At his school in ancient Athens, Aristotle encouraged everyone to walk through the gardens while discussing ideas, rather than sitting quietly for lectures. Teachers and students would explore questions, challenge each other’s thinking, and build on each other’s insights. This tr … | Continue reading
The Woo Spectrum is a four-level framework to helps us understand and describe our relationship with alternative, spiritual, and metaphysical practices and philosophies. The post Where Are You on the Woo Spectrum? appeared first on Ness Labs. | Continue reading
What would your life look like if curiosity was your default mode of thinking? What kind of personal and professional growth could you unlock if any doubt became an opportunity for self-discovery? Let’s explore how you can design a year of curiosity. The post A Year of Curiosity … | Continue reading
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and live happier. Clint Jarvis is the founder of Roots, a mobile app designed to set boundaries with your phone and make time for the things you … | Continue reading
This time last year, I had just nervously hit “send” to share the first draft of the manuscript with beta-readers. The book didn’t have a cover. We didn’t even have the final title. I felt quite lost and had to apply all the principles in the book to enjoy this dance — one that h … | Continue reading
As the end of the year rolls around, it’s tempting to hit pause on everything. Between holiday preparations, end-of-year deadlines, and social commitments, the thought of adding one more task to your plate might seem overwhelming. The last thing you want to do is sit down and thi … | Continue reading
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us work smarter and live better. Ian Inseok Seo is the founder of Routinery, a mobile application that helps you design and actually stick to better routines. I … | Continue reading
In 2008, Spotify set the ambitious vision to create a legal music streaming service that could compete with piracy. Their initial strategy was clear-cut: secure licensing deals with major record labels, build a robust platform, and acquire users. But the path that led to their cu … | Continue reading
Craft is a rich text editor designed to be frictionless, whether you want to take notes, write papers, plan your day, or just get things done. In this interview, we discussed frictionless creativity, the value of well-crafted tools, the power of the Apple ecosystem, integrating A … | Continue reading
As the end of the year settles in, you might notice a distinct downshift in energy, both in yourself and the world around you. Messages flood in about “finishing strong”, yet everything feels like it’s naturally winding down. It’s not just your imagination: large-scale industry s … | Continue reading
Today marks the 250th edition of the Ness Labs newsletter. Thousands of hours, hundreds of thousands of words… When I started this project as a tiny experiment, I didn’t expect to keep going for so long. And I didn’t expect that it would change my life. In an age of video reels a … | Continue reading
From product launches to project management, I’m obsessed with checklists. And I’m not the only one. Systemic complexity means that we cannot rely on our memory alone to know what to do and when to know it. Checklists are a powerful tool allowing us to unload some of the cognitiv … | Continue reading
Have you ever been so deeply immersed in a creative activity—writing, designing, coding, or even brainstorming—that time seemed to disappear, and the world around you faded away? This state is known as being in the zone or getting in the flow. Those expressions are often used abo … | Continue reading
Back in 2018, I spent weeks learning everything about rare teas to start a new business; I studied every resource I could find, saved them in a folder, took copious notes, and then… Nothing. When it was time to take the first real step, I hesitated. The hesitation turned into pro … | Continue reading
Help your colleague fix a bug, remind the sales team to follow up with a prospect, write a detailed brief for the marketing intern, share a list of healthy recipes with your spouse, plan out a fun day for you and your friend this weekend… If your to-do list looks like this, you m … | Continue reading
Growing up, many of us are taught to fight off our fears—to be strong and confident, to cast away our doubts and insecurities. As adults, fear becomes something we feel we have to carry alone, afraid to share it because it might make us seem weak. This is especially true for busi … | Continue reading
Have you ever found yourself saying yes to something, even when deep down you knew you didn’t have the time or energy? Many of us struggle with setting boundaries. It can feel like we’re stuck on a “Yes Autopilot”, automatically agreeing to requests without fully considering the … | Continue reading
We spend a lot of time worrying. About work, money, friends, family, the future. For most people, it’s not the kind of paralyzing worry that prevents us from getting anything done. It’s more akin to background noise which we can be pretty good at ignoring. But it’s still there. I … | Continue reading
Chris Pedregal is the founder of Granola. In this interview, we talked about the added friction of traditionally-managed meetings, the benefits of AI note-taking during meetings, why bots are awkward in video calls, how we might work alongside AI in the future, and much more. The … | Continue reading
Stephen King didn’t become a bestselling author by reading about writing—he became one by writing every single day. The same applies to many successful people across various fields. They didn’t just gather information—they took deliberate action, committing to daily practice that … | Continue reading
Whether it’s racing to meet a tight deadline or dealing with difficult clients, there are many reasons why you may feel anxious at work. Considering that most of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work—whether in the office or remotely—learning how to manage workplace a … | Continue reading
Following a recent essay by Paul Graham, everyone has been talking about Founder Mode (running the business with a hands-on approach at all levels) versus Manager Mode (delegating responsibilities to direct reports). The former is motivated by a deep personal connection to the mi … | Continue reading
Sleeping is strange. We spend on average a third of our life asleep. That’s time we’re not spending working, socializing, or reproducing. Yet, sleep is necessary to our survival. While it can be tempting to spend as much time awake as possible so we can be productive, not getting … | Continue reading
We don’t realize how much time we spend writing every day: we text our friends and families, we leave comments on social media, we send emails, we create documentation, presentations, and more. Well, good news: writing is actually good for you. Let’s explore the science-based ben … | Continue reading
