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"If you only read the stuff that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."What was once a manageable undertaking, reading is now a mind-numbing decision between hundreds of thousands of blog posts, ebooks and podcasts -- most of which are poorly done, fake, wrong and/or just downright useless.Because I read a lot -- like a lot, a lot -- as well as curate a weekly newsletter of the best things I read each week, I’m often asked what my favorite blogs are.@LaurenHolliday_ Hi! Do you have a list of your favorite blogs? You always share such great content and I'm looking for more things to read!— Marissa Vessels (@marissavessels) July 6, 2017So I scrolled through my Pocket to see what blogs popped up the most and developed this comprehensive list of my “favorite” blogs.My list covers a wide spectrum of topics (as I love to read about a lot of different things so I can connect dots faster) and all are trustworthy (according to me).This list is in no particular order, and as I’m sure I missed some noteworthy blogs, please do leave recommendations in the comments below, along with why it’s a phenomenal blog and who would enjoy reading it.Here are the categories I cover:Best Blogs for EntrepreneursBest Marketing BlogsBest SEO BlogsBest Social Media BlogsBest Copywriting BlogsBest Career BlogsBest Personal Development (Lifestyle) BlogsBest Productivity BlogsBest Popular Online PublicationsBest Freelancing BlogsBest UX BlogsBest Blogs for EntrepreneursGrowth LabGrowth Lab teaches SMBs how to start, build and grow their businesses through ACTIONABLE, step-by-step, meaty blog posts. And when I say meaty, some are 30-40 minute reads.Link:https://growthlab.comWho owns it?Ramit SethiFave posts:How to market your company without alienating your customers*How I self-published my book and sold 180,000 copiesThe anatomy of a six-figure email courseTrend WatchingTrend Watching is one of my favorite hidden gems. They publish one free briefing per month, and they are ALWAYS WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE!Who owns it?Reinier EversLink:http://trendwatching.com/freepublications/Fave Posts:Peer ArmiesSympathetic PricingThe F-FactorThe Future of Customer Experience5 Trends for 2017The Future of Luxury2016: Back from the DeadOkDorkOkDork features in-depth guides and strategies, based on proven frameworks and past experiences. You’ll learn things like: how to start a business, marketing, and more.Link:https://okdork.com/blogWho owns it?Noah KaganFave posts:Peek inside Intercom’s Multi-million Dollar SaaS Growth StrategyTime Management Tips of Insanely Busy PeopleA (Proven) Freelancer's Guide to Growing Your BusinessFirst Round ReviewFirst Round Review features 4,000+ word interviews with the smartest startup founders and their employees. The interviews are told in a story-like format with actionable advice weaved in throughout each post.Link:http://firstround.com/review/Who owns it?First RoundFave posts:Here's Why You're Not Hiring the Best and the BrightestDesigning Your Sales Stack so That Customers Come to YouThe [Adjective] [Number] Things You Need to Know About ClickbaitHire a Top Performer Every Time With These Interview QuestionsThe Surprising Secret to Being a Good BossWhy Most Startups Don't Get PressContently's CEO on Winning at Marketing's Fastest Growing TrendProduct HabitsProduct Habits publishes “the best content for creating better products.” Product teams, startup founders and marketers will all enjoy Hiten Shah’s content.Link:https://producthabits.com/blog/Who owns it?Hiten ShahFave posts:Why Every Business Should Start with a SpreadsheetAcquisition is Easy. Retention is Hard.Why the Next Generation of SaaS Will Look Like FacebookYour Startup Isn’t Solving the Right ProblemGrooveHQ BlogGrooveHQ’s blog theme is “Journey to $10M a Year.” It features step-by-step, actionable case studies for massively scaling businesses.Link:http://groovehq.com/blog/Who owns it?GrooveHQFave Posts:How We Got Our First 100 Paying Customers in 24 HoursHow to Handle an Angry Customer Service Complaint on Social MediaThe Power of Testimonials (And How We Get Great Ones)How our startup almost diedOur Startup’s 12-Month Growth StrategyShopify’s BlogShopify’s blog is phenomenal. It teaches entrepreneurs how to build profitable businesses online. Its blog posts are actionable and meaty.Link:https://www.shopify.com/blog/Who owns it?ShopifyFave posts:How to Write a Blog Post (That Actually Gets Read)The Definitive Guide to Dropshipping with AliExpressHow We Built Generated $922.16 in Revenue in 3 DaysHow I Built an Online T-Shirt Business and Made $1,248.90 in 3 WeeksHow to Write a Marketing PlanSelling Your Shopify Store: How One Entrepreneur Cashed Out and Made $81KFour Hour Work WeekFour Hour Work Week isn’t just a blog, it’s a lifestyle (and book). On it, Tim Ferriss provides readers with actionable advice that spans the spectrum of productivity, making money, personal development, health and marketing/scaling.Link:http://tim.blog/Who owns it?Tim FerrissFave posts:Marc Ecko’s 10 Rules for Getting "Influencer" AttentionHacking Kickstarter: How to Raise $100,000 in 10 DaysHow to Gather 100,000 Emails in One WeekHow I Built a #1-Ranked Podcast With 60M+ DownloadsNathan BarryNathan writes meaty posts about design and marketing. Do you want to become a better designer? Or build audiences and sell products? You’ll learn both on this blog.Link:http://nathanbarry.com/Who owns it?Nathan BarryFave posts:Knowing when to quitFrom Losing Money To A 51% Profit Margin In 5 MonthsStep-by-Step Landing Page CopywritingCrewCrew is a freelancer marketplace for designers and developers. Its blog centers around productivity, creativity and growing your startup.Who owns it?Tiny CapitalLink:https://crew.co/blog/Fave Posts:From a Mailchimp email and Wufoo form to $25k in 3 monthsHow to hack your passionWe just killed 75% of our side projects. Here’s why.How to regain focus and increase your working memory in 3 stepsProfit WellProft Well or Price Intelligently’s blog is the best blog on pricing strategies for entrepreneurs.Link:http://blog.profitwell.com/Who owns it?Patrick CampbellFave posts:Why Tinder’s charging older users more, and why it makes perfect senseThe Saddest SaaS Pricing Pages of the YearHad enough of Comcast's appalling pricing strategy? So have IYour Complete Guide to 21 Subscription Billing SystemsMake ItA modern blog on all aspects of entrepreneurship by CNBC.Who owns it?CNBCLink:https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/Fave Posts:Diversify Your Income: All my Ideas for Making Money Online (By your’s truly)Former Google career coach shares a trick for figuring out what to do with your lifeHow to Work From Home and Get Stuff Done (By your’s truly)Best Marketing BlogsSumoSumo publishes the same type of actionable content as Kagan’s other site: OkDork.Link:https://sumo.com/storiesWho owns it?Noah KaganFave posts:How to Get Thousands of Leads from Quora in Five MonthsThe Cold Sales Email Bible (With Templates)How Tony Robbins Generates 1,000,000 Website Visitors Per MonthHow Shopify Increased Revenue 90% in 365 DaysHubSpotHubSpot’s blog is the original inbound marketing blog. While most of its content is now aimed at new marketers, sometimes you get some advanced gems!Who owns it?HubSpotLink:http://blog.hubspot.comFave Posts:The Blogging Tactic No One Is Talking About: Optimizing the PastTopic Clusters: The Next Evolution of SEOHow to Write In-Depth Blog PostsConversion Rate ExpertsThis blog is owned by the conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency, known as Conversion Rate Experts. It features in-depth case studies, usually about real results it delivered for its clients.Who owns it?Ben JessonLink:https://conversion-rate-experts.com/articles/Fave Posts:How we made $1 million for Moz (formerly SEOmoz)How we increased the conversion rate of Voices.com by over 400%How we helped to grow a crowdsourced learning platformConversion for mobile: how we helped grow a FinTech company by 470%Conversion Killers: The Definitive GuideConversionXLConversionXL is one of the most popular blogs on conversion optimization, featuring actionable optimization advice, the latest research and detailed process maps on conversion optimization and data-driven growth.Link:https://conversionxl.com/blog/Who owns it?Peep LajaFave posts:How to Increase Conversions by Being Completely UnoriginalGoogle Analytics 101: How To Configure Google Analytics To Get Actionable DataA Step By Step Guide To Building Customer Journey MapsThe Advanced Guide to Emotional PersuasionMatthew BarbyLearn more about all things marketing through actionable, proven case studies and tactics by the Global Head of Growth & SEO at HubSpot.Link:https://www.matthewbarby.com/blogWho owns it?Matthew BarbyFave posts:How to Write for Top Tier PublicationsZero to One Million: an SEO Campaign BlueprintHacking Competitive Pricing Analysis with Scraping25 Growth Hacking Techniques for your StartupThinkGrowth.orgThis is HubSpot’s Medium publication