Freelance Gig Economy Expertise
I help you navigate in today’s gig economy by sharing the freelancing skills I’ve learned over the last 25+ years. Productivity tips, evaluating new products, learning new skills, finding clients, and billing for your hard work! You can benefit from my lengthy experience and success of working independently.
Writing with AI is like riding an e-bike
Most arguments about AI writing are stuck on whether to use it. That’s the wrong question. My e-bike has five levels of pedal assist, and they map almost exactly onto how to work with AI — from doing it all yourself to being carried. The real skill isn’t avoiding the motor or surrendering to it. It’s knowing which ride you’re on.
The Wrong Surgeon: What “A Very Particular Set of Skills” Really Means
In March 1980, one of the world’s most famous surgeons operated on the Shah of Iran. He was the wrong man for the job. The Shah’s family didn’t know it — they only knew the name. A short essay on the halo effect, why fame keeps beating fit, and what Liam Neeson has to do with it.
Why freelancers beat big firms more often than you think
Every freelancer hears it eventually. ‘You’re just one person.’ Here’s the case I made 30 years ago — and why the answer hasn’t changed.
The One-Way Door: When humans stop visiting the Moon and start being from it
What happens when humans stop visiting the Moon—and start being from it? As lunar colonies grow, children will eventually be born there whose bodies can’t survive Earth’s gravity. The Moon stops being a destination and becomes a one-way door, reshaping biology, politics, and even religion. This essay imagines those future Lunari and how they might see Earth as a distant, half-remembered origin rather than home.
Beyond Small Talk: A Digital Icebreaker Tool
Stop asking “What do you do?” and start asking things people actually want to answer. A minimalist tool for modern networking and social exploration.
I graduated from high school with a 79.1 average. Here’s how I turned out.
In high school, I was a classic underachiever with a 79.1 average. Decades later, I was inducted into my school’s Wall of Fame. What happened in between? A teacher who believed in me, a late start in college, and a lifetime of teaching myself what no syllabus ever covered. This is the long way around.
Why I’ve journaled 525,000 words (and counting)
Tech journalist Kevin Kelly once said: “The biggest lie we tell ourselves is, I don’t need to write this down because I will remember it.” He’s right. After ten years and 525,000 words of daily journaling, I’ve learned that the point isn’t remembering—it’s clearing the runway so your brain can do what it was built for.
The Right-Handed Conspiracy: Why Your Brain Picked a Side and Stuck With It
Why is 90% of the world right-handed? It wasn’t an accident. Discover how language evolution and ancient combat tactics wired your brain to pick a side.
5 networking techniques that make people actually want to talk to you again
Most networking advice teaches complex systems. This focuses on small psychological shifts that actually work—like how to move past “nice to meet you” and why asking about someone’s future creates instant connection.
Why I Start My New Year’s Resolutions on December 1st
I’ve been starting my New Year’s resolutions on December 1st for years now. Most people fail their resolutions by mid-January, but December 1st gives you 31 days to build momentum. By January 1st, I’m not starting—I’m continuing.