# Don't Mind Rick
> Every week, one idea that reframes how you lead and decide. A 2-minute read from the space between knowing and doing.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [About Rick](https://www.dontmindrick.com/about-rick-mans.md) - Hello, and thanks for stopping by! The short version: I'm a catalyst for change, helping individuals and organisations navigate complex challenges. I simplify the intricate, offer fresh perspectives, and solve seemingly impossible problems with you. Keen on a virtual coffee chat? I'm always open to…
- [Do a Past Year Review instead of resolutions](https://www.dontmindrick.com/do-a-past-year-review-instead-of-resolutions-2.md) - As the new year unfolds, the allure of resolutions often beckons. But what if, this year, we pivot towards reflection, allowing our past to guide our future endeavours gently? Let’s delve into a subtle yet impactful practice: The Past Year Review (PYR). To help you out, I made a Notion Template for…
- [Frameworks](https://www.dontmindrick.com/frameworks.md) - Reusable ways of seeing a problem that keeps coming back.
- [Ghostwriter’s Zettelkasten Toolkit in Notion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/ghostwriters-zettelkasten-toolkit-in-notion-2.md) - The “Ghostwriter’s Toolkit” is a comprehensive Notion template designed to streamline the content creation, enhance note-taking efficiency, and foster continuous idea generation. It seamlessly combines a simple yet powerful content system for planning and executing newsletters with an advanced note…
- [I am my newsletter's biggest fan (and harshest critic)](https://www.dontmindrick.com/i-am-my-newsletters-biggest-fan-and-harshest-critic.md) - What three years of publishing taught me about doubt, confidence, and the real skill that matters.
- [It's just 52 publish buttons](https://www.dontmindrick.com/its-just-52-publish-buttons.md) - How to make newsletter consistency ridiculously simple by changing how you frame the challenge.
- [Make your life better with this Habit Tracker based on Notion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/make-your-life-better-with-this-habit-tracker-based-on-notion.md) - If you are a person whose habits are more like activities you do during the week instead of on fixed days (go to the gym three times a week, eat fruit 6 days a week, etc.) and you have a healthy love for databases over checkboxes on pages then this is the habit tracker in notion for you. I have use…
- [Notion Template – Set your fears](https://www.dontmindrick.com/notion-template-set-your-fears.md) - There is nothing wrong with having some fear. Sometimes, it holds you back from doing something, or even worse, anything. In contrast, the easiest way to eliminate your fears is to start working on them. Something that helped me in getting started was a method that Tim Ferriss described in this vid…
- [Notion – Templates on Life Design](https://www.dontmindrick.com/notion-templates-on-life-design.md) - All Notion Templates I made help you to design a work life that enriches every hour with purpose and satisfaction. Become more productive and more deliberate. 💡You can find all my templates on the Notion Marketplace or on Gumroad. Fear Setting Templates There is nothing wrong with having some fear…
- [52 Button Pushes: The Real Problem with Newsletter Consistency](https://www.dontmindrick.com/publish-weekly-newsletter-system.md) - Why do smart people abandon newsletters after three posts? It's not your writing—it's courage. After four years of weekly publishing, I've learned consistency isn't creativity, it's pressing publish 52 times even when you think it's not good enough.
- [Simple Newsletter OS in Notion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/simple-newsletter-os-in-notion-2.md) - Newsletters are seen as the new gold with the rapid decline of organic reach in social media. Furthermore, sending out a regular newsletter is also a great way to develop your thinking and writing skills. Besides creating and publishing a newsletter, you also need to consider how you attract new pe…
- [The Noble Excuse](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-noble-excuse.md) - A framework for recognising when a virtue is doing a different job.
- [Topics](https://www.dontmindrick.com/topics.md) - Every article on Don't Mind Rick, organized by theme. Find the topics that matter most to you.
- [You already know how to write](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-already-know-how-to-write.md) - Why brilliant people quit after three newsletters, and why writing skill isn't the bottleneck you think it is.
- [Your agent's skills don't break. They expire.](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-agents-skills-dont-break-they-expire.md) - A maintenance layer for agent skills.
- [Your newsletter dies the moment you 'find time' to write](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-newsletter-dies-the-moment-you-find-time-to-write.md) - How to stop waiting for inspiration and start systematising the ideas you're already sharing.
- [You're not a perfectionist—you're scared](https://www.dontmindrick.com/youre-not-a-perfectionist-youre-scared.md) - The uncomfortable truth about quality standards and why you can't predict what will resonate.

## Posts
- [Staying Out of It](https://www.dontmindrick.com/staying-out-of-it-2.md) - Staying out of something feels like a safe position. No argument to defend, no side to justify, no mess to clean up afterwards. You’re above the fray. But that feeling is doing significant work to obscure what’s actually happening. Silence Has a Beneficiary When you don’t intervene in a conflict, s…
- [Giving Away Knowledge Doesn't Make You Useless](https://www.dontmindrick.com/giving-away-knowledge-doesnt-make-you-useless.md) - Hoarding your methodology doesn't protect your business. Experts who publish everything become the obvious choice.
- [Inefficiencies Are Wonderful](https://www.dontmindrick.com/inefficiencies-are-wonderful.md) - Efficiency eliminates the gaps where your best ideas live. Here's what you lose when you optimise everything.
- [The Polite People Are the Problem](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-polite-people-are-the-problem.md) - Politeness looks like consideration. In organisations, it's a system for avoiding the truth.
