Writing

How I Escaped from Prison…Twice.

Escaped Prison

It felt as if my brain jumped out of my skull and started walking down the street. I stood in front of my colleague who droned on about the same political workplace pettiness as last week, but I was nowhere to be found. I didn’t care and I couldn’t fake it anymore. Then, I recognized … Read more

A Short Guide to Believing in Yourself: 5-Minute Read

Believing

In 1972, holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl delivered a powerful talk to the Toronto Youth Corps in which he offered up the most important gift we can give others: To believe in what they can be. He said it better than I could ever write it: “If we take man as he really is, we make … Read more

4 Life-Changing Lessons My Toddler Taught Me

Life Lessons Zach Mercurio

When my son was three months old, he taught me more about life in five minutes than I had learned in 32 years. I published my original post on this story here but that moment made me look at my son differently. I had the pedal to the floor trying to be the best PhD student, … Read more

3 Steps to Create a More Meaningful Workplace

“…given a choice, most people would prefer that their work reflect their calling and believe their work makes the world a better place. Those without a calling have a job where they ‘enjoy little discretion and experience minimal engagement or meaning’” – Barry Schwartz Understanding what makes work meaningful to you and the people you … Read more

How to Change the World in 5 Minutes

Change the World in 5 Minutes

What if, in five minutes, you could envision how you authentically change the world? On the surface, most people have no problem buying into the idea of the “ripple effect;” the proposition that any small act can alter the world forever. In fact, many people find the idea so emotionally satisfying that Hollywood has made hugely … Read more