In the gaming world, the ability to trade in-game items effectively isn't just a feature—it's a crucial element that can drive player engagement, satisfaction, and revenue. Trading systems allow players to buy, sell, and exchange virtual goods, creating dynamic economies that mirror real-world markets. Getting this right is vital for game developers, as it directly influences player retention and overall game success.

Ok, time for the second batch of books. I am only doing 2 here so this should be a quick one. These are a bit random because I have an ever-growing book list and I share it with my wife. There are two major themes in my reading content: self-discovery and career and financial growth. This grouping oddly captures both, so buckle up.

Hey everyone, welcome to my latest book dump! I’ve finally found my groove again and am embarking on the mission of reading a book a week (though realistically, it’s more like a book a month). One of these years, I’ll hit my goal! In this post, I’ll share the current list of books I’ve consumed and why I loved them. Whether you’re looking for artistic inspiration, professional insights into web3 technology, or a deeper connection with nature, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s dive into the books that have recently captivated me and the profound lessons I’ve gleaned from them.

Is it good? Is it bad? Is it neither good nor bad? What is it? Does it matter what the label is? Are these questions an LLM can answer so we don’t have to use our cognitive energy thinking about them? Yes to all? Who knows? Do the answers even matter in the grand scheme of things? Anyway, that’s a lot of very deep questions for you to prime your brain with. So here’s my opinion—just kidding, I really don’t have much of a stance on this. I just know that we are all expected to have and share some kind of opinion to appease the algorithms out there that are already somewhat intelligent and love people writing about tech trends. So here goes nothing….

I recently posted a brief post about Happiness and some random tangent about how we shouldn’t be paying for it. I wanted to followup with the previous post and share a bit more detailed evidence based details from a recent podcast I listened to here. I listen to a Podcast called Modern Wisdom, if you aren’t familiar with it I highly recommend some of the interviews. The gist of the interview consists of many things I’ve written about briefly ranging from, how we spend our time and how our mind perceives it, how we feel joy, how hard work and suffering can increase the amount of joy we feel, and lastly how important it is to have a community that not only supports you but you also give back into. I may be summarizing this 90+ min interview too much so here’s a bit more of a detailed breakdown. Again, I highly recommend listening to the whole thing if you have time but if not here’s a quick guide on the contents of the episode.

I've been thinking about this topic for a long time, and I strive to incorporate it into all my blog posts. I aim to make my posts as inclusive as possible, recognizing that not everyone has the same privileges and access. This principle is a key reason I started this blog—to share easy and accessible tools for living happier and healthier lives without the need for expensive gadgets.

Here’s a super deep spiritual one for you. I’ve been asking myself this question for a few years now, and I found a few very thoughtful books that helped me see others' perspectives on the matter. Here are a few tidbits I learned recently. Humans are a tribal species, we are animals, we are born in the natural world but live in a world surrounded by domesticated products like phones, houses, comfortable couches, beds, etc. These items and social constructs have detached us from the natural world and our natural state of being.

My recent fascination has been this phenomenon called time dilation. I know it sounds like a clinical term; I didn’t pick the name, but here’s the gist of it: the idea is that we perceive time differently depending on what we are doing. Our brains store information in a few ways.

Alright, gang, here’s another very personal topic for you, because you know I keep it real. I was probably clinically lonely for the last 4 years and still am, but I am finally climbing out of the valley, thanks to a wonderful community I discovered through my wife at the Red Ox Pottery Studio.

I wrote a blog post a while ago but wanted to share a real-world case study of what I did recently so you can see what I personally do to prepare. I started engaging with a company known for 'Run Legends.' The role was for a Founding PM of their new team working on a fitness app. They had an app live in the App Store, which made this prep a bit easier, so the first thing I did was download the app.

Hey everyone! Over the past few months, I've embarked on an incredible reading journey, completing 10 diverse books that range from humorous to deeply profound. My adventure began with an exploration of Stoic Philosophy, delving into the spiritual and intellectual depths it offers. As the year progressed, I shifted gears towards lighter, more entertaining reads with a focus on physical health and well-being. I'm excited to share my thoughts and the valuable insights I've gained from each book. I found these reads not only enjoyable but also instrumental in enhancing my happiness and inner peace. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, let's dive into these remarkable books:

The women in my life have been the cornerstone of my journey, shaping me into who I am today. Each of them not only faced and overcame the unique challenges of their times but also excelled, carving out their own successful paths in their respective fields.

My grandmother was a force of nature – providing, nourishing, and supporting with an unwavering strength. She never tolerated nonsense and always managed to look impeccable, no matter the circumstance. My mother, equally intolerant of foolishness, bravely left home at 13, journeying from Ireland to England. She became a skilled nurse and an incredible actress, eventually raising a family in America. My wife, an entrepreneur at heart, founded her own art business. She's a multi-talented force – an ultra-runner, rock climber, exceptional painter, and now, an accomplished potter. Whatever she undertakes, she commits to fully.

