How can I help you?
Notes from a curious mind
Thinking out loud.
On the page.
On business, technology, health and life on the road. Writing helps me understand things better. Maybe you’ll find something useful here, too.
105 articles
The big 5
The Big Five model describes personality through openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Here is a short introduction to each trait and why I find the model useful.
Business
The city of baths
I spent two months in Budapest, working from cafés, cycling around the city, enjoying the Danube views, visiting Sziget, and trying its famous thermal baths.
Travel
The coffee verdict
After my trainer suggested I might depend on caffeine, I looked into how coffee affects sleep and tried ten days without it. Here is what changed when I began drinking less.
Life
The science of sleep
Sleep supports memory, creativity, metabolic health, and resilience. After reading Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, I changed my routine and paid closer attention to how much rest I get.
LifeWhen friends get toxic
Working notes about staying close to friends while traveling and living in different cities.
Notes
The evergreen Apple
Buying an iPhone outright, using a SIM-only plan, and selling the old phone after two years has cost me less than a typical device contract. Here is the calculation I used.
Life
Only a backpack
I sold or gave away nearly everything and began traveling with one carry-on backpack. Here is how I narrowed my belongings to 62 items and what I pack.
Travel
Basic words in all languages
I like to learn a few basic words before visiting a country. This shared list collects translations for ten useful expressions, with help from native speakers.
Travel
Call me maybe
Messages let me respond when I can give someone my attention. After a small experiment with voicemail, I decided to schedule calls instead of letting unplanned calls interrupt my day.
Life
Hipster apocalypse
I spent two warm months in Berlin’s Friedrichshain neighborhood. Here is what stayed with me: cycling, informal street life, late-night shops, cash payments, clubs, and murals.
Travel
A guide to success
A personal user guide explains how you work, communicate, and build trust. I describe why I find the idea useful and how our personality questionnaire turns it into a shared guide.
Business
Using Google Maps to explore cities
When I arrive in a new city, I mark places I have visited, places I want to go, and where friends live. Those simple pins help me see the city’s shape and discover what is nearby.
Travel