Quintus Curtius

A reader wants to know how reliable his intuition is. Should he rely on it, or should he instead fall back on his powers of rational analysis and deliberation? It's a great question.

A follower on Twitter says that he's finding it hard to get and stay motivated. He wants to know what things he can do to keep up his intensity level.

An engineer wants to know the best way he should leave his high-paying but low-satisfaction job, and start his own business. Are some ways better than others? What considerations should he be thinking about?

What are some ways that a person can get real-world leadership experience quickly? We discuss some options. I also give my thoughts on the four most important leadership traits and principles.

We deal with two questions in this podcast. A reader asks whether he needs a mentor to find success. In the second part of the podcast, we hear from the writer Jorge Luis Borges on how he triumphed over his blindness by creating a new reality for himself. It's an inspiring story and a critical lesson.

One reader thinks his test scores in school could use some improvement. He sees some mediocre people getting good test results, and wants to know how he can improve this skill set.

A reader is distressed about something he has been accused of at his university. He seems to be tormented by guilt. I explain how important it is for us to forgive ourselves when we've done something wrong, and move on.

A reader needs some suggestions on how to handle a "friend" who he has known for a while. This person is cool to him when they are alone, but when girls are around, he seems to make jokes at his expense to ingratiate himself with the girls. What are some good ways to handle this?

A reader has a business in the United States but wants to begin traveling and living abroad. He eventually wants to split his time between the US and Colombia. What is the best way to do this? I offer some suggestions. "All that will be left, eventually, will be the grin of the Cheshire cat."

A reader feels frustrated because it seems that he is not being rewarded for his ethical behavior. He thinks unethical people are being rewarded wrongly. He sees a conflict between what is ethical, and what is advantageous, and wants to know how to resolve it.

A reader doesn't like how his girlfriend is behaving. She's pulling away, and not responding the way he would like. He feels like he's not valued as much as he should be. He wants to know if he can do anything to "make her appreciate him" more.

A reader writes that he is beginning to doubt some of the tenets of the religion he grew up with. He is dealing with doubt, and is not sure how to handle it.

I interview Ace Johnson, the co-founder of the knife manufacturing company www.delta2alpha.com, about his recent adventure trip to Tasmania. Great experiences and adventure...with a 18 mile march to the airport thrown in for good measure.

I comment on an article written by a junior officer who doesn't feel challenged by his job and is disillusioned with it. I respond with some thoughts of my own.

Today we deal with two separate questions from two different readers: 1. How do I get rid of negativity in my life from people around me? 2. How can I get along best in a politically-correct environment?

This podcast answers unrelated questions from two different readers: 1. What did I mean in a certain sentence from "Thirty-Seven"? 2. What guidance should a young guy get who isn't sure he's in the right career?

This podcast covers several related subjects. I talk about: 1. How some knowledge comes suddenly, and some gradually. 2. Discovering the Nautilus bodybuilding system in college. 3. How leadership principles are absorbed gradually. 4. How you can't save people who won't save themselves, and why this is the most difficult thing for a man of action to accept.

In every culture in every historical age, there has been interest in some version of psychic phenomena. But is it "real," or delusion? And how can it help us in our quest for answers?

I receive an email from a guy who feels like he needs a career change. He is considering the military, but doesn't know if it is the right thing to do.

What traits and habits enabled men to survive extreme physical danger or adversity? We look for some answers in accounts of the First World War.

A reader emails me and says that although he has found success in his life and career, something is lacking. Something is missing. He says that he is lacking a real sense of higher purpose. I know that this is a problem faced by many of us today, and so I try to offer my thoughts on the matter.

A reader is troubled by where he is at in his life right now. He wants to make major life changes involving career and residence, but doesn't know if the time is right. I offer some suggestions.

How can a person develop or sustain motivation? We examine the following: 1. The nature and quality of motivation. 2. The five sources of motivation. 3. Two incentives for positive mental change. 4. The mechanics of refining and polishing one's motivation.

A reader of FOTM emails me to say that lately he's been oppressed by fears of death and dying. It's concerning him, and he wants to know what the Stoics would have said about it. I provide some suggestions.

