Hang on a second, I just got a text message. Ok. Hi! Did I pay the water bill? Hang on. I’ll be back in a minute. Does this situation look familiar? We live in the most productive time in human history. Thanks to the power of […]
Author: Tony
Hi, I’m Tony. I am an engineering professor, family man, and rock climber living in Las Vegas, NV. I write for students, educators, and early-career professionals about how to live a fulfilling life.
Two Ways to Recover from The Not-Ideal Week
You’ve finally figured out a system that actually works. You’re on top of things for the first time in recent history. You’re in a state of flow. Then the wheels come off. Sometimes it happens gradually, but usually not. Usually one catastrophic day or week […]
Sanctified Busyness
Often, we make our lives busy as a way of hiding from ourselves. When our plate is empty, we have time to think. That can be liberating, or it can be terrifying.
The Two Most Important Topics for Your Blog
Ok. You’re inspired to blog. You’ve set up an account, formatted your homepage. Now what? The blank screen with a blinking cursor stares back at you. What should you write about? We’ve all experienced writer’s block. The challenge of blogging is to create consistently. Here […]
Sincerely,
I’ve avoided that particular closing for years. In grade school we’re taught that “sincerely,” is the proper way to end a letter. The actual sentiment behind it is instantly lost on a bunch of third graders as they practice writing it by rote. Ending a […]
Following Directions
From a teaching persepective, I’m trying to think of a lamer reason to award or deduct points from a student than for failure to follow directions. From a learning perspective, I’m trying to think of a lamer reason to stress than wondering if your work […]
Winning, One Play at a Time
Love em or hate em, the Patriots won the Super Bowl yesterday following a principle that we can all learn from. How many times have you “cheated” on a resolution or a goal, and used that small failure to justify a larger one?
Getting it done? or Getting Better
What do you do? Are you a professional? A student? An educator? A kid? A parent? No matter the answer, I’ll bet you’re busy. B-U-S-Y We have a tendency to impress. We take on opportunities that let us show our chops. But eventually we reach […]
Oh. Well in that case…
People spend too much on babies and learning. We perceive an urgency or risk, and so we let our guard down and accept what the salesman tells us. “Don’t skimp on a new car, your child’s life is at risk.” On the one hand, we […]
How Investments Work
Investments work on a simple principle: forgo consumption today, and reap the ability to consume more later. If we spend a little less from our paychecks, we can save for retirement. After a little effort spent selecting good mutual funds, the magic of compound interest will […]
