Blog: Synthesizing & Simplifying Complexity

Cognitive Function 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 created by Carl Jung and the fuller complexity of the 16 types you've heard of (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.

Why this is the #1 skill you should learn as a Thinker type to make the most of your life (it’s like getting root-level access to your operating system)

Introduction to my multi-part series on mindfulness & meditation, including the 5 most common objections I've heard and my 4 top reasons I believe you should prioritize meditation.

9 steps to get the most out of meditation (whether you’re an absolute beginner or you’ve struggled to make it work for you)

Walking you through meditation from the very basics through to some more advanced techniques. This covers environment, posture, tools, techniques for staying focused, and more.

Different styles, traditions, teachers, apps, and more; plus, a 12-week learning schedule you can use, and my series takeaways

Exploring several of my favorite meditation traditions, teachers, and specific guided meditations. I also recommend my 3 favorite meditation apps, and I offer a 12-week sample learning schedule as well as a list of 13 takeaways from this series.

Hey, fellow straight white guys—here’s how to use pronouns to be a better ally (and boost your own freedom & self-knowledge at the same time)

• How you're already using pronouns, and why they're useful
• Downsides of “he” and “she”
• Upsides of “she”
• Upsides of “he”
• How learning about pronouns has informed my own journey around gender identity
• How expanding our conception of gender actually liberates all of us—even heterosexual cisgendered guys like me

Intro to Race in the United States for White People

This is a non-political deep-dive 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.

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.

No idea how to cook? Hate wasting time & having to clean up? Me too. Here’s a super-easy template for healthy, delicious meals in 15 minutes. Part 1: Breakfast / Brunch

Everything you need to need to begin, including a list of all equipment and a step-by-step guide. Whether you're an absolute beginner or someone who's slogged through recipes for years and is ready for something easier, this is for you.

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.