- [The Constraint Has Moved](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-constraint-has-moved.md) - The bottleneck you've been solving isn't the bottleneck anymore.
- [Data Romanticism](https://www.dontmindrick.com/data-romanticism.md) - You treat data like it's objective truth. It isn't. Data is a story someone chose to tell.
- [Lagom Is the Good One](https://www.dontmindrick.com/lagom-is-the-good-one.md) - Not too much, not too little. The Swedish concept of lagom isn't mediocrity — it's the discipline of enough.
- [The Scar You Invented](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-scar-you-invented.md) - You're being held back by a wound that may not even exist. The story you tell about your past is shaping a future you didn't choose.
- [Correct Isn't the Same as Right](https://www.dontmindrick.com/correct-isnt-the-same-as-right.md) - You can be factually correct and completely wrong. Being right about the data doesn't make you right about the decision.
- [The Noble Excuse](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-noble-excuse-draft.md) - A framework for recognising when a virtue is doing a different job.
- [Licet Iovi Non Licet Bovi](https://www.dontmindrick.com/licet-iovi-non-licet-bovi.md) - What's allowed for one is not allowed for another. Double standards in leadership aren't a bug — they're a design choice.
- [Problems Will Find You Anyway](https://www.dontmindrick.com/problems-will-find-you-anyway.md) - You can't avoid hard problems by staying small. They find you regardless — better to choose them yourself.
- [Recognition Isn't Leadership](https://www.dontmindrick.com/recognition-isnt-leadership.md) - Praising people is not the same as developing them. Recognition feels good — leadership is harder.
- [The Rehearsal Mindset](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-rehearsal-mindset.md) - You're waiting until conditions are perfect before you begin. That's not preparation — that's avoidance.
- [Don't Let Somebody Else's Sand Put Out Your Fire](https://www.dontmindrick.com/dont-let-somebody-elses-sand-put-out-your-fire.md) - Someone else's urgency is not your emergency. Stop letting their priorities kill your momentum.
- [You're Building Backwards](https://www.dontmindrick.com/youre-building-backwards.md) - You're solving problems that don't exist yet while ignoring the ones in front of you.
- [You're Choosing the Wrong Pain](https://www.dontmindrick.com/youre-choosing-the-wrong-pain.md) - You avoid the pain of hard choices. But the pain of not choosing is always worse.
- [Not Everyone Sees What You See](https://www.dontmindrick.com/not-everyone-sees-what-you-see.md) - Clarity isn't shared just because you have it. What feels obvious to you is invisible to almost everyone else.
- [Your Silence Isn't Noble](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-silence-isnt-noble.md) - You've heard it your whole life: If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all. It sounds like restraint. Like emotional intelligence. Like the mature choice. But when was the last time you had something nice to say? If the answer is "rarely" or "never," you're not being polite—you're being a…
- [Stop Preparing for the Wrong Storm](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-preparing-for-the-wrong-storm.md) - You've spent years building for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Contingency plans. Diversified portfolios. Consultants to "navigate complexity." But the world moved on. The storm changed. Welcome to BANI: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible. VUCA described the storm. B…
- [When Heroism Becomes Another Excuse](https://www.dontmindrick.com/when-heroism-becomes-another-excuse.md) - Why are you waiting for the big moment? You know the one. The crisis that will finally demand everything from you. The situation so dire that doing the right thing becomes unavoidable. You're preparing for it—reading the books, building the skills, staying sharp for when it really matters. It's a r…
- [Stop Apologising for Using Tools](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-apologising-for-using-tools.md) - Why do you apologise when you pull out your phone to calculate a tip When did using the right tool become a sign of weakness
- [Stop Calling It "Optimisation”](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-calling-it-optimisation.md) - What makes waste elimination different from every other change initiative you've ever suffered through: there is no sting
- [Stop Being So Tolerant](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-being-so-tolerant.md) - You listen to opposing views You give people the benefit of the doubt
- [Not Everything is a Discussion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/not-everything-is-a-discussion.md) - Why are you debating what's already decided Not everything is a discussion
- [You Already Decided You Can't](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-already-decided-you-cant.md) - When was the last time you actually tested what you're capable of You walk around with this invisible fence around your life
- [You're Clinging to the Wrong Thing](https://www.dontmindrick.com/youre-clinging-to-the-wrong-thing.md) - You fear your happiness will slip away in a moment, but that your pain stays with you forever Why do you trust your suffering more than your joy...
- [Why Are You Still Collecting Things That Don't Matter?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-are-you-still-collecting-things-that-dont-matter.md) - Why do you think you need more tools when you won't use the ones you have You tell yourself you're building options
- [You Don't Need More Clarity](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-dont-need-more-clarity.md) - When did "I need more clarity" become the most sophisticated way to say "I'm scared" You know what you should do
- [Stop Running from the Rain](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-running-from-the-rain.md) - What if the thing you're avoiding is precisely what you need When difficulty shows up, the instinct is clear: move
- [The Irreplaceable Lie](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-irreplaceable-lie.md) - What if the thing you're most proud of is actually holding you back You tell yourself you're irreplaceable at work
- [You're Right. So What?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/youre-right-so-what.md) - Why do you think being correct wins arguments You show up with facts
- [Stop Planning Your Comeback](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stop-planning-your-comeback.md) - What momentum are you planning to accelerate on January 1st Because here's the thing about acceleration—it requires sustained force applied in one...
