Just because you are embarrassed to admit that you're still living the consequences of bad decisions made 5, 10, 20 years ago shouldn't stop you from making good decisions now. If you let pride stop you, you will hate life 5, 10, and 20 years from now for the same reasons.

Uncertainty and the prospect of failure can be very scary noises in the shadows. Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.

It isn't enough to think outside the box. Thinking is passive. Get used to acting outside the box.

I gauge success in years, not weeks. The weekend box-office approach to book launches is short sighted and encourages crappy books.

Remember—boredom is the enemy, not some abstract "failure.

The brain is where most people really screw up.

A person's success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.