There’s a powerful myth in leadership that respect comes from fear, rank, or dominance.
Jocko Willink—a retired Navy SEAL, bestselling author, and leadership consultant—completely destroys that idea. His message is simple but profound:
“If you want respect, give respect.” “Discipline equals freedom.” And most importantly: “Take ownership of everything in your world.”
So, what’s the real way to earn respect?
It isn’t barking orders. It isn’t rigid control. It’s humility, consistency, and care.
Let’s break it down.
🛡️ 1. Lead With Respect to Get Respect
Jocko emphasizes that leadership isn’t about forcing people to follow you—it’s about inspiring them to want to.
That begins by showing you respect them:
Listen when they speak.
Protect them from unnecessary chaos.
Acknowledge their strengths.
Correct them with empathy, not ego.
“Treat your soldiers as you would your beloved sons and they will follow you into the deepest valley.” – Sun Tzu
If your team feels seen, valued, and defended—they will go to war with you, and for you.
🧭 2. Praise in Public, Correct in Private
A principle Napoleon knew well.
If you embarrass someone publicly, you may win the moment but lose the person. Praise openly and often. When mistakes happen, coach behind closed doors.
Public praise builds confidence.
Private correction builds trust.
The result? A culture of respect, not resentment.
☠️ 3. Never Tolerate a Toxic Leader
“It only takes 1 toxic leader to destroy a team.”
Jocko speaks frequently about the dangers of ego-driven leaders—those who crave credit, place blame, and lead by intimidation. These leaders don’t demand respect—they choke it out of the room.
The best leaders:
Accept blame
Share victories
Develop others
Take the hit when things go wrong
Toxicity spreads fast—but so does courage and ownership. Be the leader who sets the tone.
🔥 4. Inspire Greatness Through Ownership
Jocko teaches that if you want your team to take ownership, you have to model it first.
Ownership earns respect like nothing else. It says:
“This is on me.”
“I’ve got you.”
“Let’s fix this together.”
When your team sees that you own the outcome, they’ll rise to the standard you’ve set. That’s how you inspire greatness—not by screaming, but by leading from the front.
💬 Final Thought: Respect Is a Mirror
People reflect back what you show them.
Want trust? Be trustworthy. Want ownership? Take it. Want respect? Give it freely.
Respect doesn’t come from your title. It comes from your character.
And in Jocko’s words, the greatest honor is when your team says:
Mandela learned this from his tribal elders growing up. His father, a tribal chief, would meet with other elders in a circle. Everyone would speak. His father, the leader, would listen to every person, carefully, silently—and only speak at the end.
This left a deep impression on Mandela. Why?
People want to be heard. Speaking first can make others feel dismissed or overruled before they’ve even opened their mouths.
You don’t know everything. When you listen, you gather more data. You hear ideas, fears, and perspectives that can sharpen your judgment.
You avoid anchoring the room. In psychology, “anchoring bias” is when the first opinion becomes a mental benchmark. By speaking first, leaders can accidentally shut down creativity or pressure others into agreement.
🛠️ What It Looks Like in Practice
Whether you’re leading a meeting, team project, or a family decision, here’s how to channel Mandela’s wisdom:
1. Set the tone for open sharing.
Encourage others to speak honestly. Ask questions like:
“How do you see it?” “What would you do if you were in charge?”
2. Resist the urge to interrupt or correct.
Even if you disagree. Let people finish. Stay curious, not reactive.
3. Speak last, summarize, then guide.
When you do speak, acknowledge what others have said, then share your perspective, building on their input—not just asserting authority.
🚨 Why Speaking First Can Be a Leadership Trap
It creates echo chambers.
It silences quiet but brilliant voices.
It inflates ego, not insight.
Mandela knew better. By speaking last, he created psychological safety. People felt seen. That trust gave him moral authority far beyond his title.