- [10 Things Christmas Taught Me About Leadership](https://www.dontmindrick.com/10-things-christmas-taught-me-about-leadership.md) - Christmas strips away the corporate veneer. What's left reveals exactly how you lead when the stakes feel low — and that tells you everything.
- [Knowing isn't the problem, Doing is](https://www.dontmindrick.com/knowing-isnt-the-problem-doing-is.md) - "Common knowledge" sounds like something everyone does It's not
- [You Don’t Need Less “Gedoe” —You Need More Discipline](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-dont-need-less-gedoe-you-need-more-discipline.md) - Ever noticed how “it’s complicated” often means “we didn’t think it through” That’s “gedoe”
- [Hate draws lines. Love dissolves them](https://www.dontmindrick.com/hate-draws-lines-love-dissolves-them.md) - When someone hates you, you see it coming It's loud, it's pointed, it makes itself known
- [Misunderstanding Is Worse Than Not Understanding](https://www.dontmindrick.com/misunderstanding-is-worse-than-not-understanding.md) - When you share an idea, you want people to understand you That’s the goal
- [You don’t need to hate where you are to want to grow](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-dont-need-to-hate-where-you-are-to-want-to-grow.md) - Why do you think wanting better has to come from a place of dissatisfaction That’s a trap
- [Bait Is Meant to Be Taken](https://www.dontmindrick.com/bait-is-meant-to-be-taken.md) - You’re not weak for falling into a trap That’s what traps are for
- [Everything Is Relative—Even Summer](https://www.dontmindrick.com/everything-is-relative-even-summer.md) - In Brazil, my friend wraps herself in blankets when it’s 15 degrees Here in the Netherlands, we celebrate that temperature like it’s a heatwave...
- [Your Mind Is Not Always on Your Side](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-mind-is-not-always-on-your-side.md) - Some mornings, your worst critic is already waiting You haven’t even touched the floor, and there it is—sitting on the edge of your bed, whispering wi...
- [Prioritise later](https://www.dontmindrick.com/prioritise-later.md) - You already know the truth You hate admitting it: everything worthwhile takes longer than you want and rewards you bigger than you expect
- [You are not their saviour](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-not-their-saviour.md) - It's tempting to step in when someone's in pain, flailing, or stuck You see the shortcut, the more straightforward way forward, and the mistake before...
- [The Productive Power of Strategic Laziness](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-productive-power-of-strategic-laziness.md) - You waste too much time doing things that don't matter And you know it
- [One Fish, Two Fish, Ten Thousand Tries](https://www.dontmindrick.com/one-fish-two-fish-ten-thousand-tries.md) - If you throw enough fish at a tree, one of them will climb it and see the world Absurd
- [Your Criticism Isn’t Feedback](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-criticism-isnt-feedback.md) - You’re not helping when all you do is point out what could be better Yes, things can improve
- [Comfortable Purgatory: Why You Settle for “Not That Bad”](https://www.dontmindrick.com/comfortable-purgatory-why-you-settle-for-not-that-bad.md) - You're not miserable But you're not thrilled either
- [Liking without approval](https://www.dontmindrick.com/liking-without-approval.md) - There’s something oddly quiet about being yourself these days Not because you don’t want to, but because you’re constantly nudged to want what everyon...
- [Reliable rebellion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/reliable-rebellion.md) - Everyone wants to be a rebel—until they realise it comes with a scoreboard You can't just break rules and expect applause
- [Simplicity Doesn’t Let You Hide](https://www.dontmindrick.com/simplicity-doesnt-let-you-hide.md) - You can get excited about something the moment it becomes complicated New tools
- [Are you a Hypocrite?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/are-you-a-hypocrite.md) - You say you care That you stand for justice, equity, sustainability—pick your cause
- [Stay in the Room](https://www.dontmindrick.com/stay-in-the-room.md) - Why do you think you're in the room in the first place This obsession with always leaving once you're the smartest—it sounds clever
- [The wisdom age gap](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-wisdom-age-gap.md) - You can’t shortcut wisdom You can have the fastest car, the loudest opinion, and the biggest wallet, but meaning doesn’t bend to urgency
- [You need dirt under your nails](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-need-dirt-under-your-nails.md) - If you want to garden, you have to bend down and touch the soil Gardening is a practice
- [A Venn Diagram with A Perfect Overlap is Just a Circle](https://www.dontmindrick.com/a-venn-diagram-with-a-perfect-overlap-is-just-a-circle.md) - A Venn diagram with a perfect overlap is not a Venn diagram anymore It’s a circle
- [Three Pathways to Fulfilment](https://www.dontmindrick.com/three-pathways-to-fulfilment.md) - Fulfilment is personal, yet profoundly universal If you’re searching for meaning, the paths forward are straightforward yet challenging: doing,...
- [Building Confidence](https://www.dontmindrick.com/building-confidence.md) - Inner confidence is cultivated through deliberate action and mindset shifts If you’ve been struggling to feel genuinely confident, it might be time to...
- [Discomfort to Action: Feel It, Debate It, Do It](https://www.dontmindrick.com/discomfort-to-action-feel-it-debate-it-do-it.md) - Discomfort isn’t your enemy It’s your internal alarm clock, a nudge that something needs attention
- [Passion is not a binary choice](https://www.dontmindrick.com/passion-is-not-a-binary-choice.md) - Passion is often framed as a binary choice: follow it or ignore it This oversimplification leaves many feeling trapped between pursuing what they love...
