Alex
Hi, I'm Alex. I’ve been working since the age of 12, have had over 30 jobs in my life, and have been a professor for over 20 years teaching environmental studies. During that time I’ve consulted for governments around the world as well as UN agencies and the European Union, have published poetry and short stories. I’ve been married, divorced and married again, and have four incredible children, and I am a long time student of Tibetan Buddhism. I’m deeply interested in how to navigate change in a constantly changing world and how to optimize our lives for happiness, well-being and growth.
-
What About the Bad Days?
Bad days. We all have them. It’s essential to learn to work with them, not be beaten and keep your progress going while the negative energy does its thing until it’s used up. First, realize that bad days are going to happen. They don’t give you any warning, they just come up from behind and clobber you. It could be something stupid you said the night before after a couple of beers coming back to haunt you in the form of an offended friend you now need to ameliorate. It could be a bad night’s sleep and a foul mood. It could be your significant other who has had enough…
-
7 Ways to Earn Money Fast
Enterprising people can always find a way to earn money, often with the internet as a facilitator. For some, just a little extra side income is all they want to cover the cost of eating out or for some new gadget. Other people want or need to make more. Below are 7 ways to earn money, from just a little to enough to live on. Don’t be afraid to try any of these. If it’s for you you’ll know soon enough and you’ll be happy you gave it a shot. If not, then just try something else. Experimenting—giving something a trial run to see how you react to it—is one…
-
Change Everything to Transform Your Life
How do you change everything to transform your life? First, create a vision of the life you want, and the person you want to be. Second, ask yourself how much you are willing to change in order to have the life you envision. Ask yourself if you are willing to move to a new city, state or even country. Ask yourself if you are willing to give up your job. To leave friends who drag you down behind. To change your diet, your morning routine, your reading and computer habits. Most importantly, are you willing to change yourself internally? Your thoughts, beliefs and the standards to which you hold yourself.…
-
Grow Your Savings with 3 Games That Work
If you don’t already play games to save money and grow your savings it’s time to start. It’s easier to spend than save, but saving can be a lot easier than you think, even if you have very little money to put away. And if that is the case, you really need to start cutting down on expenses or building up your income, ideally both. Don’t Wait Until You Are Out of Debt Money is a mind game, full stop. Getting into the right frame of mind is the most important first step. For 6-12 months (the longer the better) pay only the minimum on all debt, and instead focus…
-
Save Money with these 7 Easy Ways
Learning how to save money by turning into a game can be a lot of fun and much more rewarding than spending money and watching your debts pile up. Why? Part of the answer is physiological. Spending gives us an instant dopamine blast but it doesn’t last, taking us on a high and then into a low. That’s why that amazing new laptop that you didn’t really need to buy has lost all its special appeal two weeks after you bought it and now looks like every other laptop you have owned or still own. But the pain of the credit card bill will last and last. Dopamine can act…
-
5 Easy and Fun Ways to Make Money Fast
Especially in times like these most of us could use a little extra cash. Technology has made it easier than ever to put money into your pocket in fun and interesting ways. Remember, money is exactly like the fat on our bodies: it’s all about dollars in and dollars out. Or euros, or yen. Just like losing weight is a function of the calories you eat minus what you expend. You can grow your wealth or reduce your debt by either spending less (thereby saving more or paying down debt more quickly) or by earning more. Or—best of all—by doing both. And just like with our bodies, it’s most likely…
-
12 Ways to Smash It While Stuck Indoors
I hated being locked down, and locked in. Then I began to love it. Wait. No. But I’ve come to appreciate it. What changed: pushing through the discontent and moving my life forward in ways that are actually available to me. Since we’re going to spend this time largely indoors, often in our heads, and we can make the most of it. We may as well. I admit, it isn’t always easy. We live in a downtown apartment. It’s confining and crazy making sometimes to spend so many hours at home. And yet it’s becoming one of the most productive times I have had in years. I’ve found new home…
