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Writing

Essays and articles.

Selected writing for TIME, Harvard Business Review, BBC Future, and Inc.

Harvard Business Review Oct 2024

How to manage — and avoid — mental fatigue

The brain doesn't give obvious signs of strain — but mental fatigue deserves workplace protections comparable to those for physical labour.

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TIME Sept 2024

The hidden gift of uncertainty in an age of technology

Why the brain works best when the future is not fully known.

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BBC Future Aug 2019

Why stress is dangerous — and how to avoid its effects

The science of chronic stress and what you can do to protect your brain and body from burnout.

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Inc. Jul 2019

This 2-minute breathing exercise can help you make better decisions, according to a new study

A brief breathing technique shifts the nervous system in ways that measurably improve judgment under pressure.

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Inc. Jun 2019

Want to motivate your team? This 1 thing matters more than money

Intrinsic motivation — when the work itself is the reward — drives performance that financial incentives can't.

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Inc. Mar 2019

Want to change somebody's mind? Use these 5 steps from a 1957 crime thriller

The persuasion framework in 12 Angry Men shows how to shift someone's position without direct confrontation.

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Inc. Jul 2018

These 3 genius lessons in deal-making just stopped a trade war

The negotiation principles that defused a high-stakes geopolitical standoff apply equally to business.

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Inc. Dec 2017

Stressed about 2018? Here's a journaling trick that will help you write out a successful future

A specific writing technique turns anticipatory anxiety into a blueprint for the year ahead.

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Inc. Oct 2017

1 creativity lesson from the Nobel Prize-winning author who wrote his novel in just 4 weeks

Kazuo Ishiguro's method for his breakthrough novel reveals how deliberately restricting focus unlocks creative output.

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Inc. Sept 2017

There's 1 extraordinary way to press mute on your high-stress office

A simple auditory technique can interrupt the stress response and reset your nervous system mid-workday.

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Inc. Aug 2017

The scientist who studied Einstein's brain learned that these 5 factors make you smarter

Marian Diamond's research on Einstein's brain points to five factors that build a more capable mind.

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Inc. Jul 2017

If you don't know why eye contact makes you uncomfortable, this is it

The neuroscience behind why sustained eye contact triggers discomfort — and what it means for leadership.

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Inc. May 2017

Smart leaders prevent burnout with 3 golden rules

Protecting sleep, daylight exposure, and exercise during periods of intense pressure keeps teams resilient.

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