Perhaps existential crisis is an inevitable part of the human condition.

Anyone reflective enough to spare a minute or two to question their existence and their reason for being; will begin to crave a sense of longing for a meaningful life — and the inability to fulfill this longing then causes a downward spiral of rumination.

Does that description resonate with you? Have you ever asked yourself:

• Why do I exist?
• What am I living for?
• What do I want to do?
• How should I spend this finite time?

It’s perfectly fine to not know the answers to these questions…

A few days ago, I finished reading Leonardo da Vinci’s biography by Walter Isaacson. This book is easily the best 30 bucks I’ve spent in lockdown. Such an amazing read! My mind was absolutely blown.

I’m sure you know who Leonardo da Vinci is (or at least have heard his name before), but I’ll refresh your memory anyway: With expertise spanning virtually all fields known to man — arts, science, engineering, humanities — Leonardo has been dubbed the “Renaissance Man.”

He is, arguably, history’s most creative genius.

How is it possible to become an expert in so many fields? And…

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

— Bob Napier

To effectively manage a social media marketing campaign, proper measurement is a must. But not all social media metrics are important, and measuring more than necessary is just a waste of time and energy.

What metrics should you measure? Well, that depends on your social media goals and the type of business you have, among other things.

In general, though, SproutSocial says there are five important metrics.

1. Engagement

“Whether it’s a digital product, like Google, or a physical product, like sneakers, you should make something that will move people. People don’t want to feel like they’re being told something — they want to be entertained, they want to be moved.”

— Anthony Cafaro

Social media marketing is not just about attention, but also emotion. A marketing campaign can go viral for numerous reasons, many of them obscure, but there’s at least one thing we know for sure: Viral content is often (if not always) emotionally significant.

Whether it makes the audience happy, sad, angry, or afraid; the content…

I hate the word “influencer.”

Don’t you? Social media has ruined that word. Nowadays, “influencer” just means a human billboard, but it used to mean something more. As the word suggests, an “influencer” is someone who “influences” — not just to sell products, but also to guide and inspire others.

But what makes someone an influencer? There are two things.

Social Capital

The first is “social capital,” which political scientist Robert Putnam defines as:

“The collective value of all social networks and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other.”

In contrast with “human capital,” which refers…

There are many problems in our world, and there are just as many social movements initiated to address them.

The thing is, while these movements have noble intentions, many of them are not done genuinely. There are some who use them for their own gains.

Many social movements are, sadly, only a form of performative activism.

What Is Performative Activism?

The term “performative activism” is used pejoratively to describe a type of social activism that’s done to increase one’s social capital, instead of advocating for the social cause itself.

Depending on the context, “performative wokeness” and “performative allyship” could be used interchangeably.

It’s closely…

Writing is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s not easy, and I don’t always love it, but I can’t deny all the blessings it has given me. There are just too many to ignore. The thing is, writing wouldn’t have done me this much good if I only kept it to myself.

I’ve been journalling since almost a decade ago, and I did found some value in it. At the end of the day, though, it’s only a private affair. Only I read my journal. …

“In a world where so much is ugly, beauty is as sustaining as bread.”

— Jordan Peterson

When you see the word “art,” what comes to your mind?

Gorgeous paintings? Cathartic melodies? Awe-inspiring films?

That’s fair, but why don’t we dig a bit deeper: What do those things mean to you? Are they a means of entertainment, or aesthetic expression? Or are they something more? What role does art play in the lives of human beings?

Well, here’s what I think.

Art in the Hierarchy of Needs

When we talk about the necessities of human life, perhaps the most well-known framework is Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of…