Granted

My Daily Insights—and My Summer Reading List

As much as I enjoy sharing ideas on social media, online posts have an ephemeral quality. For several years, people have been asking me to make my short posts accessible offline. Introducing my 2025 calendar: You can preorder it here. I don’t expect you to agree with everything I think. I don’t even agree with everything I think! I do hope it makes you t…

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Wordcount: 633

In a Job Interview, This Is How to Acknowledge Your Weaknesses

One day, a young woman named Michele Hansen spotted a job opening that piqued her interest. She wasn’t qualified—the posting was for a product manager at an investment company, and she had no experience in financial services. In that situation, the voice in your head screams for self-promotion. When you have to address your weaknesses in a cover letter o…

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Wordcount: 550

Announcing my next 4 books

Recently, a wise man encouraged me to aim higher. “What would you accomplish if you set out to 10x your productivity?” Challenge accepted. Goodbye, old pace of 4 books per decade. Hello, plan to release 4 books this year alone—without help from AI tools.

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The 8 New Idea Books to Start Spring

Reading the news is a good way to gain information about the world. Reading books is the best way to gain access to new worldviews. As I’ve read early copies of the nonfiction books launching over the next month, eight have had a lasting impact on my perspective.

Reactions: 320 ▼ 53%

Comments: 17 ▼ 84%

The 8 New Idea Books to Start Spring

Reading the news is a good way to gain information about the world. Reading books is the best way to gain access to new worldviews. As I’ve read early copies of the nonfiction books launching over the next month, eight have had a lasting impact on my perspective.

Reactions: 320 ▼ 53%

Comments: 17 ▼ 84%

Wordcount: 280

We need to talk about astrology

It brings me no joy to do this. Honestly, I’ve been avoiding it for years. But Capricorn, I can’t stay silent any longer. This is an intervention. You’re addicted to astrology. On a first date, you crave a quick fix of what’s your sign? When you get a job offer, you’re lost until you check your horoscope for guidance from Io and Europa. When a friend say…

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No, you don't owe me a favor

When I learned that a colleague was struggling with grief after losing a parent, I offered to introduce her to an excellent bereavement therapist. Several months later, my colleague sent me a beautiful note about how much she appreciated the connection. I was thrilled to hear that the therapist had been helpful. But there was one sentence at the end of …

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Beyond toxic positivity

In hard times, urging people to be positive doesn’t boost their resilience. It denies their reality. People in pain don’t need good vibes only. They need a hand to stay steady through all the vibrations. Strength doesn’t come from forced smiles. It comes from feeling supported.

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Stop serving the compliment sandwich

How do you give feedback to a CEO who’s twice your age? I was 25, a new professor called in as a last-ditch, Hail Mary effort to save a dying company. They had already fired three consultants, so why not try me? The CEO had been leading longer than I’d been alive. After several weeks of watching him in action, interviewing his senior team, and gathering …

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The 12 new idea books to launch 2024

Recently, a colleague asked an auditorium of a thousand people how many wished they read more books. Nearly every hand in the room shot up. Over the past few months, I’ve been combing through advance copies of 2024’s nonfiction releases, and I’ve picked my 12 favorites. They span mental health and well-being, connection and community, leadership and powe…

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