Isaac Feldman

At a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island, the late Kurt Vonnegut informs his pal, the author Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch 22 over its whole history. Heller responds, “Yes, but I have something he will never have . . . E... See more

When people hesitate to give honest feedback on an idea, draft, or performance, I ask for a 0-10 score. No one ever says 10. Then I ask how I can get closer to a 10. It motivates them to start coaching me—and motivates me to be coachable. I want to learn how to close the gap.

“Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

Before you ask for readers, write the article you wish you could read.

Before you ask for the sale, create the product you wish you had.

Before you need support, be the supportive friend. Before you need love, be the loving partner.

Always give value before you ask for value.”

Scott Adams , author and creator of the Dilbert comic strip, on the price of success:

“If you want to be successful, find out what the price is and then pay it.”

British philosopher Bertrand Russell on how to grow old. (Russell wrote this at age 81 and went on to live another 16 years.)

“The best way to overcome [the fear of death]—so at least it seems to me—is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged i... See more

“Whenever you are stuck searching for the optimal plan, remember:

Getting started changes everything.”

“Qualities that lead to increasing intelligence:

1. The curiosity to experiment and explore.

2. The honesty to observe the world as it is, not as you wish it to be.

3. The humility to kill your favorite ideas when you learn something new.

4. The consistency to repeat this cycle for life.”

“The more disciplined your environment is, the less disciplined you need to be. Don't swim upstream.”