Self-Development Archives - Page 2 of 5

The very thing that terrifies you is where your treasure lies

August 15, 2017 By Stephan Spencer 1 Comment

In 2009 I had “tinnitus,” i.e. ringing in my ear. I went through a battery of tests — hearing tests, even an MRI scan. The doctors couldn’t help me. Thank God it eventually went away on its own, but it took months. It scared the hell out of me in the meantime. That same year […]

Yup, I was a Foster Child

May 15, 2016 By Stephan Spencer 1 Comment

Eddie Murphy, Cher, Willie Nelson, Ice T, Wayne Dyer, Steve Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Babe Ruth, John Lennon, and me. What did they all have in common? They were all foster kids. Bet you didn’t know that! I also bet you didn’t know Sandra Bullock adopted her 3-year-old daughter, Laila, from the foster […]

10 Useless Motivation Myths

October 21, 2015 By Stephan Spencer Leave a Comment

Motivation is often the bridge of the gap between you completing a task or deciding to put it off. However, some motivation hacks aren’t as useful in the context of finding long-term efficacy in task completion. Here’s some advice being circulated on the web that could be harming your goal more than helping it: A […]

The Convergence of Nanotech, Biotech, Infotech, Cognitive Science

January 8, 2010 By Stephan Spencer 3 Comments

Once in a while, I attend a conference that I am not speaking at. It’s a rare occasion, but it is a welcomed one when it happens because I don’t have to be “on” in my presentation mode. I can just sit back, relax and take in the sessions, network and go to the parties– […]

Got Time?

January 2, 2010 By Stephan Spencer 2 Comments

As you dream up your New Year’s Resolutions for 2010, take a moment to think about where you spend your time. You define your life by where you decide to spend your time. Here are some stats that you may find interesting: 80% of employees do not want to go to work on Monday morning. […]

Reading this book could save your life

January 24, 2009 By Stephan Spencer 3 Comments

The China Study has to be the most important book I’ve ever read. (Yes, even more than Getting Things Done, and many of you long-time readers know I’m a HUGE fan of that book!) I appreciate good science, especially good biochemistry (after all, I do have a Masters in Biochemistry), and The China Study has […]

The Christmas Gifts You Wished You Had Gotten

December 30, 2008 By Stephan Spencer 1 Comment

I love science, cool gadgets, new technologies, and lifelong learning. When it comes to being a consumer of high-tech wizardry, I’m an enthusiastic early adopter. If you are too, then hopefully you got some cool presents this holiday. If instead Santa left you a lump of coal or a knitted sweater, fear not: you can […]

Now and Then – in photos

August 8, 2008 By Stephan Spencer Leave a Comment

Ever see someone and think “Geez, that person looks totally different from how I remember him/her”? I just saw MC Hammer at the Ypulse conference last month and thought that. In fact, I didn’t even recognize him until he was introduced. Here’s a picture I snapped of him in the hallway after his session finished. […]

From FooCamp to Ypulse to BlogHer in 8 days

July 24, 2008 By Stephan Spencer 2 Comments

I went off the radar for a few weeks. Apologies for that. I have a lot going on in my life right now – not all of it good – that is taking up a lot of my time and headspace at the moment. Plus I’ve been traveling a lot. I just got back from […]

Kids are exasperating

June 30, 2008 By Stephan Spencer 2 Comments

Being a parent, sometimes the going gets rough. Particularly when you’re dealing with teenagers. Ya know what I’m talking about? Parenting experts don’t call it the White Water Rafting Years for nothing. Last week was one of those weeks from Hell. *sigh* Hopefully it isn’t anything that a little “tough love” won’t fix though. Of […]