Brian Turchyn

My Motivation Problem

I have a problem with motivation. Well, I suppose that's not totally accurate. I really have a problem with discipline. Let me explain.

"Life-Changing" Advice

"Life-Changing" Advice

If you consume any sort of self-help content, chances are you'll hear something about a "life-changing" idea. I hate this saying.

The End Of My 30 Day Writing Challenge

The End Of My 30 Day Writing Challenge

I wanted to find different ways to challenge myself throughout this year. In July I tried to write one blog post every day. Let's look back at how that went.

High Value Purchases

High Value Purchases

I was thinking about purchases I've made recently that have turned out to be incredibly valuable for their purchase cost. I'm sure there's plenty that isn't worth it, but these two things absolutely have been.

Exercising Your Brain

Exercising Your Brain

Your brain is a muscle. Not literally, of course; it's simply an organ in your body with no muscle tissue whatsoever. Despite that, the brain does a lot of heavy lifting in our lives. From holding a conversation to taking care of the subconscious necessities of life like breathing, without

Show Up

Inertia keeps us in our current state. It's easier to do nothing and let the system run its natural course. Overcoming that inertia is the hump. Showing up is the hurdle.

Have To, or Get To

Have To, or Get To

The tasks we choose to do are not a punishment. They are a reminder of the agency we have over our lives.

The TIL Journal

The TIL Journal

Quick: what did you learn 6 days ago? Don't remember? You're not alone. Let's address that, shall we?

The Number Goes Up

The Number Goes Up

The next time you see a number somewhere, it may be worth thinking about why it's there what that number is making you think, and what that feeling is encouraging you to do.

Stress and Rest

Stress and Rest

When you're trying to get better at something, you need to expose yourself to challenges outside of what you're currently capable of. Without those challenges, you never get to elevate your skills. But how much more challenging should they be? And should you constantly challenge yourself?

Growing

What's your first thought when you run into a challenge or roadblock? Is it "This is impossible; I give up", or "I have an opportunity to grow and learn"? You always have the opportunity to learn from a situation. That challenge may be insurmountable, but that doesn't mean you can't

Who's Your Audience?

Who's Your Audience?

Every writer writes for an audience. Who is yours?

Eat The Frog

The frog needs to be eaten. Do you rip the band-aid off, or do you let it ruin the rest of your day?

The Juice-to-Squeeze Ratio

The Juice-to-Squeeze Ratio

My go-to line at work is, "what's the juice-to-squeeze on this?". Juice-to-Squeeze is shorthand for "how much value will we get out of the effort required to deliver what you're asking for?". It's used to ensure that we remain focused on what can provide us the most value, or at

Yes and No

Are you spending your time intentionally?

You've got what it takes to create

You've got what it takes to create

"You're ready. Start making stuff." – Austin Kleon

Your Second Brain

Your Second Brain

A large segment of the population works as what's known as a knowledge worker: someone whose job it is to take in vast swaths of information and create something new from it. How can you make this process easier?

Learn By Teaching

Learn By Teaching

Taking what you know and explaining it to another person is a great way to determine if you know something, or if you know of something. Did you memorize the textbook? Or do you truly understand how it all works?

Four Burners

What's your current priority in life? Work? Family? Friends? Health? Enter: the Four Burners Theory.

On writing daily

On writing daily

"Contribute a verse" – Savannah Brown

What is a win?

What does success look like to you? Is it more Twitter followers, or doing the best you can regardless of the outcome?

Three Steps for Stress

Three Steps for Stress

Recognize. Regroup. Redirect.

The Curveball

Today, something will not go as planned. When this happens, you have two options: you can run face first into that roadblock, or you can find the detour. The choice is yours.

Be a 2-Year-Old

Be a 2-Year-Old

Keep asking "why". Determine the root cause.

Bottom Line Up Front

Bottom Line Up Front

When writing something up for someone to read, an effective way of getting your point across is to bring up the point first.