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Wee Bit Wiser: Lessons from 1000+ podcasts

In Wee Bit Wiser, every Wednesday I'll deliver the most valuable insights from the most fascinating people in the world straight to your inbox and help you get slightly smarter every week.

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Featured Post

Want stronger relationships? Become friendly with conflict

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise They say that most people’s greatest fear is public speaking. Something about all those eyes on you. And sure, talking in front of people can be pretty intense. But there’s something far more terrifying for most people: conflict. Telling someone you’re not happy about something, expressing your anger, receiving theirs — that can be awful. Especially if you weren’t raised in an environment where healthy conflict was encouraged and taught. Which...

evil character with money pills

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise Earlier this year, a small-business owner wrote into Feedback Friday asking me to connect him with a guy I knew years ago who sold “money pills” — literally, supplements that change your “money genes” and make you richer. (‘Cuz those are definitely a thing, and they can definitely be altered by pills that go for $3,000 a pop. Insane.) It was a weird request, because the money-pills dealer in question — a scammy life coach named Carl — died a...

stairs going into the clouds

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, then you know that I’m a big believer in going above and beyond at work. There’s no better way to develop a great reputation, build strong relationships and prove that you’re earning your keep than by delivering on your responsibilities and then some. It’s also a powerful strategy for sowing the seeds for a promotion. But there’s a caveat to the principle that you should always go the...

empty speech bubble

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) There’s a law of physics that says that the smaller the space something is confined to, the greater the pressure. Economics says something similar — the lower the supply of something, the greater the value (assuming demand stays constant). And we all know that a small, bold piece of art can say way more than a massive, generic one. I remember seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time and being shocked by how small it was. But then, the fact...

worried individual with thought bubble showing anxiety

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Get wiser There’s an ancient proverb that goes something like this: Worrying means you suffer twice. I just googled it to be sure, and apparently a character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them said that, although I’m pretty sure it’s older than that. My friend Ryan Holiday, in his excellent newsletter, attributes this gem to his boy Seneca: “A man who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary.” But I came across this idea years ago...

Man standing on hill

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) It’s not accomplishment that makes life worth living. It’s meaning. It’s not external reward that gives us validation. It’s fulfillment. Ideally, we get to enjoy it all — accomplishing meaningful things, getting money and recognition for the work we find fulfilling. But let’s not confuse these concepts. If you want purpose, pursue meaning. If you want to be rewarded, look for the things that are rewarding. And if you want external success...

figure hard at work

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you probably know that I find the whole concept of “manifesting” utter BS. When successful people say they “manifested” their wins, they never mean the kind of abstract, aspirational daydreaming that some people believe will “attract” the life they want. Scratch the surface of those successful “manifestation” stories, and you’ll always find a ton of hard work, focus and follow-through. I’m...

man on laptop with social media icons popping up

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Get wiser Like it or not, we’re all in charge of marketing ourselves. LinkedIn. Instagram. Personal websites. Even a lot of dinner parties these days feel like IRL branding opportunities. (Which is why I don’t go to a ton of them. Too busy updating my LinkedIn profile from home, thank you very much.) It’s easy to feel that if you aren’t constantly bragging about your accomplishments online, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. But there are real risks to...

Yes or No above chess board

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Wise up Some opportunities are right up your alley. All you have to do is say yes. Some opportunities are terrible. It’s easy to go, “Thanks, but no thanks.” But many opportunities fall into a gray area — financially, emotionally or otherwise — where they don’t scream “RUN,” but they’re also not a “HARD YES.” It’s important to know how to decline these opportunities, too — without risking a hit to your reputation. The key is to walk a line between being...

fork in road ambition or relationships

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) If you listen to the show, then you’ve probably gathered that I’m pretty high on ambition. I love when our listeners chase their goals, fight for their dreams, and find the success they crave. This is one of the reasons we’re here on earth — to play, to grow, to achieve. But I also love when our listeners lead with other values. To build great relationships that aren’t just about advancement and productivity. To enjoy their hobbies...