🧭 How This Shifts Your Leadership Style
✅ From “telling” to facilitating ✅ From being “the smartest” to being the wisest ✅ From control to empowerment
💬 Final Thought: Silence Is a Superpower
In today’s world of noise, speed, and ego, Mandela’s restraint is radical. His silence wasn’t passive—it was powerful. He knew that leadership isn’t about proving you’re right. It’s about guiding others to rise.
The strongest voice in the room is often the one that listens first and speaks last.
Try it today—in your next meeting, conversation, or challenge. Let others go first. Then speak with clarity, wisdom, and intent.
What if I told you your life could fit neatly into a grid of tiny boxes?
That’s exactly what Tim Urban did in his unforgettable post, The Tail End. He visualized life not in years, but in weeks. The result is a sobering, profound, and wildly motivating shift in perspective.
Let’s unpack this, and see how it can inspire us to live on purpose—especially when it comes to our time, career, and relationships
The first image above shows 90 years of life—represented as 4,680 small squares, one for each week. Every row is a decade. You probably already feel it: that grid isn’t as big as we think.
➡️ If you’re 30, you’ve already colored in 1,560 weeks. ➡️ At 50, you’ve used 2,600 of your weeks. ➡️ Reach 90, and you’re looking at just 4,680 total.
When you see life like this, it’s hard to ignore the fact: our time is terrifyingly finite.
🏫 The Typical Life: School, Career, Retirement
The second image zooms in deeper: every box is one week of a typical American life, from birth to death.
What’s striking isn’t just how short life is—it’s how few “peak” weeks we have for certain things:
🧒 You’ll spend only ~400 weeks with your parents after you move out.
💼 Your career may last 2,000 weeks, if you’re lucky and strategic.
💍 Most couples who divorce will part ways 1,000 weeks after meeting.
🏖️ Retirement? That might be your final 500-1,000 weeks—if you make it there healthy.
🔄 The Wake-Up Call: We’re in the Tail End
Tim Urban calls the time remaining with our parents, friends, kids, even our passions, “The Tail End.”
If you’re in your 30s or 40s, you may have already had 90% of your in-person time with your parents. If you have a best friend who lives far away? You may only see them a few more dozen times in your life. It’s not to depress—it’s to wake us up.
🧭 So What Now? Three Big Takeaways:
1. Time is Not Renewable. Spend It on What Matters.
Scrolls, meetings, procrastination—all invisible thieves. Start seeing time as a limited currency.
✅ Ask: Would I spend this hour differently if I could only do this 20 more times in my life?
2. Plan Your Life with Intention.
Use tools like:
📅 Yearly and weekly whiteboards
🧠 Life planning tools (OneNote, Notion, calendars)
💭 Monthly reflection moments
Don’t drift. Design.
3. Value Quality Time Over Quantity
The number of in-person interactions you have with key people is finite. Make each one richer.
❤️ Call your parents. 🌇 Go on that sunset walk with your kid. 🥂 Plan that reunion with your old friend.
🧩 Final Word: Time is All We’ve Got
When you look at life in years, you might feel like you have time. But when you look at life in weeks—it becomes clear: you’re already in the tail end of some of life’s most precious things.
Don’t wait for the “right time.” Use the tail end as fuel, not fear.
Live deliberately. Plan wisely. Love deeply. Start today.
In his book Chase, Chance, & Creativity, neurologist Dr. James Austin breaks down luck into four distinct categories—revealing that not all “luck” is simply random chance. In fact, much of it can be cultivated.
Let’s explore these four types of luck and how you can tap into each one:
1. Blind Luck (Pure Chance)
This is the kind of luck that strikes randomly. You win a raffle you didn’t expect to win, a stranger gives you a compliment, or you find a $20 bill on the ground.
You can’t plan for it, and you can’t work for it. But you can be grateful for it—and understand it’s only one small piece of a bigger picture.
2. Luck from Motion (Chance Through Hustle)
This is the luck you create by being active, constantly in motion—networking, starting projects, experimenting, or simply putting yourself out there.
