Articles Archives

A minimalist black square with bold white serif text in the center that reads: "Know when to open yourself up. Know when to shut the hell up." The quote is evenly spaced and aligned, creating a stark contrast for visual impact.

The Art of Opening Up and Shutting the Hell Up

One of the most underrated life skills isn’t just knowing when to speak—it’s knowing when not to. This is about discernment, not dominance. Presence, not performance.

Scrabble pieces strewn about a table with the tiles for YIELD spelled out on the ledge for the player to play next.

How to Retreat Without Escaping: The Power of a Strategic Pause

One of the most underrated life skills isn’t just knowing when to speak—it’s knowing when not to. This is about discernment, not dominance. Presence, not performance.

A quiet mall corridor with a closed retail store on the left, its security gate partially down. The store interior is dimly lit and shows displays of electronics. In the distance, natural light floods the mall entrance near a store called 'Bootlegger.' The scene captures a calm moment before full opening hours.

Mall Time: When Precision Meets People

Mall time at 10:02 AM became a reflection on how power, precision, and tolerance shape the way we experience time.

A small metal anchor hanging by a rope, silhouetted against a soft, glowing sunset sky—symbolizing both steadiness and release.

The Anchors We Drop (and When to Lift Them)

There’s a phrase I’ve always liked—weigh anchor. On the surface, it sounds like adding weight, burden, heft. But it actually means the opposite. It means lifting the anchor so the ship can move. It means letting go. and the same must be said for productivity anchors. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about productivity anchors.

Mike Vardy holding a vintage night owl-themed pocket watch in his hand, symbolizing time as something to honor, not own.

Your Time is Not Thine: Rethinking “Know Thy Time”

Peter Drucker said, “Know thy time.” But what if time isn’t yours to know or control? In this piece, I explore why time isn’t something you own—but something you live with. Not a possession, but a partner.

A masked professional wrestler stands triumphantly on the top turnbuckle, raising his fist in the air under arena lights as a referee holds his leg for balance, with a cheering crowd in the background.

How to Maximize Your Minutes

Jim Ross once said, “maximize your minutes” — and that’s exactly what this post is about. Blending wrestling wisdom with real-life productivity, we explore how to seize opportunities, show up when it counts, and make your time count for something deeper.

A close-up of a desk setup featuring a candle labeled “The Writer” in the foreground, next to a motivational card with the bold heading “WE ARE ALL A PROJECT.” In the background are Green Lantern-themed sticky notes, a white 12-sided productivity die with various icons, a wooden stand, and a LEGO figure of Parallax. The overall scene evokes a creative, intentional workspace grounded in themes of focus, identity, and personal growth.

You Are Your Greatest Project: Why Process Matters More Than Perfection

You are your greatest project—and the process you follow shapes everything. From motivation found in the gym to wisdom from Dwayne Johnson and Jeff Goins, discover how to improve yourself every day with intention and clarity.

A stack of newspapers with the bold headline "WORLD NEWS ATTENTION!" emphasizing the connection between constant attention and news.

The News and Your Attention: Engaging Without Being Consumed

Noticing, Awareness, Focus, and Concentration help you manage news consumption by filtering noise and staying engaged without distraction. Learn how to apply these Spheres of Attention, as introduced in The Productivity Diet, to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

A black-and-white line drawing of a human brain with a treble clef subtly integrated, representing the link between music and cognition.

Rediscovering My Musical Memory: A Journey Through Time and Sound

Music has a unique ability to transport us through time, evoking memories and emotions with just a single song. This post explores the science behind music-evoked autobiographical memory (MEAM) and offers practical tips for creating playlists that serve as personal memory portals.