Mass Consumption

Work & Economy

Stop Watering Down Your Message

For Mass Consumption

Most creators are dumbing down their message. Playing it safe with their mission. And getting lost in the noise. I was in danger of becoming one of them. Then a friend called me out. If you’ve been feeling the pull to speak more truthfully, read this.

· 4 min read
Stop Trying To Make Money Like Everyone Else: When You're Meant For More

Work & Economy

Stop Trying To Make Money Like Everyone Else

When You're Meant For More

Most people sell their time, their energy, and eventually their identity — just to make money the way everyone else does. You're here to do it differently. This is for the ones who'd rather take the uncertain road than betray who they are.

· 2 min read
When Did Speaking Publicly Become a Fireable Offense?

Culture & Identity

When Did Speaking Publicly Become a Fireable Offense?

In today’s workplace, it’s not just whistleblowers who get punished. It's educators, engineers, analysts, creators — anyone bold enough to speak plainly about the world, their work, or themselves. We’re not just afraid to speak negatively about our employers. We’re afraid to speak at all. What is silence is costing us? Here's why reclaiming your voice might be the most important thing you do — for your career, your sanity, and society as a whole.

· 4 min read
What Happens When Work Stops Making Sense?: The 21st-Century Shift Reshaping Life & Work

Work & Economy

What Happens When Work Stops Making Sense?

The 21st-Century Shift Reshaping Life & Work

We told people their job was their identity. Then we built machines to do those jobs better. Now we're staring at a future where millions have no economic role — in a culture that says economic value is the only kind that matters. So what happens next? This isn't about giving up. It's about waking up.

· 5 min read
How to Reclaim Agency in Your Life: A Three-Stage Blueprint

Meaning & Being Human

How to Reclaim Agency in Your Life

A Three-Stage Blueprint

I spent 15 years following the rules before I realized the truth about "success." Here's what I learned after walking away from my corporate career — and how I built something better. My three-stage blueprint for reclaiming agency in your life.

· 6 min read
I’m Sick of the Noise on Social Media: Here's What I'm Doing About It

Technology & Attention

I’m Sick of the Noise on Social Media

Here's What I'm Doing About It

Everyone’s shouting online. But what happens when no one’s really listening? I’ve watched the creator space get louder, faster, and more desperate—and I’ve had enough. This isn’t just a rant. It’s a line in the sand. If you’re tired of the noise too, here’s what I’m building instead—and why I only want people who give a damn.

· 3 min read
I Bet Everything on the Creator Economy: Here’s Why I’m Still All In

Work & Economy

I Bet Everything on the Creator Economy

Here’s Why I’m Still All In

One year ago, I walked away from a steady paycheck to bet everything on myself. I thought I’d replace my income by now—I didn’t even come close. But what I learned along the way is worth more than any overnight success story. If you’re thinking about taking the leap, read this first.

· 6 min read
Trading the American Dream for a Better One: How Not Buying a House Secured My Future

Culture & Identity

Trading the American Dream for a Better One

How Not Buying a House Secured My Future

I thought buying a house was the final stamp of adulthood. In this letter, I share how losing out on a home forced me to rethink success, stability, and what freedom really looks like.

· 4 min read
How To Get a Second Chance at Life the First Time Around

Meaning & Being Human

How To Get a Second Chance at Life the First Time Around

Most people don't regret what they tried—they regret what they never dared to do. If you’re standing at the edge of something big—but hesitation is holding you back—this one’s for you.

· 3 min read
The Role of Faith in a Purpose-Driven Business

Meaning & Being Human

The Role of Faith in a Purpose-Driven Business

Most people avoid uncertainty. Entrepreneurs walk straight into it. Here’s what I’ve learned about building a business that requires faith—and what to do when it feels like you’re walking alone in the dark.

· 5 min read
Take the Stage

Meaning & Being Human

Take the Stage

For years, you stayed behind the scenes—helping others shine, downplaying your own ambitions, convincing yourself it was more noble to be in the background. But what if the people you’ve been supporting aren’t any more talented than you? What if the only difference is they had the audacity to step forward first?

· 3 min read
For the Ones Who Didn’t Save Anything for the Swim Back: The Cost of Real Transformation

Meaning & Being Human

For the Ones Who Didn’t Save Anything for the Swim Back

The Cost of Real Transformation

Building a personal brand stripped me down to the bone. Here's what I’ve learned from the edge of burnout, ego death, and becoming someone new.

· 3 min read