The more you show up, the more you increase your surface area for good things to happen.
💡 “Fortune favors the bold.” — This is what that really means.
3. Luck from Awareness (Chance Through Insight)
This is the kind of luck that arises when you’re paying attention. You notice patterns others ignore. You read the fine print. You spot opportunity where others see chaos.
This form of luck rewards the curious, observant, and informed.
4. Luck from Uniqueness (Chance Through Distinctive Work)
When you become truly excellent or unique in your niche—when your knowledge, skillset, or way of thinking is rare—you attract luck that’s only possible for you.
People seek you out. Problems find their solutions through you. Luck seems “tailor-made” because of the personal brand, experience, and value you’ve cultivated over time.
So How Can You Create More Luck?
Start moving. Be curious. Pay attention. And do hard things that make you rare.
Luck isn’t just fate. It’s often a byproduct of preparation, persistence, and perspective.
Now ask yourself: What kind of luck are you working on today?
In chess, the masters don’t just think about their next move—they anticipate the next five. In business and career growth, the same strategic foresight applies. Patrick Bet-David’s Your Next Five Moves isn’t just a book—it’s a blueprint for anyone serious about taking ownership of their future.
Whether you’re launching a startup, climbing the corporate ladder, or pivoting your profession, Bet-David’s framework encourages a deeper level of self-awareness, vision, and execution. Here’s how his five-move philosophy can reshape your career path and power your planning.
Move #1: Know Yourself
“If you don’t know who you are, you can’t know what you want.”
Career success starts with radical self-awareness. What drives you? Are you motivated by security or impact, legacy or freedom? Knowing your personality, values, and desires allows you to make decisions that align with your core identity—not someone else’s definition of success.
🔑 Career Insight: Take time to audit your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and patterns. Ask: “What kind of work makes me lose track of time?” Build your plan around that.
Move #2: Clarify Your Vision
“Clarity is power.”
Do you want to become a CEO, a renowned designer, or the go-to expert in your field? Bet-David emphasizes that without a vivid end goal, your efforts can scatter. Once you define where you want to go, you can start reverse-engineering the path.
🔑 Career Insight: Create a 3-year and 5-year vision board. Think titles, skills, projects, income, and lifestyle. Then map out the milestones you need to hit along the way.
Move #3: Strategize Like a Grandmaster
“It’s not just about hustling. It’s about thinking clearly and anticipating.”
Once you know yourself and your destination, it’s time to architect your next five moves. This means thinking long-term, making calculated risks, and understanding the consequences of today’s choices.
🔑 Career Insight: Think through your next promotion, certification, network connection, or market shift. What sequence of steps gets you to that next level?
Move #4: Build the Right Team
“Your circle will either multiply your ambition or sabotage it.”
Career planning isn’t solo. Whether you’re a freelancer or a corporate player, the people around you shape your growth. Surround yourself with mentors, allies, and teammates who challenge and sharpen you.
🔑 Career Insight: Audit your network. Who’s helping you evolve? Who’s holding you back? Start making intentional connections that align with your future.
Move #5: Master the Art of Power and Scale
“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”
At the advanced levels of your career, the game changes. You’re not just executing tasks—you’re building systems, leading people, and navigating complex dynamics. Power and scale come from leverage: delegation, influence, and scalable models.
🔑 Career Insight: What can you delegate today? What systems can you build so your efforts compound over time?
🧠 Planning Ahead: Career as Strategy, Not Serendipity
The core of Your Next Five Moves is that success isn’t an accident—it’s engineered through clarity, strategy, and focus.
📌 Use this framework in your career planning:
Quarterly check-ins with your personal vision.
Annual goal setting based on skill-building and positioning.
Weekly planning sessions to align tasks with long-term strategy.
Daily execution with intent—every hour matters.
🔄 Final Thought:
If you’re feeling stuck or drifting, stop reacting and start playing the long game. Your future isn’t a mystery—it’s a set of deliberate moves. Master your first move today, and your fifth move will take care of itself.
