Color is one of the most powerful tools in product design, influencing how we perceive and interact with everyday items. Whether it's the toothpaste we choose in the morning, the phone case we carry throughout the day, or the kitchen appliances that fill our homes, color plays a key role in shaping our decisions. This is not just about aesthetics; it's about psychology.
When we see a product, we subconsciously form judgments based on its color before we even engage with its functionality.
Luck is a concept that has fascinated humans for centuries, influencing everything from gambling strategies to business decisions and even personal relationships. But is luck a genuine force at work in the universe, or is it merely an illusion created by probability and psychology? In this post, we will explore the science behind luck, the role of probability, and whether we can influence our own fortune.
The Psychology of Luck Humans have a natural tendency to seek patterns and assign meaning to random events.
We’ve all had moments when the right song seems to supercharge our focus, lift our mood, or even make tedious tasks feel more enjoyable. But can the right playlist actually make you smarter? Science suggests that music has a powerful effect on the brain—enhancing memory, boosting concentration, and even improving problem-solving skills. Whether you’re studying, working, or just trying to get into a productive mindset, music can play a significant role in shaping how well your brain functions.
Throughout history, civilizations have demonstrated astonishing technological achievements, some of which remain unexplained to this day. From precision-cut stone structures to advanced metallurgy, ancient peoples developed techniques that modern science struggles to fully replicate. These so-called "lost technologies" continue to intrigue researchers, sparking debate over how they were created and whether they have been truly lost to time. As archaeologists uncover more evidence, the mysteries deepen, revealing that ancient cultures may have possessed an understanding of engineering, material science, and even astronomy that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, modern capabilities.
Reading The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein is a gut-punch. It’s not that I didn’t know segregation was intentional, but seeing the extent to which the government actively created and enforced it—and how deeply those policies still shape our society today—is infuriating. This wasn’t about private prejudice or market forces. It was the law. It was policy. And worst of all, despite some of these laws being repealed, their effects have never been truly addressed or undone.
Few creatures have captivated human curiosity like the eel. Slippery, secretive, and seemingly otherworldly, the eel has puzzled scientists, inspired mythologies, and formed deep cultural and personal connections across generations. In The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World, Patrik Svensson explores this enigmatic fish (yes, it is a fish) through a unique blend of science, history, and memoir.
Despite centuries of study, much of the eel’s life cycle remains a mystery.
Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War offers a deeply researched and gripping narrative of the five months leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War. By focusing on the political calculations, ideological rigidity, and outright fear-mongering that drove the country toward conflict, Larson dismantles the long-standing myth that the war was fought over states’ rights rather than slavery.
Curiosity is a fundamental force in human nature, driving innovation, learning, and discovery. From childhood exploration to scientific breakthroughs, curiosity propels us to seek out new information and make sense of the world. But what is happening in our brains when we feel curious? Neuroscientists have been unraveling the mechanisms of curiosity, revealing its connections to motivation, memory, and even emotional well-being. Let's briefly explore how curiosity works at a neural level, why it is essential for our cognitive growth, and how we can cultivate it in daily life.
Have you ever paused to consider the objects that surround you? The ones we use without a second thought, like paperclips, zippers, or lightbulbs? These mundane items, while seemingly ordinary, are packed with fascinating histories and surprising facts. If you're curious, keep reading!
The Paperclip The humble paperclip is a marvel of design. This tiny metal loop has held papers together since the late 19th century, yet its simplicity belies its significance.
Life often feels like a series of interconnected mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Each situation—whether it’s a problem to solve, a decision to make, or an opportunity to explore—carries hidden layers of insight. The key to uncovering these layers? Asking the right questions. At the heart of personal growth, innovation, and meaningful connection lies curiosity, a force capable of transforming the way we navigate the world.
Why Questions Matter Questions are more than just tools for gathering information; they shape the way we think and engage with our surroundings.
I have the best of intentions with my workspace. I imagine a neat setup with only the things I need—nothing more. But let’s be honest: that’s not always how it plays out. Before I know it, I’ve got a small graveyard of coffee cups, tangled cables, and random stuff I pulled out of my backpack. If this sounds like your daily reality, keep reading.
The allure of a clean deskA clutter-free workspace can boost focus, productivity, and even your mood.
2024 was another solid year for my reading list. I read a total of 23 books and while not all of them have stuck with me, a few have. Here’s my breakdown of the four books that hit me the hardest this year—and why I think they should be on your radar too.
Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson Whoa. This one completely hit home. Extra Focus dives deep into the realities of adult ADHD, and Jesse J.
I'm not so good at most self-care things. I don't eat as healthy as I should, I need to exercise more, and meditation and therapy are foreign concepts. I have a hard time focusing on myself when I spend so much energy focusing on everything else in my life. Maybe that's my ADHD, I don't know.
I tend to try things that seem to work for a bit, then I fall out of the routine.
Hey there, leaders! Grab a seat and let's have a chat about something that's been on my mind lately: time management in leadership. It's one of those things that we often talk about but don't always really dive into. Well, today, inspired by a nugget of wisdom I picked up on the HBR IdeaCast podcast, I want to explore a quote that really struck a chord with me: "Leaders are trustees of other people's time,"
Whoa, this one really resonated with me. Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson centers on the topic of adult ADHD. I don't think there has been a single book I've read that had me nodding my head in agreement on nearly every page. Jesse gives us a better understanding of what ADHD is (trying to do everything! distracted by low value stuff! blurts out answers! etc.) and what it isn't (absolutely not a deficit of attention).
Isn't he cute?! This little guy was generated by Fooocus, which feels like a perfectly blended mashup of Stable Diffusion and Midjourney.
For those that haven't heard of any of these, they are all AI image generation tools that allow you to create images from text. Both Stable Diffusion and Midjourney can produce fascinating results in just a few seconds, but the ways they go about achieving those results is very different for users.
I run into the following scenario occasionally: there's a problem or inefficiency and I have a decent idea of where the ideal - or at least better - future state is. I can see where this thing should be. The hard part is figuring out the steps needed to get us from here to there.
My crude diagram of what we want versus what we have. The top half shows a perfectly straight diagram from here to there, which is what we want.
Michael Lewis has done it again! In his latest rollercoaster of a book, Going Infinite, he takes us on a thrilling journey through the crazy world of crypto and, boy, is it a wild ride! Let me tell you, if you thought his previous books were mind-blowing, you haven't seen anything yet.
First off, can we just talk about the timing? With the ongoing criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried making headlines, this book couldn't have come at a more perfect moment.
I was talking to my wife the other day and I think I've come up with a term that I'll start using to describe myself in a number of scenarios. I'm a curious dummy. Often, I don't know much about a particular topic. That was the case the other day. Here's the story:
We were on the way to the bookstore[1] to pick up my reserved copy of Going Infinite by Michael Lewis.
Adam Grant's "Think Again" is by far one of my favorite reads in recent memory. In this thought-provoking book, Grant doesn't just challenge our beliefs; he reshapes the very way we approach decision-making, a transformation with profound implications for large organizations and their leaders.
Grant's premise revolves around the concept of intellectual humility, the ability to recognize the limitations of one's knowledge and the willingness to reconsider preconceived notions. This concept is nothing short of revolutionary when applied to the complex world of corporate leadership.