The time to look for a new job is when you don't need one. The time to switch jobs is before it feels comfortable.

I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with their writing. I mean, if you really want to make a living, go to Wall Street and trade oil futures ... We're writers. We're doing something that is inherently a generous act. We're exposing ourselves to the muse and to the things that frighten us. Why do that if you're not willing to be generous? And paradoxically, almost ironically, it turns out that the more generous you are, the more money you make. But that's secondary. For me, the privilege of being generous is why I get to do this.

In a battle between two ideas, the best one doesn't necessarily win. No, the idea that wins is the one with the most fearless heretic behind it.

Every single important thing we do is something we didn't use to be good at, and in fact, might be something we used to fear.

It might be bold to put your work into the world unadorned, but it's probably ineffective.

Ideas don't get smaller when they're shared, they get bigger.

Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.