I saw this post on Facebook, and it really resonated with me. I’ve given talks over the years to students at Brown and Yale. I’ve told them: Congratulations! But, getting into a highly-selective school may be one of the worst things to happen to you. You see, there is a risk to people who
‘Curiosity and the Prisoner’
Atul Gawande is one of my favorite contemporary writers. Complications and Being Mortal are extremely thoughtful books, and I enjoy reading his New Yorker articles. A surgeon and researcher, he has a view on the world that is compelling and thought-provoking. He recently spoke at the UCLA Medical School graduation. The text is here. The
The Gratitude Tour
Yesterday, I went back to Harvard Business School for an alumni conference, which I found energizing and interesting. Going back was fun, as it made me feel young again. I have fond memories of business school: people were very nice, the professors were nearly always engaging, and many life-long friendships were formed there. I learned
More Hope
A friend holds a senior admissions position at an Old Ivy. Every year, they’re flooded with applications, and the work load sounds crushing. “It’s OK, though,” my friend said. “Reading these applications gives me hope.” The reason is that there are so many young people doing great things and, upon graduation, are unleashed onto the
Food Friday: Banh Mi Ngon
Well, it’s Friday, sunny, and we are on the verge of the Memorial Day weekend. Life is good. So, I thought I’d write about food. Yesterday, in between two board meetings, I decided to stop at a place that’s been on my foodie list for a while: Banh Mi Ngon in West Roxbury. I first
The IPO Party
I am very grateful to Todd Brennan for inviting me to a party. It was fun, and I learned much. Todd co-founded Bit9, now called Carbon Black (prior post here). To celebrate the company’s recent IPO, he invited the other founders, founding engineers and early executives to a dinner. I’ve known Todd for a while.