- [What is Productivity?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/what-is-productivity.md) - If you've ever measured productivity as the amount of work done over the hours spent, you've been playing by an outdated rulebook Productivity equatio...
- [The Bubble Test](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-bubble-test.md) - When you encounter a new idea, your mind goes through a mental gauntlet: Does this make sense to me Can I test it in the real world
- [Making sense of the unknown](https://www.dontmindrick.com/making-sense-of-the-unknown.md) - You already have the tools to make sense of the chaos around you Your experiences, attention, theories, and judgments form a system that turns complex...
- [Why Change Feels Impossible](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-change-feels-impossible.md) - Convincing someone to embrace change can feel like convincing a rock to roll uphill The challenge isn’t the lack of good reasons but hidden roadblocks...
- [Empathy: It is not about you](https://www.dontmindrick.com/empathy-it-is-not-about-you.md) - Empathy is not about feeling sorry for someone; it’s about placing their experience at the centre of the moment Consider these two responses to somebo...
- [Regret is a stubborn companion](https://www.dontmindrick.com/regret-is-a-stubborn-companion.md) - Regret is a stubborn companion, but it doesn’t have to anchor you down When you lean into reflection, you unlock pathways to move forward
- [The Four Burners Theory](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-four-burners-theory.md) - That’s the premise behind the “four burners theory,” a metaphor David Sedaris shared, one that elegantly captures the complexity of modern life...
- [The Two-Question Test That Transforms Your Team's Work](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-two-question-test-that-transforms-your-teams-work.md) - Before starting your next big project, pause for a moment and ask your team two simple but profound questions: 1 How would we know if we are wrong...
- [The Lagging Indicator of Effort](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-lagging-indicator-of-effort.md) - Success doesn't show up out of the blue Neither does inspiration, creativity, or even "writer's block
- [Mistakes Are Ice: Learn to Glide](https://www.dontmindrick.com/mistakes-are-ice-learn-to-glide.md) - Mistakes can be like ice—slippery, cold, and seemingly unforgiving When we resist them, gripping too tightly to the need for perfection, we risk falli...
- [The Weight of Grades](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-weight-of-grades.md) - Every grade you assign—whether in your head or words—does more than express an opinion It defines the limits of what’s possible in your relationship w...
- [The Truth Doesn’t Change](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-truth-doesnt-change.md) - How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg Four
- [Custodians of the Past or Stewards of the Future?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/custodians-of-the-past-or-stewards-of-the-future.md) - We anchor ourselves in the need to fulfill outdated expectations rather than daring to chart new paths Making your parents proud is a noble sentiment,...
- [Be Curious, Not Competitive](https://www.dontmindrick.com/be-curious-not-competitive.md) - When you position yourself as superior or inferior to someone, an invisible wall emerges—a barrier built of ego, insecurity, or preconceived notions, ...
- [The Hidden Cost of Hiding Mistakes](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-hidden-cost-of-hiding-mistakes.md) - Mistakes are part of the human experience, but how we deal with them shapes our growth and integrity Here's why covering up mistakes is counterproduct...
- [You Don’t Need More Time, You Need Space](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-dont-need-more-time-you-need-space.md) - You’ve been there Staring at the clock, scrambling to find just a few more minutes to solve a problem
- [Haste Slowly](https://www.dontmindrick.com/haste-slowly.md) - Deadlines loom, tasks pile up, and everybody around you seems to demand speed Better hurry up
- [A Formula for Power](https://www.dontmindrick.com/a-formula-for-power-2.md) - The power of value combined with recognition is one of leadership's most effective yet underutilized aspects
- [Risk = Responsibility − Authority](https://www.dontmindrick.com/risk-responsibility-authority.md) - You're at risk when you're tasked with reaching a goal without the authority to control what you need to succeed You're stuck when you're responsible ...
- [The 2 Most Important and Simple Money Questions](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-2-most-important-and-simple-money-questions.md) - Money often is the elephant in the room These are my favourite two questions to cut through the noise and offer clarity: 1
- [Black Box Thinking](https://www.dontmindrick.com/black-box-thinking.md) - "Experts" are everywhere They claim to have cracked the code, offering up formulas for how to succeed based on hours spent analyzing posts or combing...
- [What Are You Really Afraid Of?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/what-are-you-really-afraid-of.md) - The fear of the unknown On the surface, it is straightforward: you're scared because you don't know what's coming
- [Embracing the Polarity of Patience and Drive](https://www.dontmindrick.com/embracing-the-polarity-of-patience-and-drive.md) - "Resignation" and "ambition" are not two ends of a spectrum Resignation is often mistaken for a lack of drive, but the truth is more nuanced
- [Understanding Evil](https://www.dontmindrick.com/understanding-evil.md) - It's easy to lump everything wrong into one category when discussing evil But evil isn't a monolith
- [The Outsider Advantage](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-outsider-advantage.md) - When working on a big project, experts and key stakeholders are often deeply invested in the outcome They bring their experience, knowledge, and passi...
- [One Day at a Time—Even on Christmas](https://www.dontmindrick.com/one-day-at-a-time-even-on-christmas.md) - Many of you reading this newsletter celebrate Christmas, a holiday traditionally filled with joy, family, and rest
- [Why Smart Leaders Say No](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-smart-leaders-say-no.md) - Imagine your day as a backpack It can only carry so much weight
- [Your Hidden Impact](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-hidden-impact.md) - In your daily life, you often underestimate your power to influence others Whether it’s a smile given to a stranger or an encouraging word to a collea...
