Author: Nathan S. Collier

A stack of books with the words learning never ends written on top. The image conveys the idea that learning is a continuous process and that there is always more to learn.

Read time: 2 mins

Ironically, the Path to Mastery lies in Being a Life-Long Student

The minute you are labeled an expert, the moment you allow that to become part of your identity, the insidious ‘Expert Trap’

An illustration of a person climbing a staircase made of blocks labeled “FAIL,” using them as steps to reach a higher platform labeled “SUCCESS” with a flag on top—symbolizing learning from failure to achieve success.

Read time: 2 mins

Falling Down Well

Falling well is the ability to absorb a setback without shattering, to fail gracefully, to catch oneself mid-fall (emotionally, mentally, practically) and

A dalmatian dog with a tennis ball in its mouth in front of an outdoor background

Read time: 2 mins

Finding Your Tennis Ball

If happiness/success is finding a goal or path that one follows with the unrestrained joy of a dog chasing a tennis ball,

A smiling woman with curly hair hugs a large red heart against a bright yellow background, eyes closed in a joyful, affectionate pose.

Read time: < 1 min

Be Careful What You Keep Close to Your Heart

If you choose to hold a grudge or a grievance or latch onto any form of resentment, spite, anger, envy, jealousy, or

hand holding red clock with stop sign and pause reflect text on grunge yellow background

Read time: 2 mins

Your Reaction Does Not Need to Be Your Response

Your 1st reaction tends to be emotional, often driven by the ‘reptilian’ brain and defensive/protective in nature. An effective response goes to

An illustration of several people standing at a crossroads with multiple paths and open doors, symbolizing choices and decision-making.

Read time: 2 mins

Your Unlived Lives

‘Your Unlived Lives’ refers to the set of choices you didn’t make—and the selves you didn’t become. Call it the unrealized self

A yellow background with several different smiling face emojis

Read time: 2 mins

My Resting face is a Smiling Face

Your resting face (aka neutral face or default face) is simply the natural, relaxed expression your face settles into when you’re not

Man walking along a winding elevated path ending in an upward arrow representing non-linear career growth and success, 3d render

Read time: 2 mins

Gradually, Then Suddenly

We humans prefer the simplicity of straight-line linear systems; we would like the world to behave in an orderly, predictable fashion. Would

Two opposite left/right arrows, one cutted from the yellow paper curved up of two sides on the yellow paper background other made as an arrow shaped hole in the background with green paper underlay

Read time: 2 mins

Opposite Me

Confirmation bias, the tendency to see what we expect and want to see, is one of the most common human mental shortcuts

A person holding a stylized iceberg graphic labeled “hard skills” above the surface and “soft skills” below, illustrating that soft skills are deeper and less visible.

Read time: 3 mins

A Curious Reluctance

I am by training an accountant and an attorney, and worked briefly as an auditor; all hardheaded professions, grounded in hard skills.

Hand drawing a heart and brain concept about the EQ emotional intelligence and IQ intelligence quotient.

Read time: 2 mins

Soft Strengths are the Hardest

I have relentlessly pursued mastery of my craft my entire life. My home library has over a thousand books, I have three