Our minds are prone to cognitive biases—psychological traps that subtly influence our decisions. Recognizing these biases can help us make better choices and avoid common pitfalls. Here are 38 psychological traps you should be aware of, along with practical examples and strategies to counteract them.
1. Ostrich Effect
Ignoring negative information because it makes you anxious. Example: A person avoids checking their bank balance because they fear bad news. Solution: Face uncomfortable facts head-on; information empowers better decision-making.
2. Inability to Close Doors
Fear of missing out leads you to continue something despite losses. Example: A trader keeps holding onto a losing stock, fearing they might miss a rebound. Solution: Focus on one thing and accept that every choice has trade-offs.
3. Contrast Effect
Overvaluing something because it is compared to something worse. Example: A car salesman shows you an overpriced model first so that the next option looks like a bargain. Solution: Evaluate things independently, without relative comparisons.
4. Chauffeur Knowledge
Trusting someone who sounds smart but lacks true wisdom. Example: Following financial advice from a social media influencer who repeats expert opinions without understanding them. Solution: Ask deeper questions to reveal genuine understanding.
5. IKEA Effect
Overvaluing something just because you created it. Example: A startup founder overvalues their failing product because they built it. Solution: Seek external feedback to ensure objective evaluation.
6. Curse of Specificity
Giving too much weight to irrelevant details. Example: Choosing a job based on a single perk rather than overall benefits. Solution: Focus on the big picture rather than unnecessary specifics.
7. Spotlight Effect
Believing others notice you more than they actually do. Example: Feeling embarrassed about a small stain on your shirt, assuming everyone notices it. Solution: Realize that people are generally more focused on themselves.
8. Halo Effect
Allowing a good impression in one area to influence judgments in others. Example: Assuming a friendly coworker is also highly competent. Solution: Separate different aspects when evaluating a person or situation.
9. Reciprocity
Feeling obligated to return favors even when unnecessary. Example: Feeling pressured to buy something after receiving a free sample. Solution: Act out of genuine intent, not just obligation.
10. Self-Serving Bias
Attributing success to oneself but blaming failure on external factors. Example: A student credits themselves for good grades but blames a teacher for poor ones. Solution: Take responsibility for both success and failure.
11. Diderot Effect
One purchase leading to a spiral of unnecessary spending. Example: Buying an expensive suit, then feeling the need to purchase matching shoes and accessories. Solution: Be mindful of cascading consumption.
12. Anchoring Effect
Giving disproportionate weight to the first piece of information received. Example: Seeing a product originally priced at $500, then marked down to $300, making it seem like a great deal. Solution: Consider all options equally before deciding.
13. Negativity Bias
Focusing more on negatives than positives. Example: Remembering one negative review about a restaurant despite hundreds of positive ones. Solution: Consciously highlight and appreciate positive aspects.
14. Sunk Cost Fallacy
Continuing an endeavor due to past investments. Example: Staying in a bad relationship because of years already spent in it. Solution: Focus on future returns, not past losses.
15. Paradox of Choice
Struggling to choose because of too many options. Example: Spending an hour trying to decide what to order from an extensive menu. Solution: Simplify choices to avoid decision fatigue.
16. Framing Effect
Decisions influenced by how information is presented. Example: A medication labeled “90% success rate” sounds better than “10% failure rate,” even though both are the same. Solution: Reframe information objectively.
17. End of History Illusion
Believing who you are now is who you will always be. Example: Thinking your current career or hobbies will never change. Solution: Accept that personal growth is ongoing.
18. Pygmalion Effect
Higher expectations lead to better performance. Example: A teacher who believes in their students helps them perform better. Solution: Set ambitious but realistic goals.
19. Consistency Effect
Staying accountable due to external expectations. Example: Announcing a goal publicly to encourage follow-through. Solution: Find an accountability partner.