- [Happy Pain or Harmful Pain?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/happy-pain-or-harmful-pain.md) - Pain is a signal—a red flag that something is wrong, pushing you to stop, rest, or retreat But not all pain is the same
- [Do Not Take the Easy Way Out](https://www.dontmindrick.com/do-not-take-the-easy-way-out.md) - The “reorg” makes it easy to believe that sacrificing a few in your organisation can save the whole organisation
- [How to understand](https://www.dontmindrick.com/how-to-understand.md) - Proper understanding isn’t about gathering information but filtering, processing, and adapting it Mastering this requires a combination of three key...
- [Ignite Potential, Don't Become a Crutch](https://www.dontmindrick.com/ignite-potential-dont-become-a-crutch.md) - Effective leadership is not about being a crutch—something people lean on indefinitely—but about being the kindle that starts a fire within others It ...
- [Prioritise Consistency over Intensity](https://www.dontmindrick.com/prioritise-consistency-over-intensity.md) - Intensity We go all-in on new projects, pour countless hours into short bursts of effort, and chase quick wins
- [The Best of All Possible Worlds](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds.md) - The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true ” — James Branch Cabell Different perspec...
- [Making Money to Create, Not Creating to Make Money](https://www.dontmindrick.com/making-money-to-create-not-creating-to-make-money.md) - Creation is an intrinsic part of human nature, an act that taps into our deepest passions and talents Engaging in the creative process brings immense...
- [What You Think Others Think Matters More Than What They Think](https://www.dontmindrick.com/what-you-think-others-think-matters-more-than-what-they-think.md) - We all have a voice in our heads, narrating how others perceive us Surprisingly, this internal dialogue often holds more power over our actions and...
- [25 things that sound like good advice but aren't](https://www.dontmindrick.com/25-things-that-sound-like-good-advice-but-arent.md) - You often encounter advice that sounds reasonable at first glance but reveals its flaws upon deeper reflection Identifying and scrutinising these nugg...
- [You Are Your First Friend and Your Last Friend](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-your-first-friend-and-your-last-friend.md) - We form countless relationships—family, friends, colleagues, and partners While these connections are invaluable, one relationship stands above all: t...
- [Your Problems of Today Were Already Your Problems of Yesterday](https://www.dontmindrick.com/your-problems-of-today-were-already-your-problems-of-yesterday.md) - You find yourself grappling with the same issues day after day Whether it’s stress at work, relationship troubles, or personal insecurities, the probl...
- [It Is Not About How Many But About How Much](https://www.dontmindrick.com/it-is-not-about-how-many-but-about-how-much.md) - The numbers game, everybody gets sucked into it How many tasks you can complete, meetings you can attend, and milestones you can achieve
- [Why Your Brain Tricks You into Oversimplifying Reality](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-your-brain-tricks-you-into-oversimplifying-reality.md) - Our brains are remarkable organs, capable of incredible feats of logic, memory, and creativity However, they are also prone to certain cognitive biase...
- [You are not without power](https://www.dontmindrick.com/power-is-a-story.md) - Here, then Power resides where men believe it resides
- [You are not here to be liked by everyone](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-not-here-to-be-liked-by-everyone.md) - Who you are is not defined by others’ approval Your thoughts, feelings, actions, and passions are the essence of your identity
- [There is no gradation in happiness](https://www.dontmindrick.com/there-is-no-gradation-in-happiness.md) - It’s easy to believe that more is better More money, travel, and experiences surely lead to greater happiness, right
- [Underthinking](https://www.dontmindrick.com/underthinking.md) - Life presents you with countless opportunities However, many of us are held back by our self-imposed limitations
- [The Socratic Method for Filtering Modern Nonsense](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-socratic-method-for-filtering-modern-nonsense.md) - The classical Greek philosopher Socrates proposed three simple yet profound principles for sifting through the noise: Is it true Is it relevant...
- [Mediocrity is the path of least resistance, making it the most competitive.](https://www.dontmindrick.com/mediocrity-is-the-path-of-least-resistance-making-it-the-most-competitive.md) - Mediocrity often becomes the default path to success, not because people aim for it, but because it is the path of least resistance and not making cho...
- [You are your community](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-your-community.md) - The people you surround yourself with play a pivotal role The adage, “You are the average of the five people you hang out with most,” encapsulates a...
- [The cookie jar](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-cookie-jar.md) - Do you have a cookie when you’re facing a tough time Does it solve everything
- [Process over outcomes](https://www.dontmindrick.com/process-over-outcomes.md) - It’s easy to be obsessed with outcomes Whether hitting a sales target, completing a project, or achieving personal goals, the focus often lands square...
- [How to Play the Game of Life Better](https://www.dontmindrick.com/how-to-play-the-game-of-life-better.md) - If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes and the quitting time Chinese proverb This ancient wisdom app...
- [Show Up and Shine](https://www.dontmindrick.com/show-up-and-shine.md) - Woody Allen once famously quipped, “Eighty percent of success is showing up ” This simple statement underscores a fundamental truth that extends beyon...
- [The Ghosting Epidemic in the Workplace](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-ghosting-epidemic-in-the-workplace.md) - You’ve encountered individuals who promise to meet but never show up, claim they want to stay in touch but don’t, or offer help but vanish when needed...
- [Motivation, you might be wrong about it](https://www.dontmindrick.com/motivation-you-might-be-wrong-about-it.md) - Motivation is often seen as a mystical force that propels us to achieve great things However, misconceptions about motivation can hinder your progress...
