If you’re going to cheat on your job, act like an adult — I never pictured myself working a side hustle. After college, I had every intention of holding hands with the rest of corporate America: Wake up at 7:30 am, keep my head down, bust my ass at the office, and give back to the economy through weekend bar tabs. Basically, close…

It’s on you to make your work suck less — Since I’ve started writing about young professionalism, I’ve been surprised by how many people have reached out wanting to talk about work. The dialogue goes something like this: “I’m overwhelmed! I thought WFH would bring some relief, but work continues to consume my life. But hey, we’re young. …

5. An unused guest bedroom in your apartment — I read Cheryl Strayed’s Wild recently. A memoir about a 26-year-old heartbroken, divorced, recovering heroin user who sought spiritual enlightenment on the Pacific Crest Trail. Like most twentysomethings braving the outdoors for the first time, she was overconfident and didn’t study how to properly pack for a 1,100-mile trek. …

Why I moved to Austin — My decision to move from Ohio, my home for 28 years, took shape exactly one year ago this week. I had just left a career that required me to live in Columbus. For how long? I’ll tell ya. Forever. I remember not sleeping well at the time. When I did…

8.) Say no without explanation — I spoke at a company meeting last week — over 100 people in the video conference. I was under no obligation to do so. Our vice president asked if someone wanted to present their elevator pitch. …

My head stays uncluttered if I avoid these things — Do you ever get emotional hangovers? The days when your mind spirals with so much nonsense that your productivity gets cut in half like an old library card. I got one the other day. I couldn’t write for shit and couldn’t focus on anything important for more than 10 minutes…

A trick I learned from running a marathon and Ted Lasso — “It’s official. We’ve reached psycho-mode.” He wasn’t wrong. It was 8 am on a rainy, windy, and freezing Saturday morning. My friend Jonathon and I were on mile 6 of a 10-mile run around Columbus. People stared at us from their cars like we were nuts. How did we get…

Use The “More Matter With Less Art” Technique — It finally happened. I burned out. I planned a monster post for today and a week’s worth of content for LinkedIn. What happened? I can’t tell you every detail of my life, but I sat down at my desk on Sunday and, I don’t know bro, I just couldn’t do…

Seriously, this guy would make Ryan Holiday puke — Try living like a productivity guru for 1-week. It’s exhausting. I should know. I’m basically the poster boy for Cal Newport and Jocko Willink. I wake up at 4:30 am each morning, exercise like someone’s chasing me, and journal till my hand cramps. The routine helps my productivity, but, I’ll…