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Short Tales of Psychology.
Bite-sized essays on the inner game of building a company.
James Dyson: Success Through Failure - And How To Stop Avoiding It
James Dyson endured 5,126 failed prototypes before the bagless vacuum worked. The real barrier for founders isn’t failure itself - it’s the quiet habit of avoiding the feeling of being wrong.
Michael J. Fox: On Fear & Authenticity - A Parkinson's Story
For seven years Michael J. Fox hid his Parkinson's diagnosis, terrified of rejection. When he finally let the mask drop, audiences embraced him - a story about fear, authenticity and the cost of hiding who we are.
Emma Stone: Anxiety as a superpower
Emma Stone calls her anxiety a superpower. Three things she does - acceptance without judgement, proactive maintenance, and recognising the benefit - reshaped her relationship with it.
Rick Rubin: On Success And How To Measure It
Legendary producer Rick Rubin doesn't measure success by sales or applause, but by the private feeling just before release - and what shifting from outcome-driven to values-driven work does to creativity.
Dave Grohl: Courage and The Magic It Creates
Asked to perform ‘Blackbird’ solo at the Oscars, Dave Grohl was terrified - until his daughter’s own courage showed him why stepping forward authentically is where the magic happens.
The Simple No: And Why It Earns You More Respect
Byron Katie reframes ‘no’ as a deeper ‘yes’ to yourself. Why saying no with integrity - no apology, no justification - earns more respect than a fearful yes.
Brian Chesky: Navigating Conflict
After 18 years building Airbnb with his co-founders, Brian Chesky’s rule is simple: winning an argument is never more important than preserving the relationship.
The Murakami Method: Making Time Your Ally
Haruki Murakami treats time as both fuel and ally - 1,600 words a day, then long stretches of distance. His method for producing quality creative work through discipline and patience.
Acceptance: The Key to Madison’s Success
Madison Keys lost the 2017 US Open final to her own nerves. In 2025 she embraced them and won her first Grand Slam. On the power of acceptance under pressure.
Finding Urgency - For the Things That Matter
Urgency comes easy under external pressure, but not for the meaningful work we avoid. How to generate it from within by shifting to values-driven motivation.
Creative Tension: Striking the Balance Between Competing and Collaborating
Metallica’s fractious St. Anger sessions reveal the pull between competing and collaborating. How to strike the balance with shared vision, honesty about fear, and psychological safety.
Chasing Mastery: Why Success Doesn’t Quiet the Need to Prove Ourselves
Even a big-wave ‘hellman’ like Nathan Florence feels he has to prove himself. Why success never fully quiets the need - social comparison, the hedonic treadmill, and what to do about it.
Dancing with Doubt
Told she had the wrong body for ballet, Misty Copeland danced anyway. A simple ‘Thanks… but’ tool for taking values-aligned action while doubt rides along.
Wilderness Rapture
Craig Foster’s oceanic encounters point to ‘Wilderness Rapture’ - the joy and clarity of connecting with nature. Why intimacy with a single tree matters more than abundance.
Winnie & Nelson: Embracing Diversity in Approach
Winnie and Nelson Mandela shared a vision but not a method - and both mattered. What their contrasting approaches teach us about embracing diversity of approach.
Stephen King: Building Perseverance
Stephen King binned the draft of Carrie; his wife fished it out. On perseverance, and why the most potent ‘why’ for pushing through is the psychological reward, not the money.
Performing with Anxiety
Performance anxiety is your friend - it primes you to perform. How to keep it out of the ‘red zone’ by working with it, ACT-style, instead of pushing it away.
Yvon Chouinard: Bridging the Gap Between Values and Behaviour
A strategist told Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard his ‘why’ was bullshit. A near-bankruptcy and a walkabout later, he closed the gap between his values and his behaviour.
The Federer Formula: Emotional Replenishment for Peak Performance
While rivals hooked up to machines, Roger Federer strolled through parks before Grand Slam nights. On compartmentalisation and refilling your emotional cup before big moments.