Venturekit is an AI-based strategic partner that helps founders explore potential paths forward and make better decisions. In this interview, we talked about how AI can help navigate uncertainty, leveraging data for strategic planning, finding business insights using technology, … | Continue reading
Have you ever had a teacher who was very smart but terrible at teaching? An expert who used so much jargon you could not follow their explanation? This is called the “curse of knowledge”, a term coined in 1989 by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber. It’ … | Continue reading
Skipping meals to save time, but finding yourself exhausted and unproductive by the afternoon. Choosing a cheaper apartment to save money, but the long commute ends up costing you time and energy. You tried to make the most sensible choice, and yet… What went wrong? It’s easy to … | Continue reading
What should you read this month? This is your July 2024 guide to discovering the most insightful, inspiring, and transformative books on mindful productivity, creative growth, holistic ambition, and developing a healthier relationship with work. The post Ness Labs Best Books of J … | Continue reading
We are inundated with an unprecedented volume of information. A recent survey by the team at Heyday found that the average person consumes four articles, more than 8,000 words and more than 200 messages daily. Yet, research suggests that we forget up to 70% of new information wit … | Continue reading
You’re about to launch a new product, but you can’t decide on the tech stack. You’ve been researching for weeks, worried that you might miss out on the perfect solution. Sounds familiar? This is FOBO – the Fear of a Better Option. It’s the lesser-known cousin of FOMO, and it migh … | Continue reading
Welcome to our June selection! This month, we explore the intriguing topics of dreams, Stoic virtues, revolutionary technologies, neuroplasticity, and ambitious creativity. You’ll learn how understanding the power of dreams can improve your daily life, the importance of justice i … | Continue reading
The idea of time travel has captivated human imagination for centuries. In H.G. Wells’ classic 1895 novel The Time Machine, the protagonist invents a device that allows him to travel through time, exploring the distant future. While we may still be far from physically traversing … | Continue reading
More than three thousand years ago, Aristotle wrote: “To feel our feelings at the right time, on the right occasion, towards the right people, for the right purpose, and in the right manner, is to feel the best amount of them, which is the mean amount—and the best amount is, of c … | Continue reading
Much has been written about the cost of absenteeism, with some calling it The Bottom-Line Killer. For entrepreneurs who don’t have a boss tracking their work hours, absenteeism may simply mean being checked out and not showing up. But there’s a hidden productivity killer we shoul … | Continue reading
Look up from your screen for a second. Where are you right now? Do you feel comfortable, curious, a bit cramped? Notice how the environment around you affects your experience. Humans constantly change their environment, and in turn, the environment changes our behaviors. Environm … | Continue reading
What should you read this month? This is your May 2024 guide to discovering the most insightful, inspiring, and transformative books on mindful productivity, creative growth, holistic ambition, and developing a healthier relationship with work. The post Ness Labs Best Books of Ma … | Continue reading
I’m lucky to live in a city where lots of stuff happens. There’s always a conference, an exhibition, a meetup. I never really struggle to find something to do. I also spend a lot of time on the Internet, so there are talks, live streams, and chats happening online. And then, of c … | Continue reading
In a world that often feels like it’s moving at breakneck speed, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of everyday stress and distractions, and forget about the simple pleasures that can brighten our days. But the key to happiness lies in the small, seemingly insignificant … | Continue reading
Moodset is an app that allows you to track, explore, and understand your mood through music. In this interview with founder Oleksandr Zhabin, we talked about the limitations with most mood tracking apps, the relationship between mood and music, implementing a useful in-app model … | Continue reading
You’re at your desk, ready to write an article. A quick mind map might help organize your thoughts, so you start scribbling in your notebook. But then, a nagging thought arises: isn’t there a better tool out there? Before you know it, you’re searching for alternatives and watchin … | Continue reading
Cansu Tastan is the co-creator and designer of Defter Notes, a tool for infinite spatial thinking. We talked about the power of bridging the gap between analog and digital, how to interact with ideas in a tangible way, how spatial computing can support neurodiversity in note-taki … | Continue reading
When I started working at Google, I was quickly introduced to the job ladder that has since become pervasive in the tech industry. Depending on your first job there, you get assigned to a particular ladder, with fixed accomplishments to demonstrate in order to climb to the next l … | Continue reading
Motivation is a fickle friend. One day, you’re bursting with energy and enthusiasm, tackling your projects with a sense of flow. The next, you find yourself stuck in a rut, struggling to muster the drive to get anything done. It’s a frustrating cycle that can leave you feeling he … | Continue reading
Ever since humans have learned to write, we have documented how special we are and how we differ from other animals. Imagination, morality, and culture are traits thought to only be found in humans. Another aspect that seems to be uniquely human is the need to keep busy. Most ani … | Continue reading
The reading paradox has fascinated scientists for a while. There are many benefits we can unlock by reading everyday to activate the reading parts of the human brain. The post The Reading Mind: Surprising Science-Based Benefits of Reading Everyday appeared first on Ness Labs. | Continue reading
Curiosity has been a driving force behind our species’ remarkable success. By pushing us to question the status quo and explore the unknown, this innate desire to learn has sparked some of our greatest achievements—and shaped the course of human history. In a world where AI is ra … | Continue reading
Beloga offers multi-source knowledge management to offer hyper-contextualized insights, streamline workflows, and make information retrieval easy. In this interview, we talked about addressing the challenges of knowledge management and transfer, cultivating an environment conduci … | Continue reading
Intentional curiosity is the ability to direct your attention towards information inside or outside of you in a deliberate way. In other words, curiosity helps us direct our limited attentional resources to the most important stimuli within our attentional field. The post Intenti … | Continue reading