that shares stories, insights and ideas to help readers grow their businesses.Who owns it?HubSpotLink:http://thinkgrowth.orgFave Posts:How to be Good at MarketingHow I Built a $100M+ Sales Channel By Challenging the Status QuoBuilding on Slack Saved Our StartupAndrew ChenLong-form essays on growth and cool things going on in Silicon Valley.Who owns it?Andrew ChenLink:http://andrewchen.co/recent/Fave Posts:The Law of Shitty ClickthroughsGrowth is Getting HardPsych’d: A new user psychology framework for increasing funnel conversionWhat 671 million push notifications say about how people spend their dayThere’s only a few ways to scale user growth, and here’s the listDigitalMarketerDigitalMarketer is the premier online community for digital marketing professionals. It’s a place where you can learn how to market like a pro, connect with industry experts, and get the strategies and tools you need to grow and scale your business to new heights.Link:http://www.digitalmarketer.com/blogWho owns it?Ryan DeissFave posts:The Ultimate List of Blog Post Ideas [2nd Edition]Customer Value Optimization: How to Build an Unstoppable Business[PDF Download] DigitalMarketer’s 101 Best Email Subject Lines of 2016CoelevateBrian Balfour writes detailed essays on growth and user acquisition to help you build a growth machine.Link:http://www.coelevate.com/essaysWho owns it?Brian BalfourFave posts:Inside the 6 Hypotheses that Doubled Patreon’s Activation SuccessHow To Become A Customer Acquisition ExpertGrowth Is Optional: 10 Reasons Why Companies Fail At GrowthBest SEO BlogsGapsGaps is a bootstrapped, three-man operation with the sole focus of helping create more online success stories by sharing unique business opportunities based on profitable case studies.Link:https://gaps.com/Who owns it?Glenn AllsoppFave posts:This 8-Page Website Generated Six-Figures in its First 8 MonthsThis Entrepreneur Makes $3M/Year Helping People Use His Brother’s Software90 of the Biggest Earners on Patreon (And What They’re Selling)BacklinkoBacklinko teaches readers how to rank higher in Google and increase traffic. This is *the* most actionable, in-depth blog on SEO out there.Link:backlinko.comWho owns it?Brian DeanFave posts:Video SEO: The Definitive GuideSEO Tools: The Complete List (2017 Update)201 Powerful SEO Tips (That Actually Work)How a Brand New Blog Generated 17,584 Visitors In One DayWe Analyzed 1 Million Google Search Results...Ahrefs BlogAhrefs teaches readers advanced marketing and SEO tactics. You’ll find detailed tutorials, case studies and opinion pieces from marketing practitioners and industry experts alike.Link:https://ahrefs.com/blog/Who owns it?AhrefsFave posts:I Just Deleted Your Outreach Email Without Reading. And NO, I Don’t Feel SorryGrowth Hacking Tactics That Every Startup Needs To Know*How a Viral Loop on LinkedIn Got Me 76k Email Subscribers in 1 Month200+ Actionable SEO Tips In One ‘Noob Friendly’ GuideHow long does it take to rank in Google? (A study by Ahrefs)How To Do Keyword Research in 2017 — Ahrefs’ GuideHow to Become a Marketing Manager*Moz BlogSimilar to Ahrefs blog, the Moz blog will teach you everything you need to know about marketing and SEO.Link:https://moz.com/blogWho owns it?MozFave posts:The Homepage is Dead: A Story of Website PersonalizationThe Art of Concision: How to Effectively Make Your Point in Fewer Words[Case Study] How We Ranked #1 for a High-Volume Keyword in Under 3 MonthsA Content Strategy Template You Can Build OnBest Social Media BlogsJon LoomerJon Loomer’s blog is all about Facebook ads -- for the *advanced* Facebook marketer.Who owns it?Jon LoomerLink:https://www.jonloomer.com/Fave Posts:How to Create a Basic Evergreen Facebook Ad CampaignExample: Facebook Ad Targeting and ResultsMy 15 Facebook Ad CampaignsAdEspresso’s BlogHootsuite’s AdEspresso has a badass “academy” that not only features meaty posts about Facebook ads but also insightful, in-depth guides and resources.Who owns it?HootsuiteLink:https://adespresso.com/academy/blog/Fave posts:The Definitive Guide to Content CurationFacebook Ads Case Study: The Million Dollar Indiegogo Campaign7 Ways Psychology Can Make Your Facebook Ads UnforgettableWe Analyzed 37,259 Facebook Ads. Here's What We Learned.Social Media ExaminerSME’s mission is to help readers navigate the constantly changing social media jungle. It features original, comprehensive articles, expert interviews, original research, and the news you need to improve your social media marketing.Who owns it?Michael StelznerLink:https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/Fave Posts:How to Find Social Media Micro-influencers for Your Small BusinessHow to Research Your Competitors on InstagramHow to Improve Your Facebook Ads With Customer ReviewsHow to Repurpose Videos Into Many Forms of Valuable ContentBest Copywriting BlogsKopywriting KourseOne of the absolute best copywriting -- excuse me, kopywriting -- blogs you’ll read.Who owns it?Neville MedhoraLink:https://kopywritingkourse.com/blog/Fave Posts:Advertorials: How To Write Them & Why They’re AwesomeCopywriting Headlines That Sell (with Templates & Swipe File)Elevator Pitch Generator w/ Examples & TemplatesCopywriter Salary Range: Entry Level to Successful FreelancerCopyhackersCopyhackers teaches its readers how to boost conversions with words that drive people to take action. It will teach you to write copy that you’re proud to show off on your portfolio.Who owns it?Joanna WiebeLink:https://copyhackers.com/Fave Posts:The Ultimate Guide to No-Pain CopywritingI used cold emails to 14x my freelance copywriting business.CopybloggerCopyblogger teaches readers how to create killer online content. Not bland, corporate crap created to fill up space. Valuable information that attracts attention, drives traffic and grows your business.Who owns it?Brian ClarkLink:http://copyblogger.com/blogFave Posts:21 Juicy Prompts that Inspire Fascinating ContentCopywriting 101How to Nail the Opening of Your Blog PostHow to Think About GoogleHow to Decide Which Content to Sell and What to Give Away for FreeBest Career BlogsQuartz at WorkQuartz at Work is a guide to being a better manager, building a career, and navigating the modern workplace.Who owns it?Atlantic MediaLink:https://work.qz.com/99u99U is an online publication for smart creatives -- designers, writers, entrepreneurs, marketers, etc. It kind-of reminds of Paul Jarvis.Who owns it?AdobeLink:http://99u.com/Fave Posts:Nobody Cares How Hard You WorkYou Don't Need to Learn to Code and Other Truths About the Future of CareersThe 4 Types of Productivity StylesThe Careers Crossroads ChecklistHow to Fight Through Intellectual DiscomfortThe Danger of Making a Backup PlanHarvard Business Review (HBR)HBR helps you navigate all your workplace conundrums. From abusive bosses to staying focused in the office and the future of work, HBR covers it all.Who owns it?Harvard Business PublishingLink:https://hbr.org/Fave Posts:Why do so many incompetent men become leaders?Why your late twenties is the worst time of your lifeWhy you should have at least two careersThe H-1B Visa Debate, ExplainedHow to improve your business writingYour digital year in reviewTEDTED has even more phenomenal content hidden on its ideas’ blog. The posts are classic TED -- just like the videos but written -- for us people who prefer to read instead.Who owns it?TEDLink:https://ideas.ted.com/Fave Posts:What 2,000 deaths can teach us about living a good life7 lessons about finding the work you were meant to dofreeCodeCampfreeCodeCamp writes the meatiest blog posts about development, design and data science. Not interested in those topics? Me neither, but I still LOVE reading this blog.Link:https://medium.freecodecamp.org/Who owns it?Quincy LarsonFave posts:I spent 3 months applying to jobs after a coding bootcamp. Here’s what I learned.What I learned from reviewing 50 portfolios on Reddit in 3 crazy days.I wanted to see how far I could push myself creatively. So I redesigned Instagram.How to interview a companyHow to talk about your side-projectsHow I convinced an employer to take a chance on me and pay me to learn to code.You in 6 seconds: how to write a résumé that employers will actually readHow to not set a bunch of money on fireResumes Suck: Here's the dataI Will Teach You to be RichRamit Sethi turned his bestselling book into a hugely popular blog. On it, he shares proven tactics for salary negotiation, interviewing and getting rich.Link:https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/Who owns it?Ramit SethiFave posts:Salary negotiation: How to negotiate better than 99% of peopleSecret scents of successHow to find your Dream JobHow to be popularUltimate Guide to Getting a Raise & Boosting Your SalaryHow to write an introduction email that works (with scripts)The Firehose ProjectFirehose’s blog teaches developers how to land a job and learn how to code… the right way. I also find some of its posts totally relatable as a non-developer.Who owns it?FirehoseLink:http://blog.thefirehoseproject.com/Fave Posts:Here’s What You Can Learn in 10 Minutes29 behaviors