I’ve been writing this site for over five years. Wow.
Every year I do a round up of both my favorite posts and your favorite posts. But with the five-year mark passed, I decided to take a look back.
All the way back.
With over 500 posts (somewhere around 400,000 words), it’s almost impossible to narrow them down to my 10 favorites. But I gave it my best try, in the spirit of trying to distill the essence of what this site is all about.
So here are my all-time top 10 favorite posts, from when this site launched in 2012 to today. Enjoy!
My all-time top 10 list
1. Why not to say “should” (2013)—I think of this post every single time I write anything. Every time I think of a sentence that contains the word “should”, I question why I feel the need to say it that way, and more often than not I rephrase the thought. It keeps me honest.
2. The secret life of your money (2013)—If there’s one post that accurately conveys a financial directive that I feel most strongly about, it would be this. And all done through the guise of a Dick Tracy-like motif.
3. Lessons from a burning building (2013)—A parable about change and what it takes to make something happen. I find myself returning to this thought experiment frequently, as it always seems relevant.
4. Why self-sufficiency is a myth (2014)—The thing about privilege is that it’s usually invisible. So when people claim that they are “self-made”, it’s understandable, but it’s also dead wrong.
5. Why no one walks (or, this land was not made for you or me) (2014)—We are a product of our environment, and of the places we build. This has more of an effect on us than we think.
6. What is integrative financial coaching? (2015)—When people ask what I do, I say “I help people heal their relationship to money so that they can achieve their goals.” It’s not just about the money, it’s about how you feel.
7. Socrates, wall-to-wall carpet, and how to deal with unpopular beliefs (2016)—Do you feel like you believe in things that are unpopular or are far from the mainstream? I know I feel that way all the time, and it can be really tough. But luckily, I’m not the first person to deal with this.
8. Financial cage match: Paying off student loans versus investing for retirement (2016)—One of the entries in the financial cage match series, it highlights one the most common tensions in adult financial life today: student loans and retirement, and how to deal with both of them.
9. Your past performance doesn’t guarantee your future results (2017)—People are often referring to investments, but you can use the same phrase to move yourself forward.
10. Your most important responsibility (2015)—I saved this one to last. When I first wrote this, I noted that this might be the most important blog post I’ve ever written on any topic. I still hold to that, because it was this very realization that led to a newfound confidence in myself that has lasted to this day, and indirectly led to this site being created. My life changed; I can only wish that yours will be affected for the better too.
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In this rushed life, looking back is sometimes one of the first things to go. But it’s important to take the time to stop and see what we’ve accomplished. I’m proud of this site and the work that’s gone in to it. I hope you find it helpful to you, and continue to do so as we move forward. Thank you!