- [Don't let expectations ruin your day](https://www.dontmindrick.com/dont-let-expectations-ruin-your-day.md) - Setting high expectations will allow you to achieve something great even when you don’t make it Is that the case, or are you just consuming a recipe f...
- [The Art of Comfortable Uncertainty](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-art-of-comfortable-uncertainty.md) - You always assume that the people around you know what they are doing They look so confident and do their jobs with such ease
- [Reframing Success: Focusing on Excellence Over Winning](https://www.dontmindrick.com/reframing-success-focusing-on-excellence-over-winning.md) - Aiming for excellence and merely chasing victories are not different paths to success They are vastly different paths to very different destinations...
- [The Liberating Effect of Not Knowing](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-liberating-effect-of-not-knowing.md) - When you start out in a career in the arts, you have no idea what you’re doing This is great, people who know what they’re doing know the rules, and t...
- [Routines might not be the way](https://www.dontmindrick.com/routines-might-not-be-the-way.md) - Scientists discovered that rats could be trained to press a lever for food rewards The intriguing part
- [The Misguided Mantra: Don't Just Get Started](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-misguided-mantra-dont-just-get-started.md) - “Just get started ” At first glance, this sounds motivating, pushing you to take that first step you’ve been hesitating
- [Turning Critique into Creativity](https://www.dontmindrick.com/turning-critique-into-creativity.md) - It can be tempting to only focus on identifying what is wrong when trying to solve a problem However, this narrow focus on the negatives can make it...
- [Simplification Through Ignorance and Wisdom](https://www.dontmindrick.com/simplification-through-ignorance-and-wisdom.md) - Concrete language helps people, especially novices, understand new concepts Abstraction is the luxury of the expert
- [Bluffing at work](https://www.dontmindrick.com/bluffing-at-work.md) - Bluffing in a business environment often mirrors the risks in a poker game but with higher stakes Here’s why it typically doesn’t work: 1...
- [The Power of Now in Habit Formation](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-power-of-now-in-habit-formation.md) - You could be good today But instead you choose tomorrow
- [You Are Enough](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-enough.md) - It is easy to forget a simple yet profound truth is constantly pursuing self-improvement: You are enough As you gaze into the infinite possibilities o...
- [The Paradox of Being First](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-paradox-of-being-first.md) - When the world fixates on the gold medalists, the number ones, and the champions of the moment, it’s easy to lose sight of what enduring success truly...
- [From Victim-thinking to Victor-thinking](https://www.dontmindrick.com/from-victim-thinking-to-victor-thinking.md) - In customer experience (CX) leadership, the usual rhetoric often points fingers at senior leaders when change stalls
- [The Art of permission](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-art-of-permission.md) - Have you ever noticed how asking for permission can feel like you’re a kid again, tiptoeing for a cookie before dinner Well, in the grown-up world of...
- [The Strength of Kindness in Leadership](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-strength-of-kindness-in-leadership.md) - All cruelty springs from weakness Seneca In the corridors of power and leadership, a prevalent misconception equates strength with sternness, rigidity...
- [Enjoying the Freedom Beyond Fear](https://www.dontmindrick.com/enjoying-the-freedom-beyond-fear.md) - The truth is that judgment and fear will never stop, but they don’t actually do anything There are no negative consequences for breaking the habit of...
- [Empowerment a lot more than delegation](https://www.dontmindrick.com/empowerment-a-lot-more-than-delegation.md) - Empowerment is often mistaken for mere delegation True empowerment goes beyond assigning tasks; it’s about giving people the autonomy to make decision...
- [Unlocking Excellence: The Trio of Skills, Willingness, and the Right Environment](https://www.dontmindrick.com/unlocking-excellence-the-trio-of-skills-willingness-and-the-right-environment.md) - The journey to excellence in any field is often perceived as a path defined by talent, skill acquisition and honing
- [Why I Believe Picasso's Approach to Action Over Results is the Key to Success](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-i-believe-picassos-approach-to-action-over-results-is-the-key-to-success.md) - Action is the foundational key to all success Pablo Picasso When you think about success, you might often focus on the end result
- [Embracing the Present](https://www.dontmindrick.com/embracing-the-present.md) - “Children are our future ” We’ve all heard this phrase countless times
- [The Myth of Low-Hanging Fruit](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-myth-of-low-hanging-fruit.md) - In work and productivity, the term “easy” is often thrown around carelessly It’s a word people use to describe tasks they haven’t done themselves, job...
- [The books I liked best in Q4 2023](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-books-i-liked-best-in-q4-2023.md) - As we roll into another quarter (and a whole new year ), I reflect on the pages turned and the wisdom gained, and the last quarter blended inspiration...
- [Fast-Tracking Your Dreams](https://www.dontmindrick.com/fast-tracking-your-dreams.md) - We all have dreams, goals, and skills we want to master But the journey to achieving them can often seem long and arduous
- [#2 The Power of the Mind](https://www.dontmindrick.com/2-the-power-of-the-mind.md) - This edition’s books Chatter by Ethan Kross This book is an exploration of the inner voice that guides us daily
- [What is the Barbell Strategy and How Can It Improve Your Life?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/what-is-the-barbell-strategy-and-how-can-it-improve-your-life.md) - In the world of investing, and indeed in life, balance is vital One approach that embodies this principle is the barbell strategy
- [44 for 44: A Birthday Reflection](https://www.dontmindrick.com/44-for-44-a-birthday-reflection.md) - In the spirit of turning 44, I’ve decided to share 44 things on my mind Divided into four categories, these are questions I ask myself, questions I’d ...