that will make you an unstoppable programmerThe Wrong Way to Learn to CodeThe Only Thing Between You and a New Job as a Junior Web DeveloperBest Personal Development Blogs (Lifestyle Blogs)Marc and Angel Hack LifeThe goal of this blog is to give readers the tools to identify and transform the limiting beliefs that keep you stuck. The blog offers more than 800 articles on happiness, productivity, emotional intelligence, relationships and self-improvement.Who owns it?Marc and Angel ChernoffLink:http://marcandangel.com/Fave Posts:7 Things You Have to Stop Believing to Live a Successful Life On Your Own Terms20 Ways to Accidentally Ruin the Next 20 Years of Your LifeAn Open Letter to Those Who Are Overwhelmed (and Not Sure What to Do Next)Mark MansonThere’s no sugarcoating with Mark Manson. That’s why I love his blog. He covers everything from happiness to dating to habits and self-knowledge.Who owns it?Mark MansonLink:https://markmanson.netFave Posts:1,500 People Give All The Relationship Advice You’ll Ever NeedFind What You Love And Let It Kill YouHow to be More Productive by Working LessWhat's the Problem With Men?Brain PickingsBrain Pickings is a one-woman labor of love — a subjective lens on what matters in the world and why. Mostly, it’s a record of Maria Popova’s own becoming as a person — intellectually, creatively, spiritually — and an inquiry into how to live and what it means to lead a good life.Who owns it?Maria PopovaLink:https://www.brainpickings.orgFave Posts:How to avoid workGivers, Takers, and Matchers: The Surprising Psychology of SuccessA Technique for Producing IdeasFixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our LivesScience of UsScience of Us is a smart but playful window into the latest science on human behavior, with the goal of enlightening, entertaining and providing useful information that can be applied to everyday life.Who owns it?New York MagazineLink:http://nymag.com/scienceofus/Fave Posts:Do you have any idea what other people think of you?A psychologist explains how to revive a dead friendshipHow to be better in bed: 5 science-backed tipsWhy everything always takes longer than you thinkThe best way to follow your dreams is by keeping your day jobHow to make yourself work when you really don't feel like itSeth GodinSeth Godin is probably the only person -- besides Jason Fried -- who can get away with writing such ridiculously popular short posts. The man really makes you think and question the norm.Link:http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/Fave Posts:Let’s stop calling them soft skillsFalling down the quality abyssThe interim strategyMake three listsThe Players’ TribuneThe Players’ Tribune is written by professional athletes. Don’t write them off if you’re not into sports. I’m totally not into sports, but I find the content just completely motivating.Who owns it?Derek JeterLink:https://www.theplayerstribune.comFave Posts:Ray Allen: Letter to my Younger SelfAntoine Walker: Letter to my Younger SelfSignal v. Noise“Strong opinions and shared thoughts on design, business, and tech. By the makers (and friends) of Basecamp. Since 1999.”Who owns it?BasecampLink:https://m.signalvnoise.comFave Posts:Exponential growth devours and corruptsDoes that matter?BASECAMP VALUATION TOPS $100 BILLION AFTER BOLD VC INVESTMENTReconsiderWait but WhyWait but Why is hilarious and, most of the time, pretty damn insightful. It’s also eerily on-point. Tim says what we’re all thinking. The blog isn’t about one specific topic, and it’s known for its signature stick figure comics.Who owns it?Tim UrbanLink:https://waitbutwhy.com/Fave Posts:Doing a TED Talk: The Full StoryHow I Handle Long Email DelaysHow to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 1How to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 2Thrive GlobalThrive Global’s mission is to end the stress and burnout epidemic by offering companies and individuals sustainable, science-based solutions to enhance well-being, performance, and purpose, and create a healthier relationship with technology.Who owns it?Arianna HuffingtonLink:https://www.thriveglobal.com/Fave Posts:10 Uncomfortable Things That Will Make You Happy and SuccessfulYou Need a Solid Daily Routine. Your Long-Term Success Depends on itAnything Is Possible If You Pay The PriceWhy Popularity Matters So Much—Even After High SchoolBarking up the Wrong TreeBarking up the Wrong Tree is written by Eric Barker. He answers all of your life questions and backs it up with science-based facts and expert insights.Who owns it?Eric BarkerLink:bakadesuyo.comFave Posts:This Is How To Make Friends As An Adult: 5 Secrets Backed By ResearchThe Science Of “Happily Ever After”: 3 Things That Keep Love AliveImpostor Syndrome: Why You Feel Like A Fraud And How To Overcome ItNYPD Hostage Negotiators On How To Persuade People: 4 New SecretsComputer Science Reveals 4 Secrets That Will Make You HappyHow To Increase Motivation: 4 Secrets From ResearchJames ClearJames studies successful people across a wide range of disciplines — entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and more — to uncover the habits and routines that make these people the best at what they do. Then, he shares what he learns via his blog and newsletter.Who owns it?James ClearLink:http://jamesclear.comFave Posts:Constraints Make You Better: Why the Right Limitations Boost PerformanceEntropy: Why Life Always Seems to Get More ComplicatedHow to Spot a Common Mental Error That Leads to Misguided ThinkingThe Downside of Work-Life BalanceHow to Stick With Good Habits Every Day by Using the “Paper Clip Strategy”Art of ManlinessLadies, don’t let its name fool you. This blog offers lots of hidden gems for us as well -- from practical career advice and productivity tips to basic social etiquette.Who owns it?Brett McKayLink:http://artofmanliness.comFave Posts:Why Negativity Is a Social KillerDon’t Take Your Marching Orders From Your BellyHow and Why to Hold a Weekly Marriage MeetingHow to Manage Inbox Overload and Actually Get Stuff DoneThe Book of LifeIt’s called The Book of Life because it’s about the most substantial things in your life: your relationships, your income, your career, your anxieties.Who owns it?The School of LifeLink:http://www.thebookoflife.org/Fave Posts:How to get over someoneHow to decideWhat is love?The OatmealSimilar to Wait but Why, The Oatmeal features funny[-looking] comics that are so funny because they’re true.Who owns it?Matthew InmanLink:http://theoatmeal.com/comicsFave Posts:You aren't going to believe what I'm about to tell youHow to get more likes on FacebookWhy working from home is both awesome and horribleHow a web design goes straight to hellLiterallyScott YoungScott Young answers the question: “What’s the best to way learn?” on his blog. He teaches you everything he’s learned about learning and thinking. Super interesting stuff!Who owns it?Scott YoungLink:https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/Fave Posts:How to Start Your Own Ultralearning Project (Part One)If You Had Ten Years to Learn Anything, What Would You Do?The most common misconception about learningThe Irony of Focus: Why Doing Only One Thing Actually Lets You Do MoreBest Productivity BlogsTodoist BlogThe Todoist blog is obviously about all things productivity. Its in-depth guides offer great insights to how to be more efficient -- with or without Todoist.Who owns it?TodoistLink:http://blog.todoist.comFave Posts:An In-Depth Guide To Choosing The Best Online Learning SitesThe Ultimate Guide to Personal Productivity MethodsSystemist: A modern productivity workflowWant to be more productive? Don’t go paperless.Farnam StreetFarnam Street is helps readers develop an understanding of how the world really works, make better decisions and live a better life. Shane Parrish address topics like: mental models, decision making, learning, reading and the art of living.Who owns it?Shane ParrishLink:Farnamstreetblog.comFave Posts:Becoming an Expert: The Elements of SuccessHunter S. Thompson’s Letter on Finding Your PurposePeople Don’t Follow Titles: Necessity and Sufficiency in LeadershipZapierZapier, the wildly popular workflow automation tool, has a phenomenal blog. Its in-depth, tactical posts will teach you how to be more productive in no time.Who owns it?Danny Schreiber is the marketing director at Zapier.Link:https://zapier.com/blog/Fave Posts:The Art of Delegating: What and How to Delegate to Your DirectsThe Beginner's Guide to Dictation Software10 Shortcuts for Composing Outlines, Research, HTML Tables and MoreThe Effective EngineerTime is your most valuable resource. Learn how to use it efficiently. And don’t let this name fool you either. I’m far from an engineer, but I do extract little gems of productivity inspiration here.Who owns it?Edmond LauLink:http://www.effectiveengineer.com/blogFave Posts:The Highest-Leverage Activities Aren’t Always Deep WorkHow to Measure Engineering ProductivityTaking Ownership Is The Most Effective Way to Get What You WantThe 3 Keys to a Remarkable CareerAsian Efficiency“Don’t let the name fool you – this