Brad* is as hard a worker as anyone I know. He's not just busy, he's keenly focused on getting the right things done. And it pays off — he is the largest single revenue generator at his well-known professional services firm. A few days before … [Read more...]
Keeping Resolutions: How to Focus on What’s Important: My ABC News Interview (watch past the commercial)
Do People Really Want You to Be Honest?
My wife Eleanor and I were walking up a mountain road, enjoying a rare moment of being alone together. As we rounded a bend, we saw a friend, Nancy,* not too far ahead. When we caught up with her she suggested we walk together. I've known Nancy … [Read more...]
Your Problem Isn’t Motivation
"Peter," my friend Byron emailed me a few days ago. "I haven't been diligent about working out over the past five years and I'm trying to get back in the gym and get myself into a healthier state. I've found that on my quest for a Mind, Body, Spirit … [Read more...]
The Power of Workplace Do-It-Yourself
Plural Investments*, a hedge fund started several years ago, had a problem. They needed art on the walls of their New York City offices. It was a small problem of no strategic importance, one that could be solved quickly and effortlessly by simply … [Read more...]
New York Post names “18 Minutes” a notable career book of 2011 (Virginia Backaitis)
Drawing on his popular blog for the Harvard Business Review, Bregman lays out a strategy for blocking out distractions and getting things done. The title refers to his daily prescription for time management: five minutes of computer-free time in the … [Read more...]
18 Minutes named best business book of 2011 by NPR Commentator Dan Charnas on Marketplace
How to Get a Raise When Budgets Are Tight
My friend Dave* mentioned to me that he just received the results from a medical exam and was surprised and disappointed by his numbers. His cholesterol was high. Especially, he told me, given how he eats. "Dave," I said, "you can't be serious. … [Read more...]
When Nothing Works
I'd had tendinitis in my elbow for over a year. Even something as gentle as twisting a doorknob made me wince in pain. I went to see my brother, Bertie, who also happens to be my doctor. As Bertie examined my elbow, I reminded him of everything I … [Read more...]
Restore Yourself to Your Factory Default Settings
My wireless connection to the internet had suddenly stopped working. At first I was frustrated — I had been in the middle of browsing some books on Amazon. But I quickly took it as a blessing. I had an article to write and the Amazon browsing was a … [Read more...]
















