Subtraction Often Works Better Than Addition
Removing what doesn't work often beats adding something new.
11
Decisions
Most decisions are reversible, and treating them as final is what makes them paralyzing. These advices cover deciding faster on small things, slowing down on the few that truly matter, and making peace with the fact that no choice comes with a guarantee.
What Has Lasted Long Will Probably Last Longer
Time is the most ruthless filter — what survived it has proven its worth.
12
Flip the Perspective: What Would You Tell a Friend in This Situation?
The advice you'd give a friend in your situation is probably the right advice for you.
10
Approximate First, Refine Later
A quick rough estimate often reveals more than a slow precise one.
10
Use the Outside View Before the Inside View
Check how similar projects went for others before trusting your own estimate.
23
No Plan Survives Contact with Reality — But Planning Still Matters
The value of planning is the preparation to adapt, not the plan itself.
13
Know When to Decide Fast and When to Decide Slow
Move fast on decisions you can undo and slow down on decisions you cannot.
11
Don't Optimize for Salary Alone
A career optimized only for money often costs you the growth, autonomy, and energy that make work worth doing.
13
Every «Yes» at Work Is a «No» to Something Else — Choose Deliberately
Every commitment you accept pushes something else off your plate — make those trades consciously.
10
What to Do When You Are Put on a Performance Improvement Plan
A PIP is a fork in the road — either commit fully to meeting it or use the time to prepare your exit.
8
If You Dread Sunday Evenings, the Problem Isn't Monday — It's the Job
Persistent Sunday-evening dread is a signal worth listening to — it points to something in your work life that needs to change.
7
Price Your Freelance Work Based on Value, Not Hours
Hourly billing penalizes efficiency — pricing by value rewards the quality of your solution, not the time it took.
12
Save Six Months of Expenses Before Going Full-Time Freelance
A six-month financial cushion before freelancing gives you the freedom to make good decisions instead of desperate ones.
11
Your Next Role Should Solve a Specific Career Problem
Choose your next job based on a specific career problem it solves, not just a higher salary or a shinier title.
6
Change Jobs for a Better Future, Not Just a Bad Week
Distinguish between a bad week and a genuinely bad fit before deciding to leave a job.
19
The Map Is Not the Territory
Treat your understanding of the world as a working draft, not a finished document.
16
Think from First Principles
When the usual approach fails, break the problem down to what you know for certain and reason up from there.
7
You See What You Want to See
Actively seek out evidence against your beliefs — your brain will not do it for you.
22