website is for anyone who is interested in time management and productivity, not just Asians.”Who owns it?Thanh PhamLink:http://www.asianefficiency.com/blog/Fave Posts:Simple Ways to Collect Your Personal Data and Use it for Self-ImprovementThe Definitive Guide to “Batching” Your WorkBest Online PublicationsNew York MagazineNY Mag has a few different publications I just love, such as SelectAll, The Cut and The Science of Us. The content is forward-thinking and usually provacative.Who owns it?Pamela WassersteinLink:http://nymag.comFave Posts:Why Do We Humanize White Guys Who Kill People?Tumblr’s Unclear Future Shows That There’s No Money in Internet Culture25 Famous Women on Being AloneWhat Mass Killers Really Have in CommonCareer Advice From a High-Powered BusinessladyQuartzWhile I tend to steer clear of Quartz’s hard news posts, I tend LOVE its more feature-esque posts -- a lot of which are syndicated from other popular blogs.Who owns it?Atlantic MediaLink:https://qz.com/Fave Posts:We analyzed every “Modern Love” column from the past 10 years.How a spreadsheet helped me tackle my depressionBloombergWhile I don’t love Bloomberg’s political stories, I do love its meaty feature stories.Who owns it?Michael BloombergLink:http://bloomberg.comFave Posts:Confessions of an Instagram InfluencerAmericans Are Paying $38 to Collect $1 of Student DebtThe Wrong Kind of Entrepreneurs Flourish in AmericaThis Is How Uber Takes Over a CityAeonAeon is a digital magazine of ideas, philosophy and culture. Publishing new articles every weekday, Aeon describes itself as a publication which asks the biggest questions and finds the freshest, most original answers, provided by world-leading authorities on science, philosophy and society.Who owns it?Paul and Brigid HainsLink:https://aeon.coFave Posts:The weaponised loserStupefiedWhat know-it-alls don’t know, or the illusion of competenceColumbia Journalism Review (CJR)CJR’s mission is to be the intellectual leader in the rapidly changing world of journalism. Through its fast-turn analysis and deep reporting, CJR is an essential venue not just for journalists, but also for the thousands of professionals in communications, technology, academia, and other fields reliant on solid media industry knowledge.Who owns it?Columbia University Graduate School of JournalismLink:https://www.cjr.org/Fave Posts:The Platform Press: How Silicon Valley reengineered journalismSprawling freelancer network pays dividends for The Washington PostStop killing your social stories with bad headlines and imagesStylebooks finally embrace the single ‘they’Investigating the algorithms that govern our livesVice shows how not to treat freelancersNautilus | Science ConnectedEach month Nautilus chooses a single topic, and each Thursday it publishes a new chapter on that month’s topic. Each issue combines the sciences, culture and philosophy into a single story told by the world’s leading thinkers and writers.Link:http://nautil.us/blogFave Posts:The anatomy of charismaWhy your brain hates other peopleThis is your brain on silenceHow designers engineer luck into video gamesBest Freelancing BlogsPaul JarvisPaul is the creator of the Creative Class. He writes articles about creating a better (not necessarily bigger) business for smart creatives.Who owns it?Paul JarvisLink:https://pjrvs.com/articles/Fave Posts:Do what you say you’re going to doThe three most powerful newsletter automationsHow’d you get a book deal?Double Your FreelancingThis blog is great for new and old freelancers who want to earn more money and work with better clients.Who owns it?Brennan DunnLink:http://doubleyourfreelancing.comFave Posts:The Definitive Guide To Getting Paid As A FreelancerThe Freelancer’s Guide To Client Retainer AgreementsWhy You Should Learn Marketing AutomationBest UX BlogsThe LogbookThis blog is created by a remote design and development agency, called Hanno. It takes about its processes a lot, which I enjoy, and definitely can teach freelancers a thing or two about running a business/firm.Who owns it?Jon Lay, HannoLink:https://hanno.co/blog/Fave Posts:The 6 ages of an agencyInvesting in tools is a no-brainer. Here’s how much we’re spending.Stop reinventing the wheelPlaybooksNir & FarNir & Far is about the intersection of psychology, technology and business. Also known as “behavioral design,” topics include: UX, behavioral economics and a dash of neuroscience.Who owns it?Nir EyalLink:https://www.nirandfar.com/blogFave Posts:Hooks: An Intro on How to Manufacture DesireHow to Achieve Your Goals By Creating an EnemyHow to Clear Your Computer of Focus-Draining DistractionDtelepathyDigital Telepathy is a top UX design agency, and it’s blog is great! It’s about all things design-related.Who owns it?Digital TelepathyLink:https://www.dtelepathy.com/blog/Fave Posts:50 Beautiful Color Palettes for Your Next Web ProjectGoogle Spreadsheets: More Useful Than You Thought8 Reasons Why Pageless Design is the Future of the WebImprove Your Customer’s Experience With Experience MappingOrbit Media’s BlogOrbit Media builds websites. Its blog features posts about all things web design and marketing.Who owns it?Orbit Media StudiosLink:https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/Fave Posts:Website Footer Design Best Practices: 27 Things to Put at the BottomSurvey of 1000+ Bloggers: How to Be in the Top 5%Website Navigation: 7 Best Practices, Design Tips and WarningsThis post originally appeared on The New and The Next.

"If you only read the stuff that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."What was once a manageable undertaking, reading is now a mind-numbing decision between hundreds of thousands of blog posts, ebooks and podcasts -- most of which are poorly done, fake, wrong and/or just downright useless.Because I read a lot -- like a lot, a lot -- as well as curate a weekly newsletter of the best things I read each week, I’m often asked what my favorite blogs are.@LaurenHolliday_ Hi! Do you have a list of your favorite blogs? You always share such great content and I'm looking for more things to read!— Marissa Vessels (@marissavessels) July 6, 2017So I scrolled through my Pocket to see what blogs popped up the most and developed this comprehensive list of my “favorite” blogs.My list covers a wide spectrum of topics (as I love to read about a lot of different things so I can connect dots faster) and all are trustworthy (according to me).This list is in no particular order, and as I’m sure I missed some noteworthy blogs, please do leave recommendations in the comments below, along with why it’s a phenomenal blog and who would enjoy reading it.Here are the categories I cover:Best Blogs for EntrepreneursBest Marketing BlogsBest SEO BlogsBest Social Media BlogsBest Copywriting BlogsBest Career BlogsBest Personal Development (Lifestyle) BlogsBest Productivity BlogsBest Popular Online PublicationsBest Freelancing BlogsBest UX BlogsBest Blogs for EntrepreneursGrowth LabGrowth Lab teaches SMBs how to start, build and grow their businesses through ACTIONABLE, step-by-step, meaty blog posts. And when I say meaty, some are 30-40 minute reads.Link:https://growthlab.comWho owns it?Ramit SethiFave posts:How to market your company without alienating your customers*How I self-published my book and sold 180,000 copiesThe anatomy of a six-figure email courseTrend WatchingTrend Watching is one of my favorite hidden gems. They publish one free briefing per month, and they are ALWAYS WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE!Who owns it?Reinier EversLink:http://trendwatching.com/freepub...Fave Posts:Peer ArmiesSympathetic PricingThe F-FactorThe Future of Customer Experience5 Trends for 2017The Future of Luxury2016: Back from the DeadOkDorkOkDork features in-depth guides and strategies, based on proven frameworks and past experiences. You’ll learn things like: how to start a business, marketing, and more.Link:https://okdork.com/blogWho owns it?Noah KaganFave posts:Peek inside Intercom’s Multi-million Dollar SaaS Growth StrategyTime Management Tips of Insanely Busy PeopleA (Proven) Freelancer's Guide to Growing Your BusinessFirst Round ReviewFirst Round Review features 4,000+ word interviews with the smartest startup founders and their employees. The interviews are told in a story-like format with actionable advice weaved in throughout each post.Link:http://firstround.com/review/Who owns it?First RoundFave posts:Here's Why You're Not Hiring the Best and the BrightestDesigning Your Sales Stack so That Customers Come to YouThe [Adjective] [Number] Things You Need to Know About ClickbaitHire a Top Performer Every Time With These Interview QuestionsThe Surprising Secret to Being a Good BossWhy Most Startups Don't Get PressContently's CEO on Winning at Marketing's Fastest Growing TrendProduct HabitsProduct Habits publishes “the best content for creating better products.” Product teams, startup founders and marketers will all enjoy Hiten Shah’s content.Link:https://producthabits.com/blog/Who owns it?Hiten ShahFave posts:Why Every Business Should Start with a SpreadsheetAcquisition