When I first stepped into the realm of Product Management, I was under the impression that having all the answers was part of the job description. It seemed logical — I was the one who was supposed to solve problems, align disparate pieces of information from users, the team, and the data, then present this neatly tied package to the executive team. It was a constant struggle to make the right decision, a battle I thought I needed to win. But after a decade in the field, my perspective has shifted dramatically. I've realized that my true role isn’t necessarily to have all the answers or even make every decision. Instead, it's about asking the right questions and facilitating discussions that lead to the best possible solutions.

💡Reflect on your current approach to problem-solving. Begin shifting your focus from providing answers to facilitating discussions that explore various solutions.

In my journey through numerous self-help and philosophy books, I've discovered a profound truth: the most crucial lessons often trace back to our earliest teachings. I was fortunate to learn from two extraordinary men – my grandfather and father – whose lives embodied principles found in many of these books. They were disciplined, successful, and carried a quiet wisdom worth sharing.

Alright gang, I am now a part of the layoff club (wahoo, fuck, now what?). Instead of wallowing in my sorrow and eating a pile of chocolate (which I plan to do later), I will write something helpful not only for myself but for others impacted by this. So, coming from someone who is anxious about literally walking around the neighborhood, this is truly a nightmare come true. So here’s what I suggest we do together!

First, let's just feel all the feelings and fucking swear at the top of our lungs (I usually do this at the top of hills during my trail runs like a mad man, but it’s up to you where you want to do this). Then, we dust the shit off our ass and get up and move. This can be done in a few ways: cleaning, making your bed, writing up a routine, applying to a few jobs. The key is to just act and not THINK. I swear to god if you start thinking, I will come over there and take you out on a run or a walk.

As coined in the famous book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People," I want to write about the importance of Habit 7: Sharpening the Saw. This has been the most important aspect of my new routine in the last nine months as I've been on a quest to recharge and strengthen my mental and physical self. We've all been through a lot over the last three years and undergone collective trauma that we all need to repair and heal from. For some of us, it may take longer than others, but it's important to remind yourself to sharpen your saw and take time to build that endurance back up. Here are a few things that I personally have done, and I hope these may help others on their quest to rebuild and refresh themselves from the last few years.

I’ve been running my entire life. I started running as a 9-year-old kid. My mom’s boyfriend at the time was a Marine and would take me on runs in my hometown. This is where it all started. I then went to boarding school in Colorado in a small town called Evergreen. I was there from the ages of 10 to 11 years old and ran with the headmaster, Jodi. He was an avid runner, and we ran around the lake a few times a week. This was one of my most cherished outlets, and it has remained in my life since then. I ran cross country in high school and tended to stick to the 5k-10k routes. I ran through the incredible fall season of New Hampshire in a school located in Tilton. I was a great runner and ended up being the captain of the team for a year. I had a cycling friend who was also incredible at running. He was a great source of motivation for me to run faster, as I often tried to keep up with him. I then moved on to college and didn’t really run regularly. I was on my feet so much for work that I ended up being in fantastic shape just from working in restaurants and riding my bike everywhere since I had no car. I then started working at a gaming company in the city and began running with my wife after work in a running group she started. At the time, she was qualifying for Boston and doing boot camp workouts with friends. I started running longer distances with her and some of my coworkers for fun, and this is where it started to get a bit more serious. At one point, we were running half marathons at least once a month (sometimes once a week) and signing up for a few marathons a year. We then dipped our toe into the ultra scene, and I ran a 50K and my wife ran a 50 Miler. This was a fantastic period, but we were utterly wrecked from all the training and spent most of our time repairing our destroyed legs by taking ice baths and napping on the weekends. We now live in the East Bay, and I am the only one running. I run with both dogs up trails and am training once again for the next big thing! So now that I’ve explained the history of my running experience, I’ll fill in the blanks of why this is such an important part of my life.

I have faced failure more times in my life than I'd like to admit. School was never my forte, and accolades in sports or extracurricular activities were rare. Neither was I the smartest or the best in my professional endeavors. Yet, mastering the art of handling failure has become an indispensable skill for me. This is crucial for several reasons: to hone your skills, persevere through challenging times while maintaining physical and mental strength, and to remain compassionate towards your loved ones during such periods.

I often find myself immersed in books penned by individuals who have surmounted towering athletic feats. This inclination is likely not a coincidence given my athletic background. I am continually inspired by those who have reached the pinnacle of physical prowess. These stories reveal a multitude of virtues—grit, physical and mental fortitude, a knack for enduring repeated failures, self-awareness, analytical and methodical thinking, resilience in overcoming childhood traumas, and a profound admiration for inspiring figures accompanied by the guidance of remarkable mentors and role models. I discern a pattern here, and in these narratives, I see a reflection of my own journey. My avid reading about athletes stems from a firm belief that they have invaluable lessons to impart about leadership and spirituality, which are often under acknowledged.

I have interviewed more times than I’d like to admit. This means I’ve gained a very wide range of experience interviewing as a PM in technology, and I’d like to share all my learnings with you so you can avoid having to interview quite as much as I have. I consistently receive the question from mentees on how to get into gaming and how to interview as a PM in gaming, so I’d like to share those tips. I have interviewed people and sat on hiring committees and also been the interviewee, so I am fortunate to know both sides of the table. Here are some general topics I cover in interviews and how to answer them well and what we grade for.