The benefits of flow and losing yourself in the work/play/problem are well documented. Beyond distraction the next enemy to flow I see is fear. Does the average employee feel secure enough in their job to turn off email notifications? Is there enough trust in the romantic relationship that the lady doesn't feel scared to turn … Continue reading Enemy of deep work →

You've got to get your suit dry cleaned, pay for accommodation, agonise over what to wear, wear uncomfortable shoes, make small talk, act fascinated with strangers. It can be aggravating, annoying, and frustrating. Then you hear the story of how the couple met and how much they love each other then all of a sudden … Continue reading Worth the wedding woes →

People don't need to be battered over the head with your solution to become motivated. All they need to do is hear the method that they like then they'll get excited all by themselves. There are an infinite number of ways to solve a problem, better to brainstorm a few and find one they love … Continue reading Solution force feeding →

A hidden secret of productivity has to be completing tasks when it's not urgent. That time pays off a hundred fold when the surprise random projects land on your desk on a Friday afternoon.

"I want you to clean my bathroom because I think it would be good personal development for you!" It's been dressed up with rationalisations and logic but the self interest is evident.

Weddings are funny things.You come to celebrate the happy couple but you might only see them for 30 seconds tops and spend the majority of the event with people who are not the happy couple.So your enjoyment of the day could correlate stronger with how many other guests you know rather than how close you … Continue reading Happy couple time →

Did anyone ever notice that the majority of winter coats are black? Like we are capable of other colours, the fabrics can be dyed but the majority of winter coats remain black. What is that about?

Her attempt to suppress her emotions and not draw attention to herself added to the sincerity. She desperately wanted to hide her feelings from those around her and that made it feel all the more authentic. Cries for attention are usually loud and erratic. Amplifying emotions for effect. But this felt real because she tried … Continue reading Hidden sincerity →

There is an unwritten rule on the bus. No one shall sit beside a stranger unless absolutely necessary. It is a rule that everyone on the bus obeys without uttering a word to each other. All strangers silently acting in unison. The group shall only tolerate sitting beside another traveler if every seat with a … Continue reading Bus seating arrangement →

"Well it was obvious that was going to happen really" If the clues were actually obvious there would be no economic crashes, no terrorist attacks, no surprise adultery. The hindsight bias: retrospectively linking together 'obvious' clues to create a smug individual shaming you for not seeing a 'predictable' outcome.