is Easy. Retention is Hard.Why the Next Generation of SaaS Will Look Like FacebookYour Startup Isn’t Solving the Right ProblemGrooveHQ BlogGrooveHQ’s blog theme is “Journey to $10M a Year.” It features step-by-step, actionable case studies for massively scaling businesses.Link:http://groovehq.com/blog/Who owns it?GrooveHQFave Posts:How We Got Our First 100 Paying Customers in 24 HoursHow to Handle an Angry Customer Service Complaint on Social MediaThe Power of Testimonials (And How We Get Great Ones)How our startup almost diedOur Startup’s 12-Month Growth StrategyShopify’s BlogShopify’s blog is phenomenal. It teaches entrepreneurs how to build profitable businesses online. Its blog posts are actionable and meaty.Link:https://www.shopify.com/blog/Who owns it?ShopifyFave posts:How to Write a Blog Post (That Actually Gets Read)The Definitive Guide to Dropshipping with AliExpressHow We Built Generated $922.16 in Revenue in 3 DaysHow I Built an Online T-Shirt Business and Made $1,248.90 in 3 WeeksHow to Write a Marketing PlanSelling Your Shopify Store: How One Entrepreneur Cashed Out and Made $81KFour Hour Work WeekFour Hour Work Week isn’t just a blog, it’s a lifestyle (and book). On it, Tim Ferriss provides readers with actionable advice that spans the spectrum of productivity, making money, personal development, health and marketing/scaling.Link:http://tim.blog/Who owns it?Tim FerrissFave posts:Marc Ecko’s 10 Rules for Getting "Influencer" AttentionHacking Kickstarter: How to Raise $100,000 in 10 DaysHow to Gather 100,000 Emails in One WeekHow I Built a #1-Ranked Podcast With 60M+ DownloadsNathan BarryNathan writes meaty posts about design and marketing. Do you want to become a better designer? Or build audiences and sell products? You’ll learn both on this blog.Link:http://nathanbarry.com/Who owns it?Nathan BarryFave posts:Knowing when to quitFrom Losing Money To A 51% Profit Margin In 5 MonthsStep-by-Step Landing Page CopywritingCrewCrew is a freelancer marketplace for designers and developers. Its blog centers around productivity, creativity and growing your startup.Who owns it?Tiny CapitalLink:https://crew.co/blog/Fave Posts:From a Mailchimp email and Wufoo form to $25k in 3 monthsHow to hack your passionWe just killed 75% of our side projects. Here’s why.How to regain focus and increase your working memory in 3 stepsProfit WellProft Well or Price Intelligently’s blog is the best blog on pricing strategies for entrepreneurs.Link:http://blog.profitwell.com/Who owns it?Patrick CampbellFave posts:Why Tinder’s charging older users more, and why it makes perfect senseThe Saddest SaaS Pricing Pages of the YearHad enough of Comcast's appalling pricing strategy? So have IYour Complete Guide to 21 Subscription Billing SystemsMake ItA modern blog on all aspects of entrepreneurship by CNBC.Who owns it?CNBCLink:https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/Fave Posts:Diversify Your Income: All my Ideas for Making Money Online (By your’s truly)Former Google career coach shares a trick for figuring out what to do with your lifeHow to Work From Home and Get Stuff Done (By your’s truly)Best Marketing BlogsSumoSumo publishes the same type of actionable content as Kagan’s other site: OkDork.Link:https://sumo.com/storiesWho owns it?Noah KaganFave posts:How to Get Thousands of Leads from Quora in Five MonthsThe Cold Sales Email Bible (With Templates)How Tony Robbins Generates 1,000,000 Website Visitors Per MonthHow Shopify Increased Revenue 90% in 365 DaysHubSpotHubSpot’s blog is the original inbound marketing blog. While most of its content is now aimed at new marketers, sometimes you get some advanced gems!Who owns it?HubSpotLink:http://blog.hubspot.comFave Posts:The Blogging Tactic No One Is Talking About: Optimizing the PastTopic Clusters: The Next Evolution of SEOHow to Write In-Depth Blog PostsConversion Rate ExpertsThis blog is owned by the conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency, known as Conversion Rate Experts. It features in-depth case studies, usually about real results it delivered for its clients.Who owns it?Ben JessonLink:https://conversion-rate-experts....Fave Posts:How we made $1 million for Moz (formerly SEOmoz)How we increased the conversion rate of Voices.com by over 400%How we helped to grow a crowdsourced learning platformConversion for mobile: how we helped grow a FinTech company by 470%Conversion Killers: The Definitive GuideConversionXLConversionXL is one of the most popular blogs on conversion optimization, featuring actionable optimization advice, the latest research and detailed process maps on conversion optimization and data-driven growth.Link:https://conversionxl.com/blog/Who owns it?Peep LajaFave posts:How to Increase Conversions by Being Completely UnoriginalGoogle Analytics 101: How To Configure Google Analytics To Get Actionable DataA Step By Step Guide To Building Customer Journey MapsThe Advanced Guide to Emotional PersuasionMatthew BarbyLearn more about all things marketing through actionable, proven case studies and tactics by the Global Head of Growth & SEO at HubSpot.Link:https://www.matthewbarby.com/blogWho owns it?Matthew BarbyFave posts:How to Write for Top Tier PublicationsZero to One Million: an SEO Campaign BlueprintHacking Competitive Pricing Analysis with Scraping25 Growth Hacking Techniques for your StartupThinkGrowth.orgThis is HubSpot’s Medium publication that shares stories, insights and ideas to help readers grow their businesses.Who owns it?HubSpotLink:http://thinkgrowth.orgFave Posts:How to be Good at MarketingHow I Built a $100M+ Sales Channel By Challenging the Status QuoBuilding on Slack Saved Our StartupAndrew ChenLong-form essays on growth and cool things going on in Silicon Valley.Who owns it?Andrew ChenLink:http://andrewchen.co/recent/Fave Posts:The Law of Shitty ClickthroughsGrowth is Getting HardPsych’d: A new user psychology framework for increasing funnel conversionWhat 671 million push notifications say about how people spend their dayThere’s only a few ways to scale user growth, and here’s the listDigitalMarketerDigitalMarketer is the premier online community for digital marketing professionals. It’s a place where you can learn how to market like a pro, connect with industry experts, and get the strategies and tools you need to grow and scale your business to new heights.Link:http://www.digitalmarketer.com/blogWho owns it?Ryan DeissFave posts:The Ultimate List of Blog Post Ideas [2nd Edition]Customer Value Optimization: How to Build an Unstoppable Business[PDF Download] DigitalMarketer’s 101 Best Email Subject Lines of 2016CoelevateBrian Balfour writes detailed essays on growth and user acquisition to help you build a growth machine.Link:http://www.coelevate.com/essaysWho owns it?Brian BalfourFave posts:Inside the 6 Hypotheses that Doubled Patreon’s Activation SuccessHow To Become A Customer Acquisition ExpertGrowth Is Optional: 10 Reasons Why Companies Fail At GrowthBest SEO BlogsGapsGaps is a bootstrapped, three-man operation with the sole focus of helping create more online success stories by sharing unique business opportunities based on profitable case studies.Link:https://gaps.com/Who owns it?Glenn AllsoppFave posts:This 8-Page Website Generated Six-Figures in its First 8 MonthsThis Entrepreneur Makes $3M/Year Helping People Use His Brother’s Software90 of the Biggest Earners on Patreon (And What They’re Selling)BacklinkoBacklinko teaches readers how to rank higher in Google and increase traffic. This is *the* most actionable, in-depth blog on SEO out there.Link:backlinko.comWho owns it?Brian DeanFave posts:Video SEO: The Definitive GuideSEO Tools: The Complete List (2017 Update)201 Powerful SEO Tips (That Actually Work)How a Brand New Blog Generated 17,584 Visitors In One DayWe Analyzed 1 Million Google Search Results...Ahrefs BlogAhrefs teaches readers advanced marketing and SEO tactics. You’ll find detailed tutorials, case studies and opinion pieces from marketing practitioners and industry experts alike.Link:https://ahrefs.com/blog/Who owns it?AhrefsFave posts:I Just Deleted Your Outreach Email Without Reading. And NO, I Don’t Feel SorryGrowth Hacking Tactics That Every Startup Needs To Know*How a Viral Loop on LinkedIn Got Me 76k Email Subscribers in 1 Month200+ Actionable SEO Tips In One ‘Noob Friendly’ GuideHow long does it take to rank in Google? (A study by Ahrefs)How To Do Keyword Research in 2017 — Ahrefs’ GuideHow to Become a Marketing Manager*Moz BlogSimilar to Ahrefs blog, the Moz blog will teach you everything you need to know about marketing and SEO.Link:https://moz.com/blogWho owns it?MozFave posts:The Homepage is Dead: A Story of Website PersonalizationThe Art of Concision: How to Effectively Make Your Point in Fewer Words[Case Study] How We Ranked #1 for a High-Volume Keyword in Under 3 MonthsA Content Strategy Template You Can Build OnBest Social Media BlogsJon LoomerJon Loomer’s blog is all about Facebook ads -- for the *advanced* Facebook marketer.Who owns it?Jon LoomerLink:https://www.jonloomer.com/Fave Posts:How to Create a Basic Evergreen