Agalia Tan

At critical moments in time, you can raise the aspirations of other people significantly, especially when they are relatively young, simply by suggesting they do something better or more ambitious than what they might have in mind. It costs you relatively little to do this, but the benefit to them, and to the broader world, may be enormous. This is... See more

Remember, people are often drawn to things that are done imperfectly. Whether it’s art, movies, or books, people tend to talk more about the flawed things that get stuck in their heads than they do the obvious, perfect things.

As Malcolm Gladwell says, “You want an aftertaste, and that comes from not everything being perfectly blended together.”

The paradox of human sexuality and social politics, and the tension between public performance vs. private desire is worthy of significantly more of our attention. I don’t say this lightly. Public condemnation often masks private fascination.

This data doesn’t just reveal our hypocrisy, but the intricate ways desire, itself, navigates social stigma.

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Make a list of the people in your field who enjoy unfair advantages. How can you collaborate with them?

Create a "failure resume". Document your mistakes and what you learned from them. This helps normalize failure and turn it into a powerful tool for growth. You'll read it and be reminded

Find another register of enjoyment

Life is so dull if it’s just “like” or “dislike.” Maybe the movie is riveting but you still hate it. Can you find “begrudging enjoyment?” You simply do not understand the outfit of that kid on the subway. Can you locate “would be compelling to someone who is not me”? How do you feel about the song that represents ... See more