Blog

Life As a Ping-Pong Bat

reflections
Life follows three phases—reception, exploration, and settlement—mirroring the shape of a ping-pong bat. In the reception phase, we accept banal truths handed to us without…
Jan 19, 2025
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Porter on Careers

careers
Porter’s strategic frameworks, originally designed for businesses, can be effectively applied to personal career management
Jan 12, 2025
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Saying NO to good things.

reflections
ethics
To achieve lasting happiness, we must learn to say “no” even to good things. This is necessary to avoid excess, make wise trade-offs, and preserve our baseline of happiness…
Jan 5, 2025
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

On Reading

epistemology
reflections
The following was written for my friend Aaron Tsatsu T. and my brother. The observations herein are not uttered in a didactic spirit: they are, for the most part, tentative…
Dec 31, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Lessons from 2024

reflections
Reflecting on the year 2024, the writer explores themes of serendipity, personal freedom, tradeoffs, purpose, and living through chaos. Drawing inspiration from various…
Dec 16, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

The MASTER Framework: Making and Measuring Binary Progress

reflections
productivity
This essay introduces the MASTER framework—a structured approach for managing projects with binary outcomes (either fully successful or not). MASTER stands for Map, Analyze…
Dec 2, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Blessed Are Those Who Love the Ground

reflections
If the way we approach success is anything like a flight, then we spend too much time practicing for the time spent in air, and way too little time practicing for the time…
Nov 18, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

To My Brother and Our Generation: An Open Letter

reflections
This was never meant for public consumption. I wrote it for my brother, and have only ever shared it with two people. My friend Zigi, who has encouraged me to share so many…
Nov 18, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

What you know and what you think you know

reflections
epistemology
The essay explores the dangers of overestimating what we know and falling for the illusion of knowledge in a world saturated with information. It advocates for: 1. Honesty…
Nov 16, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Binary Progress: Rethinking Advancement in Either/Or Situations

reflections
productivity
This article explores the heterogeneous nature of progress, focusing on binary progress in either/or situations. It highlights the contrast between linear progress, which is…
Nov 11, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Diligent Filters

reflections
productivity
Not everything is worth your attention; a platitude, for sure, but have we structured your life to ensure that you do eliminate the burden of constantly having to vet…
Oct 20, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Do not waste your sandboxes!

reflections
Life is full of hidden “sandboxes”—low-risk opportunities to build confidence and skills for your big dreams. Like regulatory sandboxes, they let you experiment, learn, and…
Oct 3, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Operationalizing First-Principles Thinking

productivity
problem-solving
reflections
This article reframes first-principles thinking in a practical light, emphasizing the need to not only break down problems but also understand the relationships between…
Sep 23, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Overoptimized: At what cost?

productivity
reflections
Knowing when to consolidate progress instead of constantly pushing for more growth is an art, and developing a sense of balance requires thoughtful resource allocation.…
Sep 13, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

A Summer To Remember

reflections
news
This summer, I realized with great shock that for the greatest, if not entirety of my life, I have taken for granted the empowerment that can result from language…
Sep 2, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

The Means to a Meaningful End: The Power of Self-Expression through Writing

virtue ethics
reflections
The essay argues that contemplating and defining the means to achieve a meaningful life is crucial, especially when integrating diverse philosophical ideas. It highlights…
Jul 20, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Holistic Minimalism

reflections
virtue ethics
Holistic minimalism is about removing constraints from all aspects of life—material, emotional, and occupational—to increase flexibility and resilience. Unlike traditional…
Jun 19, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Sustainable self-confidence is about collecting data.

reflections
Sustainable self-confidence is built by consistently collecting evidence of past successes, much like how Real Madrid’s culture of relentless determination and comeback…
Jun 11, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Good Taste

reflections
productivity
careers
Good work requires both hard work and good taste, but discussions often focus only on hard work because good taste is harder to quantify. Good taste means knowing what’s…
Jun 5, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Trusting the Machines: Technology and the Quest for a Just World.

AI Ethics
tech
The essay explores the ethical and societal implications of technology, particularly focusing on software and algorithms. The essay argues that blind reliance on technology…
May 25, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Rethinking Intelligence: Human Cognition, AI, and the Future of Work.

AI Ethics
tech
The article explores the relationship between human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI), discussing topics such as cognitive biases, the role of instinctive and…
May 25, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Fortunate to be Unfortunate.

reflections
virtue ethics
Embracing adversity as an opportunity for growth, rather than avoiding it, we should embrace it becasue it leads to personal development and fulfillment. While it is natural…
May 22, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

On Graduation

news
I came, doubted, had a wonderful experience, graduated, and now I am excited for the future.
May 18, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

A World of Stories

epistemology
reflections
The world is made of stories, not just atoms. Numbers are powerful storytelling tools, but their context and the process behind them matter more than their precision.…
Mar 27, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.

Trois pensées inédites.

reflections
One: understanding the distinction between making money and building things is crucial, as they represent different endeavors with unique challenges and approaches. While…
Mar 16, 2024
Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon K.
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