June 16th is Adam Smith’s birthday. His namesake organisation, the Adam Smith Institute summarises his influence: “Smith’s ideas were highly influential. The great free-trade era they ushered in, and the enormous rise in wealth it created—particularly for the poor—did indeed amaze the world.” A great overview and a reminder for those tempted by populist, drawbridge […]

Another in Nicholas Bate’s series of the Basic 7s. This one is interesting. Working independently as a freelancer, portfolio worker, sovereign professional or even as an individual contributor within a large organisation, it’s easy to have lapses in confidence. Here are seven basic steps to follow: “2. Read about those who inspire you and copy their […]

Kurt’s Cultural Offering has an inspiring quote for Friday and the weekend: “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.”

Some interesting insights from Deepak Chopra, interviewed on Entrepreneur.com. I’m not a huge fan of his work, but I enjoyed the tips for productivity. Fun and joy are vital.  

I read somewhere (now lost) that the Victorian writer and critic Matthew Arnold was responsible for bringing Marcus Aurelius to a broader, modern audience. Here’s Arnold’s essay, originally published in The Victoria Magazine in 1863, and here republished by the University of Adelaide. For the impatient, the real discussion starts at paragraph 9: “[Aurelius] is perhaps […]

A timely (for the UK) post from Steven Pressfield: “Candidates for office in all lands and in every century make the same promise to the voters they hope to attract: ‘I will get you what you want and it will cost you nothing.’” But, it’s more important than simply a political health warning. That thinking […]

Two more essential sets of basics from Nicholas Bate: Simple Meditation 7 A time to be not just do. … Sit somewhere quiet. Be quiet. Creativity 7 7. … practise the skill of creativity daily. Related? Quite possibly.

Insight and a pointer from Execupundit. At the risk of spoiling the surprise, I’ll say that I hadn’t before encountered Edgar Allan Poe’s Raven. A world of cultural allusion has just opened up for me.

Sage words from Execupundit’s Michael Wade: “I find that I get more work done by slowing down…” The rest, here. Click slowly.

“Vex not thy spirit at the course of things; They heed not thy vexation.” Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180), Meditations (Book 7)