Try Not Telling People You're An Expert (Newsletter 038)
The high expectations of others are valuable if we force ourselves to live up to them. But beware of giving in to the temptation to believe others' expectations without doing the hard work necessary to earn them.
Eight Views of the American South
It is time to start talking about the United States. Today I will share our first impressions after not quite two months on the ground.
It's Good To Be The Boss! (Newsletter 026)
It is unquestionably good to be the boss, because it puts you in a position to influence your company. But if you take your job seriously, you'll soon see that little comes with the title beyond the responsibility to live up to others' expectations.
I Want It Now! (Newsletter 024)
It seems like many politicians view themselves as entertainers first, and legislators or representatives a distant second. After all, you must be popular to be elected, the thinking goes
If You Ask The Wrong Questions...
Because we do not like feeling uncomfortable, our natural tendency is to seek out information that conforms to our existing beliefs and to ignore conflicting information.
How To Implement A Project With Lackluster Management Support (Newsletter 023)
Telling a hapless manager that ensuring top management support is a critical success factor for their project is more than unhelpful. It's a bit like saying, "OK, first ensure a perpetual source of cheap, clean, renewable energy...."
Is Your Country A GDPaholic? (Newsletter 022)
People all over the world are telling us something about their well-being that is not being captured in measures of GDP. They are telling us this loudly and clearly if you look for the data, and policymakers are largely ignoring them.
Where Does The 2% Inflation Target Come From Anyway?
Would you rather have greater purchasing power, or "output that is close to the economy's maximum sustainable level of output"?
Can You Succeed At Work Without Working Hard? (Newsletter 020)
You will always outcompete someone who is not willing to put in the same time as you. I refer not just to hours spent working, but in learning how not to waste time, and how productively to use the time you have focused on the right priorities.
You Get What You Incentivize (Newsletter 016)
If your appetite is unlimited, no amount will ever be sufficient to satisfy your wants. No amount of tax is "fair" when there is no limit on what you aim to spend and redistribute.