- [#1 Unlocking Creativity](https://www.dontmindrick.com/1-unlocking-creativity.md) - This edition’s books 1 Creativity by John Cleese Embark on an insightful journey with John Cleese as he explores the nuances of creativity...
- [The Deceptive Comfort of Procrastaplanning](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-deceptive-comfort-of-procrastaplanning.md) - Are you genuinely productive, or are you merely shuffling boxes from left to right Are you making a real impact, or are you just rearranging chairs on...
- [We're All More Willing to Help Than You Think: Here's Why](https://www.dontmindrick.com/were-all-more-willing-to-help-than-you-think-heres-why.md) - Have you ever hesitated to ask for help, fearing that you might be imposing on others If so, you’re not alone
- [Is Endless Growth the Path to Success?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/is-endless-growth-the-path-to-success.md) - In our world, growth is often seen as the ultimate measure of success Whether expanding a product line, increasing market share, or entering new marke...
- [The Unexpected Virtues of Delay](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-unexpected-virtues-of-delay.md) - Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday Don Marquis We’ve all been there
- [Offering Help: It's Not Always Helpful](https://www.dontmindrick.com/offering-help-its-not-always-helpful.md) - In a world that glorifies helping others, it’s almost sacrilegious to question its value Is offering help always beneficial
- [The Paradox of Simplicity](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-paradox-of-simplicity.md) - Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler Albert Einstein Have you ever wondered why the simplest tasks often seem to trip us u...
- [The Paradox of Intelligence](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-paradox-of-intelligence.md) - Have you ever wondered why some of the most intelligent people you know seem to find themselves in a pickle more often than not It’s a curious phenome...
- [Gain from disorder](https://www.dontmindrick.com/gain-from-disorder.md) - Wouldn’t it be nice if everything goes wrong, it still goes right for you That you become less fragile
- [The Paradox of Pace](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-paradox-of-pace.md) - In leadership and team dynamics, the concept of pace often surfaces as a critical factor It’s common to find yourself moving faster than others in you...
- [The books I liked best in Q3 2023](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-books-i-liked-best-in-q3-2023.md) - These four books are the books I enjoyed reading most during the third quarter of this year I managed to read many other good books, and you can find ...
- [Why Every Leader Can't Always Be the Good Guy](https://www.dontmindrick.com/why-every-leader-cant-always-be-the-good-guy.md) - As leaders, we often face situations that require us to make decisions that won’t be popular with everyone It’s a challenging part of the job but also...
- [The Power of Giving More](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-power-of-giving-more.md) - Life is a collection of habits that shape our existence But what if we could identify a few habits that could significantly transform our lives...
- [Sacred Hours](https://www.dontmindrick.com/sacred-hours.md) - In the quest for peak productivity, a new concept has gained momentum: Sacred Hours But what are they, and how can they supercharge your productivity...
- [Turn Shower Thoughts into Lasting Innovations](https://www.dontmindrick.com/turn-shower-thoughts-into-lasting-innovations.md) - A good idea is not of any use if you can’t find it Logan Heftely We’ve all been there
- [Inaction is also Leadership](https://www.dontmindrick.com/5-key-insights-into-the-silent-power-of-leadership.md) - In the realm of leadership, actions often speak louder than words However, the things you don’t do and actions you don’t take can resonate the most au...
- [The Little Things That Make a Big Difference](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-little-things-that-make-a-big-difference.md) - Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things Robert Brault In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives,...
- [What Does It Mean to Be a Modern 'Centaur'?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-modern-centaur.md) - The future is here, it’s just not evenly distributed William Gibson In Greek mythology, a centaur is a creature with a human’s upper body and a horse’...
- [Would You Work for Your Next Hire? Why This Question Matters](https://www.dontmindrick.com/would-you-work-for-your-next-hire-why-this-question-matters.md) - Great vision without great people is irrelevant Jim Collins When building a successful team, we often focus on skills, experience, and qualificat...
- [Master the Negotiation Game: A 4-Step Guide to the Power of Walking Away](https://www.dontmindrick.com/master-the-negotiation-game-a-4-step-guide-to-the-power-of-walking-away.md) - In negotiations, a powerful principle often gets overlooked: the ability to walk away It’s a concept that can feel counterintuitive, especially when y...
- [Embracing Space: Enhancing Life, Conversations, and Leadership](https://www.dontmindrick.com/embracing-space-enhancing-life-conversations-and-leadership.md) - In life, many things improve when there’s more space Consider, for instance, the simple pleasure of an aeroplane journey where the middle seat is...
- [When Your World Turns Upside Down](https://www.dontmindrick.com/when-your-world-turns-upside-down.md) - If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where everything seems to be going haywire, and your world feels like it’s been flipped upside down, you’...
- [Are you wasting time?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/are-you-wasting-time.md) - Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time Marthe Troly-Curtin When are you wasting time
- [The books I liked best in Q2 2023](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-books-i-liked-best-in-q2-2023.md) - These five books are the books I enjoyed reading most during the second three months of this year I managed to read many other good books, and you can...
- [Fix bad things right now](https://www.dontmindrick.com/fix-bad-things-right-now.md) - How often we look at how we can make the good even better, but we do not fix the bad immediately If the basics of an experience are not there, introdu...
