For the last 20+ years, I’ve been studying work, creativity, science, and the human condition. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing the best of what I’ve learned about living a life that matters. Stay tuned!

Try the Two-Minute Rule today. You’ll be surprised how much clearer your mind feels.

Next time you’re overwhelmed, start with the quick wins. Small actions create momentum.

Instead of letting small tasks pile up and drain your energy, knock them out instantly and keep your mind clear.

Why does this work?. Clearing small tasks from your mind frees up brainpower for the big things.

What’s the Two-Minute Rule?. If a task takes less than two minutes, don’t write it down. Don’t keep it in your head. Just do it immediately.

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list?. Here’s a simple trick to cut through the chaos: The Two-Minute Rule.

Bottom line:. We hire for what people can do. But we often forget to ask how they’ll do it. Personality offers a powerful—often overlooked—lens for hiring better.

So, what should we take away from this?. ✅ Don’t hire only on skills. ✅ Don’t rely on gut instinct. ✅ Use structured personality assessments—and match traits to the role. Skills matter. But personality shapes how people apply those skills.

And neuroticism (low emotional stability)?. Not great. People high in neuroticism tend to struggle with stress, criticism, and pressure. That takes a toll—on performance, health, and team morale.

What about agreeableness?. It’s great for jobs that require teamwork and collaboration. But here’s the surprise:. It’s less predictive of overall job performance than you might think. Being nice ≠ being effective.

But it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some traits matter more in specific jobs. ➡️ Extraversion helps in sales and management. ➡️ Openness benefits creative and analytical work. ➡️ Emotional stability matters for high-stress roles. Match the trait to the task.

Conscientious people are more likely to:. —Show up on time. —Meet deadlines. —Follow through. —Set long-term goals. Whether you're a data analyst or a teacher, that matters.

Which one matters most at work?. Conscientiousness. Again and again, this trait outperforms the rest when it comes to predicting job success. Why?. Because it signals reliability, goal-focus, and self-discipline.

First, a quick refresher: The Big Five personality traits. These are the five broad dimensions psychologists use to describe personality. The acronym is OCEAN. 1. Openness to Experience.2. Conscientiousness.3. Extraversion.4. Agreeableness.5. Neuroticism (emotional stability).

Hiring the right person isn’t just about skills. It’s also about personality. A massive analysis by the University of Toronto revisits the Big Five traits—and reveals which ones actually predict job success.

Ask questions rather than make statements.

Which one are you?. Introvert, extrovert… or something in between?. 👇 Drop it below.

Being an ambivert isn’t about changing your personality. It’s about adapting to the moment. That flexibility = your secret edge.

If you're an extrovert:. – Pause before speaking. – Match energy, then lead. – Ask more questions than you answer.

If you're an introvert:. – Speak up in small groups. – Prep go-to conversation openers. – Recharge, but don’t isolate.