Facebook Ad CampaignExample: Facebook Ad Targeting and ResultsMy 15 Facebook Ad CampaignsAdEspresso’s BlogHootsuite’s AdEspresso has a badass “academy” that not only features meaty posts about Facebook ads but also insightful, in-depth guides and resources.Who owns it?HootsuiteLink:https://adespresso.com/academy/b...Fave posts:The Definitive Guide to Content CurationFacebook Ads Case Study: The Million Dollar Indiegogo Campaign7 Ways Psychology Can Make Your Facebook Ads UnforgettableWe Analyzed 37,259 Facebook Ads. Here's What We Learned.Social Media ExaminerSME’s mission is to help readers navigate the constantly changing social media jungle. It features original, comprehensive articles, expert interviews, original research, and the news you need to improve your social media marketing.Who owns it?Michael StelznerLink:https://www.socialmediaexaminer....Fave Posts:How to Find Social Media Micro-influencers for Your Small BusinessHow to Research Your Competitors on InstagramHow to Improve Your Facebook Ads With Customer ReviewsHow to Repurpose Videos Into Many Forms of Valuable ContentBest Copywriting BlogsKopywriting KourseOne of the absolute best copywriting -- excuse me, kopywriting -- blogs you’ll read.Who owns it?Neville MedhoraLink:https://kopywritingkourse.com/blog/Fave Posts:Advertorials: How To Write Them & Why They’re AwesomeCopywriting Headlines That Sell (with Templates & Swipe File)Elevator Pitch Generator w/ Examples & TemplatesCopywriter Salary Range: Entry Level to Successful FreelancerCopyhackersCopyhackers teaches its readers how to boost conversions with words that drive people to take action. It will teach you to write copy that you’re proud to show off on your portfolio.Who owns it?Joanna WiebeLink:https://copyhackers.com/Fave Posts:The Ultimate Guide to No-Pain CopywritingI used cold emails to 14x my freelance copywriting business.CopybloggerCopyblogger teaches readers how to create killer online content. Not bland, corporate crap created to fill up space. Valuable information that attracts attention, drives traffic and grows your business.Who owns it?Brian ClarkLink:http://copyblogger.com/blogFave Posts:21 Juicy Prompts that Inspire Fascinating ContentCopywriting 101How to Nail the Opening of Your Blog PostHow to Think About GoogleHow to Decide Which Content to Sell and What to Give Away for FreeBest Career BlogsQuartz at WorkQuartz at Work is a guide to being a better manager, building a career, and navigating the modern workplace.Who owns it?Atlantic MediaLink:https://work.qz.com/99u99U is an online publication for smart creatives -- designers, writers, entrepreneurs, marketers, etc. It kind-of reminds of Paul Jarvis.Who owns it?AdobeLink:http://99u.com/Fave Posts:Nobody Cares How Hard You WorkYou Don't Need to Learn to Code and Other Truths About the Future of CareersThe 4 Types of Productivity StylesThe Careers Crossroads ChecklistHow to Fight Through Intellectual DiscomfortThe Danger of Making a Backup PlanHarvard Business Review (HBR)HBR helps you navigate all your workplace conundrums. From abusive bosses to staying focused in the office and the future of work, HBR covers it all.Who owns it?Harvard Business PublishingLink:https://hbr.org/Fave Posts:Why do so many incompetent men become leaders?Why your late twenties is the worst time of your lifeWhy you should have at least two careersThe H-1B Visa Debate, ExplainedHow to improve your business writingYour digital year in reviewTEDTED has even more phenomenal content hidden on its ideas’ blog. The posts are classic TED -- just like the videos but written -- for us people who prefer to read instead.Who owns it?TEDLink:https://ideas.ted.com/Fave Posts:What 2,000 deaths can teach us about living a good life7 lessons about finding the work you were meant to dofreeCodeCampfreeCodeCamp writes the meatiest blog posts about development, design and data science. Not interested in those topics? Me neither, but I still LOVE reading this blog.Link:https://medium.freecodecamp.org/Who owns it?Quincy LarsonFave posts:I spent 3 months applying to jobs after a coding bootcamp. Here’s what I learned.What I learned from reviewing 50 portfolios on Reddit in 3 crazy days.I wanted to see how far I could push myself creatively. So I redesigned Instagram.How to interview a companyHow to talk about your side-projectsHow I convinced an employer to take a chance on me and pay me to learn to code.You in 6 seconds: how to write a résumé that employers will actually readHow to not set a bunch of money on fireResumes Suck: Here's the dataI Will Teach You to be RichRamit Sethi turned his bestselling book into a hugely popular blog. On it, he shares proven tactics for salary negotiation, interviewing and getting rich.Link:https://www.iwillteachyoutoberic...Who owns it?Ramit SethiFave posts:Salary negotiation: How to negotiate better than 99% of peopleSecret scents of successHow to find your Dream JobHow to be popularUltimate Guide to Getting a Raise & Boosting Your SalaryHow to write an introduction email that works (with scripts)The Firehose ProjectFirehose’s blog teaches developers how to land a job and learn how to code… the right way. I also find some of its posts totally relatable as a non-developer.Who owns it?FirehoseLink:http://blog.thefirehoseproject.com/Fave Posts:Here’s What You Can Learn in 10 Minutes29 behaviors that will make you an unstoppable programmerThe Wrong Way to Learn to CodeThe Only Thing Between You and a New Job as a Junior Web DeveloperBest Personal Development Blogs (Lifestyle Blogs)Marc and Angel Hack LifeThe goal of this blog is to give readers the tools to identify and transform the limiting beliefs that keep you stuck. The blog offers more than 800 articles on happiness, productivity, emotional intelligence, relationships and self-improvement.Who owns it?Marc and Angel ChernoffLink:http://marcandangel.com/Fave Posts:7 Things You Have to Stop Believing to Live a Successful Life On Your Own Terms20 Ways to Accidentally Ruin the Next 20 Years of Your LifeAn Open Letter to Those Who Are Overwhelmed (and Not Sure What to Do Next)Mark MansonThere’s no sugarcoating with Mark Manson. That’s why I love his blog. He covers everything from happiness to dating to habits and self-knowledge.Who owns it?Mark MansonLink:https://markmanson.netFave Posts:1,500 People Give All The Relationship Advice You’ll Ever NeedFind What You Love And Let It Kill YouHow to be More Productive by Working LessWhat's the Problem With Men?Brain PickingsBrain Pickings is a one-woman labor of love — a subjective lens on what matters in the world and why. Mostly, it’s a record of Maria Popova’s own becoming as a person — intellectually, creatively, spiritually — and an inquiry into how to live and what it means to lead a good life.Who owns it?Maria PopovaLink:https://www.brainpickings.orgFave Posts:How to avoid workGivers, Takers, and Matchers: The Surprising Psychology of SuccessA Technique for Producing IdeasFixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our LivesScience of UsScience of Us is a smart but playful window into the latest science on human behavior, with the goal of enlightening, entertaining and providing useful information that can be applied to everyday life.Who owns it?New York MagazineLink:http://nymag.com/scienceofus/Fave Posts:Do you have any idea what other people think of you?A psychologist explains how to revive a dead friendshipHow to be better in bed: 5 science-backed tipsWhy everything always takes longer than you thinkThe best way to follow your dreams is by keeping your day jobHow to make yourself work when you really don't feel like itSeth GodinSeth Godin is probably the only person -- besides Jason Fried -- who can get away with writing such ridiculously popular short posts. The man really makes you think and question the norm.Link:http://sethgodin.typepad.com/set...Fave Posts:Let’s stop calling them soft skillsFalling down the quality abyssThe interim strategyMake three listsThe Players’ TribuneThe Players’ Tribune is written by professional athletes. Don’t write them off if you’re not into sports. I’m totally not into sports, but I find the content just completely motivating.Who owns it?Derek JeterLink:https://www.theplayerstribune.comFave Posts:Ray Allen: Letter to my Younger SelfAntoine Walker: Letter to my Younger SelfSignal v. Noise“Strong opinions and shared thoughts on design, business, and tech. By the makers (and friends) of Basecamp. Since 1999.”Who owns it?BasecampLink:https://m.signalvnoise.comFave Posts:Exponential growth devours and corruptsDoes that matter?BASECAMP VALUATION TOPS $100 BILLION AFTER BOLD VC INVESTMENTReconsiderWait but WhyWait but Why is hilarious and, most of the time, pretty damn insightful. It’s also eerily on-point. Tim says what we’re all thinking. The blog isn’t about one specific topic, and it’s known for its signature stick figure comics.Who owns it?Tim UrbanLink:https://waitbutwhy.com/Fave Posts:Doing a TED Talk: The Full StoryHow I Handle Long Email DelaysHow to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 1How