In front of him, lays a vast gulf. The next building is over a thousand feet away, yet somehow he is being goaded on to cross this barrier… with a leap of faith, literally. Neo, not fully self-actualized as the savior of mankind, watches in amazement as Morpheus tells him to “free his mind” and make a jump that most would call impossible. The moral of this little reference to … [Read more...]
Triumph Over Tragedy
On a lazy Friday night in Hamamatsu, a Japanese city I used to live in, I was performing my usual routine; a pit stop at a convenience store for some drinks, and then off to the video arcade before the usual bar-hopping. That night, I saw something that startled me. In front of the 7-11 is a set of red stairs that lead up to popular restaurant. Out of sight, above the stairs … [Read more...]
Bring Forth the Universe
"He who knows not why the universe exists knows not who he is... and could not say for what purpose he exists himself." Marcus Aurelius The big questions of life are old and clichéd. Not because they have been answered, but because we've stopped looking for answers. Life's mysteries have lost their mystique. Society today is mostly content knowing the how. The Big Bang … [Read more...]
How To Waste Your Money on College
The professor pulled his notes from his pocket and began speaking. He started with all of the things a student should not do: work, focus on too many extracurriculars, or take classes outside the main curriculum. He ended with a heartfelt plea to study as much as possible, focusing intensely on one's GPA and the CPA exam, excluding anything outside those narrow … [Read more...]
Open Thread: What’s the most important leadership trait?
Some debate whether leaders are born or made. We'll leave that question for another day. Today, let's debate the next best leadership angle: What do you think is the single most important quality of a leader? Honesty, vision, inspiration, competence, integrity, charisma, intelligence, decisiveness, or your choice . . . Which one is the most important? Why? … [Read more...]