I interview the co-founder of Delta2Alpha, a homegrown Canadian knife manufacturing business started by two regular guys with vision and guts. They're attracting attention for their design philosophy, product performance, and dedication to the highest quality. A motivating story.

A young wrestler writes and asks how he can cultivate his aggressive spirit. He has strong willpower, but something could be holding him back in his recent matches. What's happening? And how can he break through this barrier?

In this episode I talk with Lucas Temple, proprietor of www.banterloud.com. He decided to marry in his 20s and have a large family. I talk with him about this views on life, values, family, and education.

A reader is moving to a foreign country and needs help on how "to best integrate" himself into the local culture. What is the best way to approach this? What types of challenges will he face?

A reader of qcurtius.com explains that anger is ruining his life, and he asks for help. How can he regain his balance, and deal with his issues? I discuss the four ways of dealing with repressed rage and anger, and which one may be right for you.

Is charity important? If so, why? And what are the different types of charity? Are there guidelines on how to think about giving? We explore the answers.

What do all creative minds have in common? They always retain a sense of awe at the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of Nature. Why you should never lose your quest for your ideals, and how to cultivate your sense of awe.

Henry Worsley died in his attempt to be the first man to cross Antarctica unassisted. Why should we honor him? Every man needs a quest. The quest is what gives him purpose and fire.

The classic book "Kalila and Dimna" is one of the treasures of world literature. What is its timeless appeal? What themes does it deal with, and what lessons does it teach us?

Everyone wants to gain notoriety. Everyone wants to be respected. But what are the various ways this can be achieved?

How I overcame a collapsed lung, an operation, and a hospital recovery. What kind of attitude you need to have when confronting disasters.

The tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has much to say about the virtue of justice, and why it is so rare. But why is it so rare? A small amount of justice yields an incredible amount of energy.

Some people bloom early. Some people need more time to come into their own. This podcast explains why we should be patient with ourselves, not compare ourselves to others, and cultivate what it is that we do best.

This is a review of the 2016 film "The Revenant," directed by Alejandro Inarritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

What are the 8 key factors that we need when conducting any operation, or carrying out a project? This podcast discusses the 8 critical elements of success in any conflict scenario.

If we want to do something big, we need (1) a strategy, (2) a campaign, and (3) tactics. This podcast discusses these three levels of operational art, and how they must accommodate our goals and envisioned end-state. How do these three levels interrelate? And how can we be sure they are being used effectively? Join me for a discussion.

You will hear many people try to tell you that "this can't be done" or "that can't be done." And many times such talk is proven wrong. This podcast discusses why you should not listen to the doubters or naysayers, and instead focus on your own vision.

What are social boundaries? Why are they important? And how do we go about setting them with other people? This podcast discusses some answers.

Why is guilt the most insidious and devious of all the vices? Why can it exist when we enjoy success, or suffer failure? And what are the ways we can eradicate crippling feelings of guilt? We discuss how in this podcast.

How has personality influenced history? Are great men more influential, or are impersonal forces? What are the positive and negative instincts that give rise to strong or weak personalities?

What are the traits that allow us to survive extreme situations? What is the calculus of survival? What can we can do to increase our chances of survival in adverse conditions? This podcast uses lessons learned from the horrifying prison camps of the Pacific in the Second World War to suggest some answers.

What is the imagination? We discuss some of its features: 1. The pervasive nature of ambiguity and what it means for the imagination. 2. The bridge or isthmus between the physical and spiritual worlds. 3. The microcosm and the macrocosm. 4. Existence being identical to imagination. 5. The importance of dreams.

We all need to sharpen our powers of logic and deduction. But how to go about doing this? This podcast provides some effective strategies for improving our deductive skills.

How can I stop procrastinating and regain control of my life? How can I maintain my focus and motivation for the things I'm doing? We discuss some answers to these questions.

The world can provide us with the things we need if we adopt the right approaches: 1. Subordinating appetites to Reason. 2. Never giving up. 3. Learning to let go. Our discussion focuses on why this is so, and how to achieve this awareness.

We all nurse some form of anger or resentment about wounds we received in the past. Why is this? Where does it come from? And how can we free ourselves from it? This podcast focuses on these questions.