After 40 years of presenting the most famous and promising comedians on the planet, the legendary club, Carolines on Broadway is closing on Jan 1. In a world with “too many <comedians> and not enough mics,” the loss of an iconic stage is always a blow to the comedy community…

The outcry over the Saudi golf league reflects our collective self-deception — In his 1999 comedy special, Bigger & Blacker, Chris Rock makes a bold assertion about men and marital fidelity: “A man is basically as faithful as his options.” Unattractive men lack any basis for claiming they would never commit adultery, says Rock, because “nobody’s trying to (f*$&) them.” I’ve been…

Your Spraying and Praying Isn’t Helping You Dear Podcast Publicist, Thanks for your email. Before I reply to the enticing proposition to interview your creepy client with dubious credibility in his purported field of expertise, allow me to acknowledge the necessary and critical symbiosis between publicists and media properties. Journalists…

Cortés had second thoughts. You will too. — Quit your job. That’s what the cult of potential-achievement wants from you. They dare you to pull the ripcord, probing on their podcasts: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” (thus implying that anyone with a steady paycheck is a corporate cream puff). Modern ninjas, they preach, live awesomely…

I’m finally ready to start treating it that way — In early 2020, my fledgling stand-up comedy career was finally finding its footing. I had started working the road for a large chain of clubs and had booked upcoming gigs in New York City, where I had meetings with influential industry gatekeepers scheduled on March 17. Of course, that NYC…

What to do when your professional career becomes a grind — Bob stared at his iced tea and grilled salmon salad. A senior partner at a regional investment bank, he earns a very substantial income. He had asked me to lunch “just to catch up,” but I suspected he harbored a more urgent agenda. And here it was. “Paul, I still…

As the pandemic inches toward completion, here’s an important message: You’re not done yet — Heading into the final stretch of the women’s snowboard cross race at the 2006 Winter Olympics, American Lindsey Jacobellis held a commanding lead over her competitors. As she ascended the second-to-last jump, Jacobellis looked back to confirm her lead, flew into the air, then grabbed her board in a celebratory…

The struggle to attain a deeply meaningful life may be an issue of language — Over the past two years, I have conducted more than 100 podcast interviews with best-selling authors, prominent academics, and other high achievers about the connection of money, happiness, work, and meaning. In each of these conversations, I make a point to ask these thinkers how each of us can lead…

Why 10,000 hours doesn’t guarantee the success of your dream — In‌ ‌his‌ ‌2008‌ ‌bestselling book ‌Outliers‌,‌ ‌Malcolm‌ ‌Gladwell‌ ‌delivered‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ mainstream‌ ‌the‌ ‌theory‌ ‌that‌ ‌gaining‌ ‌mastery‌ ‌of‌ ‌any‌ ‌craft‌ ‌requires‌ ‌10,000‌ ‌hours‌ ‌of‌ ‌dedicated‌ ‌practice — as he calls it, “the magic number of greatness.” The‌ ‌trade‌ you’re in doesn’t‌ ‌matter‌ ‌much‌, he argued, ‌because‌ ‌what‌ ‌all‌ ‌skill-based‌ ‌pursuits‌…