I’m not going to get on your case and tell you to start using your Netflix time to do more work for your company, or even for your own “professional development goals”. I am going to tell you to use that time to do more “work” to develop the other parts of yourself that matter.
Author: James Walpole
James Walpole is a writer, startup marketer, intellectual explorer, and perpetual apprentice. He opted out of college to join the Praxis startup apprenticeship program and currently manages marketing and communications at bitcoin payment technology company BitPay. He writes daily at jameswalpole.com.
22 of the Most Important Things I’ve Learned in 22 Years
I’ve received and experienced a lot of good advice in 22 years of life. This isn’t everything, but it’s a good look at some of the lessons that have been important for me in getting to where I am today.
Coworker Friendships Are Underrated
Odds are, if your old coworkers were doing something interesting when they were working with you, they’re doing something cool now. And the same things that made them great comrades on the job will make them great comrades as you go forward in your career.
Admiration Will Make You a Better Person
There is no pettiness in admiration. There is no dishonesty in it, either. It’s a vulnerable state and an open one. As such, it’s the best possible state for creativity. And it’s one of the best possible states for a virtuous life.
If You Want To Learn the Value of a Dollar, Don’t Get a Job
You’d think that when you become an adult, taking good care of your money becomes easier. It doesn’t. And, to the contrary of what we expect, getting a job somewhere does a bad job of teaching us the value of our dollars.
Why You Need a New Year’s Resolution, Even If You’re Going to Fail
The 365 days in a year go by fast. Don’t let another New Year’s Eve party come without creating hope for the future and earning something to celebrate.
Radical Ideals Aren’t the Same as Utopian Visions
If I have one ethical ideal for how human beings should relate to each other (“politics”), it’s this – non-violence. There’s a lot more to say about ethical societies and ethical human behavior, but when it comes to politics, I’m really not much more complicated than that. My views are actually pretty mundane.
10 Ways to Use the Post-Holiday Lull for Personal Growth
Welcome to the post-holiday lull, one of the few anomalous weeks in the year when even the United States slows down for a bit. The entire continents of South America and Europe are on holiday. Everyone in the office is still out on vacation, or they’re working remotely. And you have the week off.
A Brief Economic Defense of Regifting
All gifts, like all capitalistic ventures, require some risk and leap of faith that you have found the solution to a problem for your recipient, despite all the unknown variables. It’s also true that most gifts, like most capitalistic ventures, fail to do that.
The Most Important Lesson Parents Need to Teach Children
The most important gift you can give your children is the assurance that if they tell the truth and do right, reality will respond to them favorably.