Blog: Synthesizing & Simplifying Complexity

Myers-Briggs Personality Test

Want to better understand who you are? My test goes deeper, beyond the usual "do you prefer staying home or going to a party?" This test delves into the cognitive functions and the fuller complexity of Myers-Briggs (yes, it's possible to be both introverted and extroverted depending on the situation!).

ENTP or INTP? How to tell the difference

Since ENTP’s are one of the most introverted of the extrovert types, it’s common for NTP’s to be confused about whether they’re an I or an E. It doesn’t help that the Internet is full of stereotypes and exaggerated memes about both of these types too. In my new blog post I break down the most prominent differences I’ve personally seen between those two types after having coached dozens of NTP’s.

Overview of my series, who this is for, why you might consider listening to me, and how easy it is to think you understand crypto when you actually don’t

• Why this information might be useful for almost anyone
• My background in the tech industry
• How easy it is to lose money in crypto, and why you need to be careful
• Overview of how this series is organized

Why should I care? What’s in it for me? Why is crypto important (it’s about a lot more than just making money!)?

• Why crypto is interesting
• Feeling like you're too late to the party
• 10 reasons crypto is useful
• Why Bitcoin is important for social justice

How to get unstuck, develop habits, and change your behavior

I explain how habits work and how to change them based on the latest research in behavioral psychology.

How to add multiple new habits at once—especially for ENTPs and ENFPs

I’d always read that new habits have to be developed one at a time. That didn’t work for me because I can never pick just one. Then I discovered a technique that lets me work on multiple changes in my life at once, and without using up all my willpower.

Intro to Race in the United States for White People

This is a non-political introduction to how race works in this country (written by an ENTP): where race came from and how it factors into America today. This is not at all about political correctness, and I'm firmly against shaming people. It's my attempt to explain a complex topic to other white people with clarity and kindness.

New Year's Check-In Exercise

Each year, I like to reflect back on the previous year: What did I learn? What might I want to do differently next year? How is my life going? Over the years, I’ve gathered a variety of tools and questions for doing that, and I synthesized it all into a worksheet.

How I decided what to charge: what’s logical and ethical when you’re doing what you love?

The single biggest challenge for me since starting my private coaching practice (other than the impostor syndrome) has been deciding what to charge. In this post, I analyze all the arguments I’ve heard and figure out what makes the most ethical and logical sense for pricing my coaching services. I’ll also cover some of the most common psychological biases and pricing tactics I’ve seen used in the industry.

How to become a more empathetic communicator

I kept hearing people saying that they were “holding space” for me, but it took me months to understand what that really meant. In this post, I unpack that phrase. I’ll explain how to be truly present in a conversation, and how that will help you become a far more empathetic friend and partner.

Free your mind: Change the stories you tell yourself

Ever realize that you’ve been telling yourself a story for years that’s not actually true? These stories are at the heart of how we see ourselves in the world. They set your expectations, and they help you rationalize when things don’t go your way.

Still haven’t had COVID? Here’s why I’m still being cautious, how I’m assessing COVID safety, and how I’m dealing with feeling crazy.

This post is mostly for people who haven't had COVID. It covers: why I think caution is still very much warranted in certain situations; the most logical way I’ve seen of deciding what’s safe and what’s not; why it’s so critical to get the booster; why I think COVID safety is relevant to you if you’re into social justice or you’re a health-conscious person in general; and, some tips to deal with the social anxiety of returning to socializing.

A quick hopeful update on COVID: We might actually be nearing the end.

I’m finally seeing some very promising news about COVID. It seems like a fair chance that we might be just 1-2 months away from COVID shifting from pandemic to endemic.

You’re sick of COVID. I’m sick of COVID. Information around Omicron is still confusing and conflicting, but here’s what I’ve found after 10+ hours of research.

Summarizing what I've found after reading a lot of articles, and laying out the specific dangers of Long COVID.

COVID informational poster for skeptics and people hesitant about the vaccine

No wonder so many people are skeptical of the vaccines—it’s incredibly hard to find legitimate, science-backed information out there. So, I decided to make an informational poster with what I think are the most important points that a lot of people don’t understand.

Omicron: Making sense of all the conflicting information about the latest COVID variant

Some good news, my key takeaways about Omicron, why the booster is so important, and my advice for how to think about COVID risk right now.

How COVID risk changes once you or your friends have been vaccinated

How does risk change once you've been vaccinated? What if one person in your pod isn't vaccinated? Can you be intimate with a vaccinated person you've been dating online?

Why it’s especially important to be extra vigilant right now and why it’s safe to take the vaccine

Here we are a year into the pandemic and things are looking up—we have a vaccine, but daily life in this strange time is still hard, and the new mutated variants of the coronavirus are real cause for concern.

Risk Management: Why you should care, and how to objectively calculate risk (using tools based on epidemiology and statistics)

Why safety is important (especially in a community house), how your choices impact others, and specific advice for navigating risk objectively in a science-based way that balances freedom/autonomy with safety.

Lessons from my 7-person house during a pandemic: how to navigate feelings and create effective agreements (plus, tips on translating those lessons to the workplace)

Concrete guidance on navigating COVID-19 with your household or "bubble," and lessons for working through challenging emotions that could apply to your teams in the workplace, friend groups, and families too.

What you need to know beyond just "wear a mask, wash your hands, and keep 6ft apart"

If you're like me, at this point you're sick of COVID conversations about what's actually safe and what level of precaution makes sense. Here are some of the most science-backed steps to take to stay safe.