to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 2Thrive GlobalThrive Global’s mission is to end the stress and burnout epidemic by offering companies and individuals sustainable, science-based solutions to enhance well-being, performance, and purpose, and create a healthier relationship with technology.Who owns it?Arianna HuffingtonLink:https://www.thriveglobal.com/Fave Posts:10 Uncomfortable Things That Will Make You Happy and SuccessfulYou Need a Solid Daily Routine. Your Long-Term Success Depends on itAnything Is Possible If You Pay The PriceWhy Popularity Matters So Much—Even After High SchoolBarking up the Wrong TreeBarking up the Wrong Tree is written by Eric Barker. He answers all of your life questions and backs it up with science-based facts and expert insights.Who owns it?Eric BarkerLink:bakadesuyo.comFave Posts:This Is How To Make Friends As An Adult: 5 Secrets Backed By ResearchThe Science Of “Happily Ever After”: 3 Things That Keep Love AliveImpostor Syndrome: Why You Feel Like A Fraud And How To Overcome ItNYPD Hostage Negotiators On How To Persuade People: 4 New SecretsComputer Science Reveals 4 Secrets That Will Make You HappyHow To Increase Motivation: 4 Secrets From ResearchJames ClearJames studies successful people across a wide range of disciplines — entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and more — to uncover the habits and routines that make these people the best at what they do. Then, he shares what he learns via his blog and newsletter.Who owns it?James ClearLink:http://jamesclear.comFave Posts:Constraints Make You Better: Why the Right Limitations Boost PerformanceEntropy: Why Life Always Seems to Get More ComplicatedHow to Spot a Common Mental Error That Leads to Misguided ThinkingThe Downside of Work-Life BalanceHow to Stick With Good Habits Every Day by Using the “Paper Clip Strategy”Art of ManlinessLadies, don’t let its name fool you. This blog offers lots of hidden gems for us as well -- from practical career advice and productivity tips to basic social etiquette.Who owns it?Brett McKayLink:http://artofmanliness.comFave Posts:Why Negativity Is a Social KillerDon’t Take Your Marching Orders From Your BellyHow and Why to Hold a Weekly Marriage MeetingHow to Manage Inbox Overload and Actually Get Stuff DoneThe Book of LifeIt’s called The Book of Life because it’s about the most substantial things in your life: your relationships, your income, your career, your anxieties.Who owns it?The School of LifeLink:http://www.thebookoflife.org/Fave Posts:How to get over someoneHow to decideWhat is love?The OatmealSimilar to Wait but Why, The Oatmeal features funny[-looking] comics that are so funny because they’re true.Who owns it?Matthew InmanLink:http://theoatmeal.com/comicsFave Posts:You aren't going to believe what I'm about to tell youHow to get more likes on FacebookWhy working from home is both awesome and horribleHow a web design goes straight to hellLiterallyScott YoungScott Young answers the question: “What’s the best to way learn?” on his blog. He teaches you everything he’s learned about learning and thinking. Super interesting stuff!Who owns it?Scott YoungLink:https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/Fave Posts:How to Start Your Own Ultralearning Project (Part One)If You Had Ten Years to Learn Anything, What Would You Do?The most common misconception about learningThe Irony of Focus: Why Doing Only One Thing Actually Lets You Do MoreBest Productivity BlogsTodoist BlogThe Todoist blog is obviously about all things productivity. Its in-depth guides offer great insights to how to be more efficient -- with or without Todoist.Who owns it?TodoistLink:http://blog.todoist.comFave Posts:An In-Depth Guide To Choosing The Best Online Learning SitesThe Ultimate Guide to Personal Productivity MethodsSystemist: A modern productivity workflowWant to be more productive? Don’t go paperless.Farnam StreetFarnam Street is helps readers develop an understanding of how the world really works, make better decisions and live a better life. Shane Parrish address topics like: mental models, decision making, learning, reading and the art of living.Who owns it?Shane ParrishLink:Farnamstreetblog.comFave Posts:Becoming an Expert: The Elements of SuccessHunter S. Thompson’s Letter on Finding Your PurposePeople Don’t Follow Titles: Necessity and Sufficiency in LeadershipZapierZapier, the wildly popular workflow automation tool, has a phenomenal blog. Its in-depth, tactical posts will teach you how to be more productive in no time.Who owns it?Danny Schreiber is the marketing director at Zapier.Link:https://zapier.com/blog/Fave Posts:The Art of Delegating: What and How to Delegate to Your DirectsThe Beginner's Guide to Dictation Software10 Shortcuts for Composing Outlines, Research, HTML Tables and MoreThe Effective EngineerTime is your most valuable resource. Learn how to use it efficiently. And don’t let this name fool you either. I’m far from an engineer, but I do extract little gems of productivity inspiration here.Who owns it?Edmond LauLink:http://www.effectiveengineer.com...Fave Posts:The Highest-Leverage Activities Aren’t Always Deep WorkHow to Measure Engineering ProductivityTaking Ownership Is The Most Effective Way to Get What You WantThe 3 Keys to a Remarkable CareerAsian Efficiency“Don’t let the name fool you – this website is for anyone who is interested in time management and productivity, not just Asians.”Who owns it?Thanh PhamLink:http://www.asianefficiency.com/b...Fave Posts:Simple Ways to Collect Your Personal Data and Use it for Self-ImprovementThe Definitive Guide to “Batching” Your WorkBest Online PublicationsNew York MagazineNY Mag has a few different publications I just love, such as SelectAll, The Cut and The Science of Us. The content is forward-thinking and usually provacative.Who owns it?Pamela WassersteinLink:http://nymag.comFave Posts:Why Do We Humanize White Guys Who Kill People?Tumblr’s Unclear Future Shows That There’s No Money in Internet Culture25 Famous Women on Being AloneWhat Mass Killers Really Have in CommonCareer Advice From a High-Powered BusinessladyQuartzWhile I tend to steer clear of Quartz’s hard news posts, I tend LOVE its more feature-esque posts -- a lot of which are syndicated from other popular blogs.Who owns it?Atlantic MediaLink:https://qz.com/Fave Posts:We analyzed every “Modern Love” column from the past 10 years.How a spreadsheet helped me tackle my depressionBloombergWhile I don’t love Bloomberg’s political stories, I do love its meaty feature stories.Who owns it?Michael BloombergLink:http://bloomberg.comFave Posts:Confessions of an Instagram InfluencerAmericans Are Paying $38 to Collect $1 of Student DebtThe Wrong Kind of Entrepreneurs Flourish in AmericaThis Is How Uber Takes Over a CityAeonAeon is a digital magazine of ideas, philosophy and culture. Publishing new articles every weekday, Aeon describes itself as a publication which asks the biggest questions and finds the freshest, most original answers, provided by world-leading authorities on science, philosophy and society.Who owns it?Paul and Brigid HainsLink:https://aeon.coFave Posts:The weaponised loserStupefiedWhat know-it-alls don’t know, or the illusion of competenceColumbia Journalism Review (CJR)CJR’s mission is to be the intellectual leader in the rapidly changing world of journalism. Through its fast-turn analysis and deep reporting, CJR is an essential venue not just for journalists, but also for the thousands of professionals in communications, technology, academia, and other fields reliant on solid media industry knowledge.Who owns it?Columbia University Graduate School of JournalismLink:https://www.cjr.org/Fave Posts:The Platform Press: How Silicon Valley reengineered journalismSprawling freelancer network pays dividends for The Washington PostStop killing your social stories with bad headlines and imagesStylebooks finally embrace the single ‘they’Investigating the algorithms that govern our livesVice shows how not to treat freelancersNautilus | Science ConnectedEach month Nautilus chooses a single topic, and each Thursday it publishes a new chapter on that month’s topic. Each issue combines the sciences, culture and philosophy into a single story told by the world’s leading thinkers and writers.Link:http://nautil.us/blogFave Posts:The anatomy of charismaWhy your brain hates other peopleThis is your brain on silenceHow designers engineer luck into video gamesBest Freelancing BlogsPaul JarvisPaul is the creator of the Creative Class. He writes articles about creating a better (not necessarily bigger) business for smart creatives.Who owns it?Paul JarvisLink:https://pjrvs.com/articles/Fave Posts:Do what you say you’re going to doThe three most powerful newsletter automationsHow’d you get a book deal?Double Your FreelancingThis blog is great for new and old freelancers who want to earn more money and work with better clients.Who owns it?Brennan DunnLink:http://doubleyourfreelancing.comFave Posts:The Definitive Guide To Getting Paid As A FreelancerThe Freelancer’s Guide To Client Retainer AgreementsWhy You