Written By Paula Pant
I once asked my friend Monica: “What would you do for a living, if you could do anything in the world?”
I expected her to pause, but she knew the answer immediately.
“I’d open my own clothing boutique,” she said.
It was a fitting response (no pun intended). There’s a positive feedback loop between […]
By Paula Pant
We often peek inside the world of business to look for lessons about how to simplify, optimize and innovate.
But what can we learn when we examine world-class people who are hacking the system in any field — including sports, politics and music?
What can we learn when we’re radically curious about everything? And how […]
By Paula Pant
Your income, debt, spending habits and net worth aren’t merely a function of your actions. They’re a reflection of your deep-seated inner psychology around money.
Dr. Brad Klontz, a clinical psychologist and financial planner, joins me on today’s show to discuss four “money scripts” that may be harming us. These scripts include:
Money avoidance — […]
By Paula Pant
Happy holidays! I thought it would be nice to wrap up this year with a lighthearted holiday episode about the importance of keeping a positive attitude.
Will Bowen, my guest on the final episode of 2017 (wow!), started a campaign to motivate people to complain less.
He noticed that many people in his community said […]
By Paula Pant
A.J. Jacobs is the Editor-at-Large of Esquire Magazine and the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books. His three TED Talks have collectively garnered more than three million views. He describes himself as “a father of three, husband of one, and cousin to millions.”
And he’s probably your cousin. Twice removed.
AJ joins me […]
By Paula Pant
Robin Dreeke is former head of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program.
His primary role, at the time, was to thwart foreign spies and recruit American spies. That’s not an easy task.
To accomplish this, Dreeke needed to gain people’s trust — even when they had no reason to trust him.
He spent years developing […]
By Paula Pant
How can you be awesome at your job?
That’s the question that today’s guest, Pete Mockaitis, and I tackle on the latest Afford Anything podcast episode.
Pete hosts one of iTunes’ top 10 career podcasts, called — appropriately — How to Be Awesome at Your Job.
In typical nerd fashion, I launch our interview by […]
By Paula Pant
Do you enjoy spending time alone? Does your inner monologue chatter constantly? When you were a student, did you sometimes stay quiet even when you knew the correct answer?
Do you avoid confrontation? Does small talk bore you?
Have people told you that you’re “too intense” or that you “get deep quickly?”
Do you live […]
By Paula Pant
Jenny Blake used to have an enviable job.
As a Career Development manager at Google, she enjoyed the perks of a Silicon Valley life, plus the satisfaction of helping people everyday. She co-founded Google’s Career Guru Program, and helped countless Google employees find their right career “fit.”
But, ironically, Blake sensed that her own career […]
By Paula Pant
Last January, I went to a party at a trailer park that featured a huge bonfire, a few llamas, and a member of Public Enemy.
(I realize that sounds like the setup to a joke. Welcome to my life.)
While I was there, I met a former competitive chess player named Steve Gossett. Steve is […]