According to Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford University, the average human can maintain relationships with up to around 150 people. Sure this number varies for each person, but it’s made us think about the relationships we value. Wanting to understand the three most important relationships in our lives – romantic relationships, relationships at work and relationships … Read More
Strengthening The Three Most Important Relationships in Our Lives
How to Get Respect by Giving Value
When we use the word value it means something very specific to us here at AOC. For us, value is how we derive attention, approval, and acceptance, which humans need to feel good about themselves. You can think of it as oxygen for the human soul. Think about it; ever since the time you were born you have devised … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Confidence, Empowerment
Signs of a Toxic Person and How to Cut Those Toxic People out of Your Life
There’s an old myth that frogs will pull down other frogs trying to escape a pot of boiling water. That’s likely the stuff of folklore, but the dynamic is real: In everyone’s life, there will always be people who will resist, threaten and sabotage the possibility of self-improvement. These are some of the signs of a toxic person. This general … Read More
in Empowerment, Self Mastery
How to Deal with Crippling Self-Doubts
Let me know if this sounds recognizable: you sit in the audience, and up on stage is this 6’5” Adonis with immaculate looks, bulking muscles and a 5k suit – telling you that you can do anything if you “just let go of your self-doubts and go after your dreams.” And you sit there, staring at your lap and mumble: … Read More
in Empowerment
The Four Steps to Overcome Approach Anxiety
Here’s an experience I recently had with approach anxiety: July 28th, I walk into Chipotle, and there she is. Blonde, tall, with a ponytail extending from her baseball cap, and in full runner’s gear. I just came here to get a burrito, and instead, I’m awestruck by this beautiful woman. And she’s not alone. It appears she’s with a homeless … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment, Self Mastery
How to Say No (and Still Be the Nice Guy)
Chase was looking for freelance design work. When a friend introduced him to an event coordinator who needed a good designer, Chase jumped on the phone with his prospective new boss. The way he tells the story, he instantly knew that the situation would be a disaster. The event coordinator was cagey, skeptical, and vague about what what he needed … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment
5 Common Frustrations and How to Handle Them
I was browsing Reddit the other day when I came across a thread that caught my eye. The title was simple: “What frustrates you most about life?” The frustrations people submitted ranged from economic to familial, psychological to political. They were all universal human concerns — problems men and women from all walks of life struggle with every single day. … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment, Finding Your Purpose, Life Hacks
Productive Conflict: How to Disagree Like a Champion
Emily had seen some things. By the time she became Head of Marketing for one of the biggest circuses in the world — I mean a literal circus — she had consulted for Fortune 500 companies, started two media companies, and served as an advisor on everything from television shows to non-profits. She had developed a reputation as a warm, … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment
What Happens When I Compare Myself to “Successful” People
What? How? Whatever, man. I was listening to a podcast this morning (Ask Altucher) and the question James Altucher was answering was: “How much is my writing worth?” As the host read aloud the details, it turned out this guy had started writing because that’s what he really wanted to do, and people had liked it more than he expected, … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment, Self Mastery
Is It Wrong to Outgrow Your Friends?
On a recent episode of Fan Mail Friday, I read a letter from Dev, one of our listeners, who’s dealing with a really interesting problem. In college, he became super close with two guys. One became his roommate, and they all joined the same frat, but… I kept working on my personal growth and had been growing out of these … Read More
in Art of Personal Development, Empowerment