Should Learn Marketing AutomationBest UX BlogsThe LogbookThis blog is created by a remote design and development agency, called Hanno. It takes about its processes a lot, which I enjoy, and definitely can teach freelancers a thing or two about running a business/firm.Who owns it?Jon Lay, HannoLink:https://hanno.co/blog/Fave Posts:The 6 ages of an agencyInvesting in tools is a no-brainer. Here’s how much we’re spending.Stop reinventing the wheelPlaybooksNir & FarNir & Far is about the intersection of psychology, technology and business. Also known as “behavioral design,” topics include: UX, behavioral economics and a dash of neuroscience.Who owns it?Nir EyalLink:https://www.nirandfar.com/blogFave Posts:Hooks: An Intro on How to Manufacture DesireHow to Achieve Your Goals By Creating an EnemyHow to Clear Your Computer of Focus-Draining DistractionDtelepathyDigital Telepathy is a top UX design agency, and it’s blog is great! It’s about all things design-related.Who owns it?Digital TelepathyLink:https://www.dtelepathy.com/blog/Fave Posts:50 Beautiful Color Palettes for Your Next Web ProjectGoogle Spreadsheets: More Useful Than You Thought8 Reasons Why Pageless Design is the Future of the WebImprove Your Customer’s Experience With Experience MappingOrbit Media’s BlogOrbit Media builds websites. Its blog features posts about all things web design and marketing.Who owns it?Orbit Media StudiosLink:https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/Fave Posts:Website Footer Design Best Practices: 27 Things to Put at the BottomSurvey of 1000+ Bloggers: How to Be in the Top 5%Website Navigation: 7 Best Practices, Design Tips and WarningsThis post originally appeared on The New and The Next.

Adopt a growth mind-set, and a belief that you can do whatever you want to do in life. Most successful people become successful because of learned behaviours and skills. They are not born world champions. They have no right to do what they do, but they just do it anyway. They work and work, until they win.Focus on your strengths and build on them, rather than dwelling on your problems and your setbacks.Here are some ways in which you can adapt and evolve your mind-set, to become a world class version of YOURSELF. No matter how big or small your ambitions, it is you, and only you, who can make them happen.A) Surround yourself with the right peopleYou are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with, so choose them wisely. Losers invite defeats. Winners demand victories. Play with people who are better than you, and those who share the same ambitions.That applies to everything. I’ve become a better golfer this year by playing with better players. I’ve created a growing business by networking with like-minded people.I’ve got old friends I haven’t spoken to for months because we don’t share the same ambitions anymore. And that’s OK, people grow and change as they go through life.As we get older our desires become more intense, and time becomes even more valuable. Spend your time wisely, with those who can help you grow, and of course those who you love.Drop one losing friend today!B) Your environment is more important than you thinkI can’t work, be creative or even be happy if my surroundings aren’t clean, tidy and well organised. I’m a bit OCD like that, but that’s me, so I play by those rules.Your environment rubs off on you, it can have a huge impact on your performance. Would you get more done on a balcony, overlooking a pristine beach in the California sun, or on a packed commuter train? It’s the same principle in your workplace. Make your environment somewhere that inspires you — make it your happy place. It will then become your creative place, and magic will happen.This is crucial to maximising your productivity and the quality of your output. Just like surrounding yourself with the right people, you also need to surround yourself with the right ambience.C) Consider your priorities – dailyI have a ‘to do’ list every day. There are always too many things on it, so I split it into the one or two most important things, and then the rest. If I get the most important things done then it’s a good day, if I get through the rest – even better. Never compromise on doing the important things well, always understand your priorities.D) Know that you have timePlay for 2025 and beyond. Great things take time.And it’s never too late to start. Whether you’re 17, 35 or 58, you have time.E) Take regular breaksAvoid burn out, excess stress and misery at all costs. No matter how well or how badly things are going, taking a step back when you need to is crucial to winning the long game.Taking a break not only allows you to re-charge, it allows you to strategise, reflect, celebrate your life and invoke a new sense of gratitude. Return ready to kill it!F) Add assets to your armoury that last a lifetimeAlways be learning. No matter how much of an expert you think you are at something, there is always more to learn. Whether you’re just starting out in a new field, or if you’ve got thirty years of experience, top performers know that they can learn from everyone, and their desire to improve is constant.If you lose all of your money, or you get fired, or if you need to start over for any reason – no one can ever take away your bank of knowledge. You own that for life, and you can use it to win again and again. You are your biggest asset, always be investing in yourself.G) NetworkYour network is your net worth. Put yourself out there and always over deliver on your promises. Grow your network by meeting new people in your niche, and add value to them without expecting anything in return.One day, when the shit hits the fan, these people will be there for you.Your network is not only your backstop during hard times, it is also the biggest gateway to new opportunities that you will ever have. And always remember…It’s not always about who you know, it’s about who they know!H) Show empathyThe more you consider another person’s situation, actions and feelings, the more you can help them and influence them. This applies in sales especially: you need to know what problem(s) your product is solving for potential buyers. Then major on that: show them what you can do for them.Listen – understand – problem solve.None of us have had the same experiences in life so everybody is different. How they feel about things are different, they act differently, and they have different drivers, assumptions and fears. Listening helps you to understand the other person, and then you can act accordingly.Whether you want to be liked, to make a sale, to help someone, whatever – empathy will make you relatable.I) Demolish your comfort zonePush your boundaries – do something that scares you every day. Hug a stranger, ask for 10% off at a restaurant, make that call you’ve been dreading, ask someone out on a date or even quit your job.If it scares you, it means you need to do it.J) MoveDo some form of exercise every day. Even if it’s just 5 minutes – like walking the dog or doing one set of weights. Keeping your body active, is not only great for your health, it keeps your mind alert too.I find it amazing how one big gym session after a couple of days of relative rest can change my entire mind-set. If you are struggling for drive, determination and enthusiasm to do your work, then go and work out. It changes everything, no matter your fitness or capability.K) PlayPlay is crucial throughout life. Play helps us socialise, learn, problem solve and communicate. Play helps to develop a winning mentality and most importantly of all – play is fun. We need fun!L) DoThe most important thing in life – don’t tell me about your dreams, show me!It is impossible to grow and develop yourself if you don’t jump in and do. Learning, improvement and confidence can only emerge from action. This is why failing is never terminal – you learn from every experience; developing yourself and becoming stronger in the process.This is why so many successful entrepreneurs have failures along the way – they are essential stepping stones and often the only way to learn valuable lessons.Importantly too, doing doesn’t mean high risk. You don’t have to quit your job to develop a side hustle. You don’t have to spend thousands to read books and learn. You don’t need to neglect your family to find the time to have new experiences.M) Don’t stopLife is an ongoing monster of a roller-coaster ride. Take the rough with the smooth. Expect bad things to happen, because life isn’t easy. Embrace any problems as challenges, that you can solve and grow from. Enjoy the great moments, and if you continue doing the right things, they will become more and more plentiful.The greatest are seldom the smartest, they just stayed the course. So no matter what happens…Never, ever, give up. Perseverance always wins in the end.-Matthew BrownHope this helps! It was an extract from my article — How to Become a World Class Version of Yourself | The Business of Life ClubCheck out the blog for much more! — The Business of Life Club | Ideas for success in this complex business of life