20. Planning Fallacy
Underestimating time and effort required for tasks. Example: Assuming you can complete a project in a week when it realistically takes a month. Solution: Plan thoroughly and set realistic timelines.
21. Confirmation Bias
Noticing information that supports pre-existing beliefs. Example: A person who believes a conspiracy theory only seeks information that supports it. Solution: Challenge your own assumptions actively.
22. Bandwagon Effect
Following the crowd without critical thinking. Example: Buying a trending stock without researching its fundamentals. Solution: Make decisions based on your own needs.
23. Dunning-Kruger Effect
Overestimating one’s own competence. Example: A beginner investor believing they can outperform the market. Solution: Consult experts and stay humble.
24. Loss Aversion
Fearing failure more than valuing success. Example: Not investing in stocks due to fear of losing money. Solution: Reframe losses as learning opportunities.
25. Decoy Effect
Choosing something because it looks better than a worse option. Example: Opting for a medium-sized popcorn because the large one seems overpriced. Solution: Evaluate options independently.
26. Availability Heuristic
Judging probability based on easily recalled events. Example: Avoiding flying after seeing news of a plane crash. Solution: Rely on data, not just personal experience.
27. Gambler’s Fallacy
Believing past events affect future outcomes. Example: Thinking a coin flip must land on heads after ten tails in a row. Solution: Recognize that independent events remain independent.
28. Hindsight Bias
Believing you “knew it all along.” Example: After a stock market crash, claiming you saw it coming, despite making no prior decisions to avoid losses. Solution: Acknowledge uncertainty and learn from outcomes.
29. Reactance Bias
Doing the opposite of what is advised due to a perceived threat to freedom. Example: Ignoring dietary advice because it feels restrictive. Solution: Evaluate guidance objectively and consider its benefits.
30. Action Bias
Acting hastily without enough information. Example: Making an impulsive investment decision during a market dip. Solution: Be patient and gather sufficient information before acting.
31. Survivorship Bias
Focusing only on successes while ignoring failures. Example: Assuming all entrepreneurs become successful without considering those who failed. Solution: Study both successes and failures for a balanced view.
32. Unity Principle
Trusting someone more just because they belong to your group. Example: Choosing a candidate in an election just because they share your background. Solution: Evaluate people based on merit, not group affiliation.
33. Zeigarnik Effect
Remembering incomplete tasks more than completed ones. Example: Feeling restless about an unfinished project but forgetting completed tasks. Solution: Organize and complete tasks systematically to reduce stress.
34. Bystander Effect
Failing to act because others are around. Example: Seeing someone in distress but assuming someone else will help. Solution: Take personal responsibility and act when needed.
35. Ambiguity Effect
Avoiding choices that seem unclear. Example: Ignoring investment options due to a lack of familiarity. Solution: Research and clarify uncertainties before deciding.
36. Curse of Knowledge
Assuming others know what you know. Example: A teacher explaining a concept too quickly, forgetting students lack prior knowledge. Solution: Communicate clearly and confirm understanding.
37. Illusion of Averages
Believing averages tell the whole story. Example: Choosing a job based on average salaries without considering individual differences. Solution: Look at the full range of data, not just the average.
38. Endowment Effect
Overvaluing something just because you own it. Example: Refusing to sell an old car at a fair price because of sentimental attachment. Solution: Consider an outsider’s perspective when assessing value.
Final Thoughts Psychological traps can cloud our judgment, but awareness is the first step toward overcoming them. By recognizing these biases, we can make more rational, balanced, and thoughtful decisions in all aspects of life.
Recently while doing some Xmas shopping i game across the board game Catan it fitted into an idea i have had for a while about a game along these lines.
I Also wanted to see if i could build a game with the help of AI without coding a single thing myself.
It might not be fully finished but it was a fun experiment playing with AI.
I found the default chatgbt model of GPT-4o pretty good for the initial setup but when the script got more complicated to 200 ish lines plus it started struggling in the terms of removing core features without being asked.