- [Not getting what you need?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/not-getting-what-you-need.md) - If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers Pynchon’s Proverbs for Paranoids When we ask the wrong...
- [Happy or Meaningful](https://www.dontmindrick.com/happy-or-meaningful.md) - Finding meaning in life can have various benefits that go far beyond happiness Understanding the critical differences between happiness and meaningful...
- [90% hard work, 90% of the time](https://www.dontmindrick.com/100-hard-work-90-of-the-time.md) - Consistency is critical to achieving success in any aspect of life Whether it’s in sports, academics, or career, consistency is the foundation that...
- [Handling uncertainty](https://www.dontmindrick.com/handling-uncertainty.md) - Psychologists who study stress have identified three primary factors that make us feel awful: a lack of control, unpredictability, and the perception ...
- [Problems, situations and polarities](https://www.dontmindrick.com/problems-situations-and-polarities.md) - Problems without solutions are situations And some problems are not to be solved, but they are a relationship to be navigated
- [Standards](https://www.dontmindrick.com/standards.md) - You need to have standards for yourself to live up to Though as a leader, the standards you bring with you often become the standards of the team you ...
- [Don't improve only what can be measured](https://www.dontmindrick.com/dont-improve-only-what-can-be-measured.md) - Those who believe that what you cannot quantify does not exist also believe that what you can quantify, does Aaron Haspel Too often, people get lost i...
- [Asking for help is a skill](https://www.dontmindrick.com/asking-for-help-is-a-skill.md) - Asking for help is a valuable skill that can lead to growth and success Nobody knows everything
- [You can work harder](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-can-work-harder.md) - One of my favourite articles is The Effort Effect It is 15 years old now
- [Don't say maybe](https://www.dontmindrick.com/dont-say-maybe.md) - Don’t say ‘Maybe’ if you get asked to help, attend a meeting, or do something Be clear and either say yes and commit or say no if you don’t want to or...
- [The books I liked best in Q1 2023](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-books-i-liked-best-in-q1-2023.md) - These four books are the books I enjoyed reading most during the first three months of this year I managed to read many other good books, and you can ...
- [The Confidence Barrier](https://www.dontmindrick.com/the-confidence-barrier.md) - Too often, we assume that the obstacle to change in others is ignorance, and so we offer advice to mend that gap But what if the problem isn’t ignoran...
- [Convenience comes out of the cost of examination](https://www.dontmindrick.com/convenience-comes-out-of-the-cost-of-examination.md) - It is easy to take the convenient route, whether it is figurative or literal If you take a convenient route to your destination, you may be sacrificin...
- [Being the best in something is 2 things](https://www.dontmindrick.com/being-the-best-in-something-is-2-things.md) - If you want to be the best leader, runner, or anything, then what you want is two things You want to be a leader, AND you want to be the best...
- [Good intentions](https://www.dontmindrick.com/good-intentions.md) - There are different ways you can look at the world And, of course, how you view the world will change your perception
- [Like love and hate](https://www.dontmindrick.com/like-love-and-hate.md) - I like it; I love it; I hate it You say it daily, but what do you mean by these words
- [Reflection is the nursery of reality](https://www.dontmindrick.com/reflection-is-the-nursery-of-reality.md) - Reflection is the act of thinking deeply and critically about an experience or idea It allows you to process information, gain new insights, and evalu...
- [Accepting compliments](https://www.dontmindrick.com/accepting-compliments.md) - It can be challenging for some of us to get a compliment We might brush it off with “it is just my job”, “it is not so much”, or maybe even worse with...
- [You are that kind of person](https://www.dontmindrick.com/you-are-that-kind-of-person.md) - Wouldn’t it be nice to lose 10kgs, to be able to run a marathon sub four hours, or to get up every morning at 4 to be insanely productive For some of ...
- [Denial is a comfort zone](https://www.dontmindrick.com/denial-is-a-comfort-zone.md) - We deny ourselves a lot to stay comfortable This is not about not having that piece of pie to stay in shape
- [Overthinking or underacting?](https://www.dontmindrick.com/overthinking-or-underacting.md) - It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of overthinking and underacting But as the old saying goes, “it is easier to act your way into thinking than to thin...
- [Robots are not taking your job](https://www.dontmindrick.com/robots-are-not-taking-your-job-2.md) - Computers are useless They can only give you answers Pablo Picasso There is a common fear that robots and artificial intelligence (AI) will take over ...
- [Imagining your future](https://www.dontmindrick.com/imagining-your-future.md) - Premortem and backcasting are potent tools that help you make better decisions and achieve your goals They both help you imagine your future, one from...
- [Slow burns and heavy lifts](https://www.dontmindrick.com/slow-burns-and-heavy-lifts.md) - There are two ways to focus on your work: you approach it as a slow burn or a heavy lift Neither one is better than the other
- [Enjoy it](https://www.dontmindrick.com/enjoy-it.md) - Enjoy it when things are going well when you have met your deadlines and delivered the one thing you have been working on We often forget to enjoy...
- [Predicting the future](https://www.dontmindrick.com/predicting-the-future.md) - When making predictions, always remember that the future is uncertain No matter how much data you have or how well your models work, you can never kno...
- [Energy without direction is heat](https://www.dontmindrick.com/energy-without-direction-is-heat.md) - The less energy we waste regretting the past or worrying about the future, the more energy we will have for what’s in front of us Ryan Holiday You can...

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