Students of law, economics, and politics lack the tools to look at their own society with any objectivity. What are they going to compare it with? They rarely, if ever, consult the vast knowledge of human behavior accumulated in anthropology, psychology, biology, or neuroscience. The short answer derived from the …

There isn’t just one accepted answer to any of this—the question of the fate of all existence is still an open one, and an area of active research in which the conclusions we draw can change drastically in response to very small tweaks in our interpretations of the …

Before we leave the subject of getting outside of yourself and putting others first, I feel that I should caution you about a potential pitfall you may face as you make this shift—the desire to change other people. When I first started out in my career, I thought that …

Stress is a commonly used term, but not without reason. The body's response to perceived stressors can change lives. For those who do not have a secure system for managing these reactions, stress can control behavior. It creates a situation where you choose the path of least resistance to deal …

If you place your hand in a bowl of lukewarm water and start heating it, you're unlikely to notice the rising temperature. Your hand adapts to the gradual change. Eventually, the water will get to a point at which it's so hot it could burn you and you will notice …

In addition to fearing la migra, the immigrant also worries about el coyote, the smuggler. The term itself has evolved over the years, and people often use it in the negative sense. Generally, the coyote belongs to the culture of the immigrant underground railroad, which has an extensive network of …

The importance of preparation, we are going to delve into strategies of preparation to negotiate, all this is highly personal and will depend on each person, however, there are general questions that we can all ask before approaching a business conversation of any kind. You can always start by asking …

Visitors to certain monasteries over the centuries would not have needed to bring their clocks. Chants and readings marked time as the monks paced through the liturgy of hours: lauds at dawn, vespers in the evening, compline before bed. The thinking behind these rituals is that they encouraged mindfulness and …

The relationship of opening sizes and lights between windows on different floors can either unify or disrupt your composition. Use window and pane sizes to create hierarchy while maintaining a sense of balance between floors. Relate each window’s opening and light proportions to the other windows and to the …

How do you feel about a certain task or a goal? For instance, do you feel confident that you can make a million dollars in the next three years? How do you feel about losing weight and trimming down to two clothing sizes in the next six months? The first …

A simple question like “What is an asset?” is hard to answer without resorting to an understanding of the asset form embedded in a range of epistemic and ontological assumptions. To an accountant or businessperson, the term asset might have a particular resonance with a balance sheet of liabilities and …

We begin in this section with the first part of the what: Consistent Meeting Rhythm. Work PreView Meetings follow a consistent rhythm. They happen on a regular schedule. If Max is unavailable because he’s traveling or with a customer, or if he goes on vacation (something we’d strongly …

Given the visual spectacle that was created at the Beijing Olympics, imagine what kind of party will be thrown for the centenary of communist rule in 2049. It will be the moment at which China can take stock of its rejuvenation at home and the immensity of its various roles …

This feeling has nothing to do with the volume of people around you. It sounds like you have a group of friends, maybe as many as twelve of them. You’re certainly not the first human being to feel less than satisfied, even in good company. We are, universally, made …

I know that it can work out. I know that your relationship can be just what you want it to be. Why? Because fate has placed this book in your hands. Maybe it was a present from a well-meaning friend. Maybe somebody said to you, ‘Look, if you want to …

Confidence consists of positive expectations for favorable outcomes. Confidence influences the willingness to invest—to commit money, time, reputation, emotional energy, or other resources—or to withhold or hedge investment. This investment, or its absence, shapes the ability to perform. In that sense, confidence lies at the heart of civilization …