Reflecting on the final moments she spent with her mother, and the weeks afterwards spent cataloging her life in objects and memories, Poet Laureate of the Ordinary Kelly Corrigan shares how important it is to attune, to behold, and to notice — even if it’s difficult or uncomfortable:

In a world of fast answers, leadership shaped by suffering is radical — and transformative.

“There are at least three very much interrelated misconceptions about trauma right now.”

“In most instances, ‘good enough’ is good enough.” A time management expert, a cognitive scientist, and a psychologist share their takes on productivity, perfectionism, and the harm of hustle culture.

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

From neuroscience to philosophy, experts reveal why compassion may be the most important human skill we have.

“The idea is that we move from a place of wanting the world to conform to what we like [towards] not needing other people to be different from who they are.”

Why the most enduring organizations stop chasing trends and start designing systems that prioritize people over processes.

When making any tough decision, the key is not to be overly exploratory or exploitative.

Why the best CEOs make their first year both a personal transition and a profound moment of institutional renewal — with this quartet of skills.

“The media is 10x more likely to describe experiences of being alone as negative, as compared to positive.” Psychologist Ethan Kross shares how reframing the idea of loneliness can help us feel more peace when we’re on our own.

To foster a collaborative and respectful work environment, Kim Scott emphasizes the importance of respecting colleagues as individuals, even if you disagree with their opinions, ultimately creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Chip Conley suggests that viewing emotions as equations can help you identify adjustable variables and constants beyond your control, making overwhelming feelings more manageable through a mathematical perspective.

Likability is essential for career success, as highlighted by Michelle Tillis Lederman, who emphasizes that it starts with self-acceptance and involves bringing your whole self to work, listening deeply, and fostering genuine connections.

High-conflict personalities, characterized by predictable behaviors, create drama in relationships, but by recognizing these patterns in ourselves and others, as suggested by lawyer and therapist Bill Eddy, we can effectively navigate these challenging situations.

Restaurateur Will Guidara emphasizes that extending hospitality to employees, alongside customers, fosters a culture of shared values and purposeful communication, ultimately enabling staff to feel valued and perform at their best.

Empathy and cooperation are essential for success, as the quality of personal and professional lives hinges on the complexity of relationships, which require effective listening, communication, and conflict management from both parties, according to Todd Davis of FranklinCovey.

Mindfulness aims to cultivate frequent moments of vivid awareness throughout the day, reconnecting us with our values and priorities, which can enhance productivity, well-being, and career success, as highlighted by Rasmus Hougaard of the Potential Project.

Politeness and pushiness are simple, but recognizing diverse communication styles—termed "relational intelligence" by Angie McArthur, CEO of Professional Thinking Partners—is challenging yet essential for reducing misunderstandings in the workplace.

Cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand illustrates that a system's tightness or looseness correlates with the threats it faces, and understanding this framework can enhance collaboration, reduce tensions, and improve organizational health.

To engage your audience effectively, psychologist Robert Cialdini suggests using "pre-suasion" to prime them with subtle cues, ensuring they are receptive to your stories and emotional appeals.

Join former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante to discover how espionage strategies and psychological insights can enhance your business and leadership skills, helping you motivate teams, safeguard secrets, and unlock your inner secret agent.

Complexity is the primary challenge organizations face today, and training in equanimity, flexibility, and clear thinking, as emphasized by Harvard psychologist Susan David, is essential to unlocking the true potential of individuals and teams.

In this expert class, executive coach Alisa Cohn shares principles and practices designed to help you overcome self-doubt and insecurity, enabling you to become a more natural leader for your team.

Positive psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar argues that while resilience is valuable, developing antifragility through the SPIRE model—focusing on Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional well-being—is even more beneficial for achieving happiness.

Engaging in "unreasonable hospitality," as defined by restaurateur Will Guidara, can be your strongest competitive advantage in sales by making customers feel valued, and it can be creatively and systematically implemented without being exhausting.

Acclaimed actor and director Jesse Eisenberg, who understands job-related anxiety, advocates for channeling these emotions toward desired outcomes, sharing methods from his diverse film industry experience to help manage fear, foster community in leadership, and pursue goals authentically.

This class, featuring insights from Michael Strahan and Ginni Rometty, emphasizes learning from failure, building resilience through relationships, and fostering a growth mindset, ultimately equipping participants with strategies to thrive amidst uncertainty and embrace personal and professional growth.

This class, led by experts like Amy Cuddy and Tony Coles, focuses on developing presence, emotional intelligence, and self-knowledge to enhance personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of self-affirmation, leadership dynamics, and creating a supportive workplace culture.

Led by experts like Angie McArthur and Ginni Rometty, this class teaches relational intelligence through lessons on empathy, conflict resolution, and self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of respectful communication and vulnerability in transforming challenging interactions into collaborative opportunities.