We should all aspire to be good people. But we shouldn’t waste our time trying to prove it to others. As Paulo Coelho says, “Be a good person, but don’t waste your time trying to prove it.”
Life is too short to spend our time trying to convince others of our goodness. We should simply focus on being the best we can be. That’s it.
“Be a good person, but don’t waste your time trying to prove it.” – Paulo Coelho
Get my latest thoughts on building software, business, and life delivered to your inbox.
Walking through rainy London streets, my wife told me about Haldun Dormen—one of Turkey's most beloved thespians who just passed away at 98. When he was young, he wrote to his father about his dream of becoming an actor. His father's reply contained just one sentence that shaped everything: "Whatever you want to do, do it. But do it in the best way you can." Permission paired with a standard. Freedom paired with excellence. It's the advice I want to carry forward to my own children.
It's January 1st, 2026, and I'm staring at a blank page again. I love this feeling. Most people fear starting over—they cling to what they've built, terrified of blank pages. But I've learned something different across my 47 years: the ability to start fresh isn't a curse, it's a superpower. And what's changed isn't my love for fresh starts—it's what I want to write on them. The old ambitions (money, status, achievement) are losing their grip, making room for intangible ones: quality time with family, mental resilience, physical strength, the luxury of staying calm and getting bored. These are the real wealth that only a few achieve. I still love running "format c:" on my life, just like I did on my old 80286 PC as a kid. 2026 is completely blank, and that's exactly how I want it. Here's to writing this year with more wisdom, more focus, more intention.
The human brain goes into present-moment awareness during life-threatening situations. The amygdala releases cortisol and adrenaline and we focus completely on immediate survival. We can access deep presence when needed – your brain does this during car accidents, natural disasters, or physical threats. This biological response has been with us for millions of years as a survival mechanism. Research shows these heightened states of awareness increase reaction time by up to 50%.