Thoughts on being a better version of myself, helping people & organizations present better stories, and making the world a better place
In 2022, I lost ~20 pounds of weight, read 29 books, and moved out of my family's home. I hit some professional and financial goals, devoted time working on our non-profit organization, tried new things, and had the privilege to travel. I also found myself and lost myself - and learned that life will inevitably … Continue reading I Can Get There: 365 Days of Tiny Steps
On ne règne sur les âmes que par le calme.One leads by calm.French maxim cited by Clementine Churchill to her husband I recently read The Splendid and The Vile by Erik Larson, a masterful story-telling of the The Blitz - the nearly year-long bombing of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany during World War 2. … Continue reading Why You Need to Rest to Work Better
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel." Socrates Schools will never be the same after COVID-19. For the first time, many educational institutions have to radically rethink the process of learning from the ground up. As we struggle with possibly extended periods of physical distancing and the inequalities in … Continue reading 6 Make-or-Break Questions I Should’ve Asked Myself as a Student
I've made a very good friend in the past year or so. Through my ups and downs, he's become a companion, a mentor. I consult him when I fail. When I succeed, he gives his input to show me what could be next. He's taught me the practical value of philosophy and, now, a big … Continue reading Meditating with Marcus: Lessons from Stoicism
Ingenium mala saepe movent "Difficulty is what wakes up the genius." - Ovid I've been going to the gym for nearly 2 years now. In the first year, I stuck to relatively easy cardio routines - walking and running on the treadmill, stationary biking, the elliptical. I had a good channel to relieve stress, but … Continue reading Don’t Be Afraid of Pain
When I was barely 20, '30 Under 30' lists inspired the heck out of me. They told me, "Hey, young people out there are achieving so many great things. If they can do it, so can I!" But today, as I approach my mid-20's, '30 Under 30' lists are starting to make me feel a … Continue reading A Word of Caution on ’30 Under 30′ Lists
"Genius too does nothing but learn first how to lay bricks then how to build, and continually seek for material and continually form itself around it. Every activity of man is amazingly complicated, not only that of the genius: but none is a 'miracle'." Friedrich Nietzsche Albert Einstein, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci. We've … Continue reading A Guide to Mastery for the Average Human Being
(This was originally posted on my Facebook account and had so unexpectedly gone viral, with currently 34,000 likes, 15,000 shares and a surprising feature on Rappler. Sharing it here to spark more conversations on quality Philippine movies.) Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral was frustrating. But you HAVE to watch it and be frustrated too. Let me explain. … Continue reading Unmasking (and learning from) Heneral Goyo
Life is no joke. Whether it's work, school, or personal, certain situations and problems can seem so insurmountable that we seem powerless against them. On a particularly challenging day, charging ahead, getting things done - and even getting up from bed - can be difficult. Nowadays, the daily news, politics, and even social media can … Continue reading 15 Really Helpful Quotes in Really Difficult Situations
The Pursuit of Excellence 