Nothing New Under the Sun: 8 Historic Patterns

I have written about history on multiple occasions in the past, and now it’s time again.

Studying history is important because it gives you a broad understanding of human nature under different circumstances. And it also allows you to predict with higher certainty when people or countries are succumbing to certain historical patterns. When this happens, there is not much you can do to counteract it — a wiser decision may be to simply extract yourself from the situation and strive to avoid the folly of your peers, statesmen or countrymen.Continue Reading…

My Top 6 Takeaways from Billionaire Martin Sandquist (Future Skills Interview)

“I’m not really the entrepreneurial type but I always liked the independence of trading and also the fact that you’re always judged by just the market.”

~Martin Sandquist

Martin Sandquist is the founder of Lynx Asset Management. Lynx is one of the most successful hedge funds in Europe. They’re classified as a CTA and have 70 employees.Continue Reading…

Noble Indulgence: The Ultimate Trick for Self-Delusion

This is a Humpty Dumpty cake. It is one of the most advanced cakes out there, consisting of 13 different steps!

“If you make people perform a noble duty, it bores them. If you make them indulge themselves, it shames them, but combine the two and you’ve got them.”
~Gail WynandContinue Reading…

15 Lessons Learned from Mikael Syding

Mikael Syding as seen on TV

We had just finished a 2-hour workout and got out of the gym.

—Now I was going to pick Mikael’s brain: was he going to head a new billion-dollar hedge fund, take one of the CEO positions he had been offered, or maybe become a full-time angel investor? It was not an easy decision to make. . .Continue Reading…

The Intelligent Man’s Guide to: Consumerism (Part 4: The Confused Consumer)

The Intelligent Man's Guide to: Consumerism (Part 4: The Confused Consumer)Once upon a time, James Bond was a genuine badass.

Now, James Bond is only a symbol of manliness for the confused consumer, who doesn’t have any better role models in his life.Continue Reading…

The Intelligent Man’s Guide to: Consumerism (Part 1: PR and Advertising)

The Intelligent Man's Guide to: Consumerism (PR, Advertising, Culture)Alternative title:

How Culture Got Hijacked to Sell You a Bunch of Stuff You Don’t Need


Breakfast was invented to sell bacon.

The catchphrase used–and regurgitated by all the confused consumers–was the necessity of getting a “full and hearty breakfast” each morning.

This happened in the 1920s.

Later breakfast was reinvented to sellContinue Reading…

The Intelligent Man’s Guide to: Mainstream Media And Mass Culture

The intelligent man's guide to: mainstream media, news, and mass culture“No. . . I don’t like this! Why can’t there be any happy news? This is no fun.”

So said: (a) Britney Spears or (b) Robin Williams or (c) Nelson Mandela.

The correct answer is none of the above.

It was said by. . .Continue Reading…

How to Have Awesome Workouts [Warning: you may become addicted]

great workout

It’s 4 PM.

That means it’s time to hit the gym. I’ve been looking forward to this all day long.

I don’t need to get ready. I got ready an hour ago.

I am already wearing my gym clothes. I am prepared physically and mentally.

When I have these clothes on me, I feel like lifting heavy weights.Continue Reading…