It did get quite frustrating and then i tried chatgbt o1 model and it has worked really well. It made the occasional error between iterations but it was helpfull.
AI Guard Rails
I found giving these instructions helped giving the AI some guard rails…
Version Incrementing: Each new full version of the code should have its version number incremented on the second line. For example, after # Version 1.13, the next full version you provide should be # Version 1.14, then # Version 1.15, and so forth.
Full Code with Each Update: Whenever you request changes, I should provide the complete updated script—not just a snippet—so you have a full, up-to-date version of the code at each iteration.
Preserve Existing Code Unless Necessary: Do not remove or rewrite large sections of code unless it’s required to implement the requested changes. Keep as much of the original logic and structure as possible, only adjusting or adding code where needed.
Implement Requested Features/Modifications Incrementally: Each time you requested changes—like adding a 4th AI player, explaining aspects of the game, improving the trading logic, or allowing the human player to accept/reject/counter AI-offered trades—I incorporated those changes step-by-step, ensuring stability and that previous features remained intact.
Clarification and Reasoning: Before implementing changes, I asked clarifying questions when needed to ensure I understood your requirements correctly. Where possible, I explained what was done and why, so you understood the reasoning behind each update.
No Removal Without Reason: Unless you explicitly allowed or it was necessary for the change, I avoided removing or altering code unrelated to the requested features to maintain code integrity and continuity.
End Result
Enter your name: asdas
Welcome to Catan!
--- Purpose of the Game ---
Earn 10 Victory Points (VP) by building settlements, roads, and cities.
--- How the Game Works ---
1. The board is composed of hexes, each producing a specific resource (brick, lumber, ore, grain, wool) or desert.
Each hex has a number (2-12). At the start of a turn, you roll two dice. The sum determines which hexes produce resources.
2. Settlements adjacent to a producing hex earn 1 resource; cities earn 2 of that resource. Desert hexes never produce.
3. If a 7 is rolled, no one collects resources and the robber would be activated (not fully implemented here).
4. Your goal is to reach 10 VP. Settlements grant 1 VP, cities grant an additional VP over a settlement, reaching 2 total.
5. On your turn, you can:
- Build: Use resources to construct a settlement, road, or upgrade a settlement to a city.
- Trade: Offer your resources and request others. AI players consider fairness, scarcity, and personal benefit. You can accept, reject, or counter trades offered to you.
- Pass: If you pass without having built or traded, you gain 1 random resource as a bonus.
6. The game features AI players with different personalities (generous, fair, greedy) who evaluate trades differently.
7. Once you or another player reaches 10 VP, the game ends immediately and that player wins.
8. After the last player in a round finishes their turn, press Enter to continue and start the next round.
Starting the game!
asdas's turn!
--- Board ---
[1] wool (3) [2] grain (11) [3] wool (10) [4] desert (2)
[5] lumber (7) [6] ore (3) [7] grain (5) [8] lumber (7)
[9] brick (12) [10] brick (8) [11] brick (7) [12] ore (8)
[13] wool (11) [14] desert (6) [15] ore (8) [16] grain (2)
[17] lumber (12) [18] desert (12)
--- Dice Roll Explanation ---
You rolled a 7. The robber would be activated (not yet implemented):
- No hexes produce resources this turn.
- The robber would move to a chosen hex, blocking it.
- Players with >7 cards would discard half of them.
+-------------+-------+--------+-----+-------+------+-------------+--------+-------+----------------+
| Player | Brick | Lumber | Ore | Grain | Wool | Settlements | Cities | Roads | Victory Points |
+-------------+-------+--------+-----+-------+------+-------------+--------+-------+----------------+
| asdas | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AI Player 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AI Player 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AI Player 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
+-------------+-------+--------+-----+-------+------+-------------+--------+-------+----------------+
Actions: 1. Build 2. Pass 3. Trade
Choose an action:
....
