Goal-Free Living in Best of O (Oprah) and More
There are 4 books I want to draw your attention to: 1. This weekend I discovered that Goal-Free Living is featured in O’s Guide to Life: The Best of O, the Oprah Magazine. In fact, the article entitled, “Are Your Goals Holding You Back?” is highlighted on the inside flap of the book. 2. My story, “Confessions […]
How Concerned Should You Be?
Imagine the following situation. You go to your doctor for a physical examination. You test positive for a spreadable, yet treatable virus-based disease. You discover that the testing is somewhat accurate. If you have the disease, you will be diagnosed positive 75% of the time and negative 25% of the time. If you don’t have […]
Design Emotion First
Here’s a useful innovation tip. Designworks, a division of BMW, designs cars and other products such as cell phones, computers, and tractors. Their design process is particularly interesting. Instead of starting with functions and features, they start with emotion. Designers first meet with company executives, employees, and customers in order to capture the emotion that […]
Copenhagen: Save the Date
I am speaking in Copenhagen this weekend. On October 5 from 1PM to 4PM I am speaking at an event being organized by Alexander Kjerulf. If you speak Danish, you can learn more and register by clicking here. On October 6 from 3PM to 4PM I am speaking at Junior Chamber International’s National Kongres. If […]
How to Change an Organization’s Culture
Much literature has been written on branding. But what is a brand? Can you define it in just 6 words? No, it is not Nike’s “swoop.” It is not McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle. It is not Accenture’s Tiger Woods ads. It is not the design of my website or my “Unconventional Thinking” tag line. […]
How to Be Present to Every Moment
Imagine the following situation. You are single and live in New Jersey just outside of New York City (NYC). Your employer wants you to work in London for a few years. You are excited about the possibility of living overseas and are interested in the job. Assuming that the costs of living for New Jersey […]
How One Word Can Change Your Beliefs
Once again we explore the power of language. This one was given to me by Michael Wiederman, Professor of Psychology at Columbia College. Imagine that you serve on the jury of an only-child custody case following a relatively messy divorce. The facts of the case are complicated by ambiguous economic, social, and emotional considerations. Therefore […]
Goal-Free Living Featured in New Chicken Soup Book
Hot off the press! My story, “Confessions of a Goalaholic,” is featured in the new book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Loving the Way You Live: 7 Essential Ingredients for Finding Balance and Serenity. Check it out.
New Home Page
In my article on “build it, try it, fix it,” I mentioned I was using an iterative approach for developing my new website. Today we launched a new version. What are the changes? The unconventional thinking theme is now more pervasive. Each of the topics on the left link to that theme (e.g., Unconventional Thinking About…Innovation). In […]
10½ Ways to Improve Your Life – By Losing
In two previous blog entries, (#1 and #2), I discussed the psychology behind risk taking. In particular, I explored why people take risks to minimize losses, yet play it safe when it comes to increasing gains. In this blog entry, I discuss a number of implications of this mindset. Here are 10½ – potentially irrational […]