Articles


I write about books, business, habits, and ideas that age well — the kind of insights that compound over time.

Explore the full archive below, or jump into a topic that interests you most.

Looking for a place to start?

Entrepreneurship — Lessons from building and studying businesses
Books — Notes, reflections, and curated reading lists
Friday Five — A weekly dispatch of five things worth your time

Latest Articles

  • How Thomas Edison’s Discipline Shaped a Legacy of Innovation

    How Thomas Edison’s Discipline Shaped a Legacy of Innovation

    There’s a saying by former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink: Discipline equals freedom. The more discipline you have, the more freedom you gain. Thomas Edison lived this truth. As The Wizard of Menlo Park reveals, discipline wasn’t just part of Edison’s approach—it was foundational. At times, it defined him. At other times, it nearly undid him.…


  • Thomas Edison Hard Work Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know

    Thomas Edison Hard Work Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know

    Thomas Edison hard work lessons are among the most valuable takeaways for any entrepreneur. Edison didn’t just work hard—he worked relentlessly, often without pause, and always with purpose. As detailed in The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World, his work ethic was legendary and defined his success. One key…


  • April Reading List: 4 Best Books I Read in April 2025

    April Reading List: 4 Best Books I Read in April 2025

    Insull: The Rise and Fall of a Billionaire Utility Tycoon | All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense | How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need…


  • Entrepreneurship Lessons from Thomas Edison

    Entrepreneurship Lessons from Thomas Edison

    Thomas Edison is remembered as one of history’s greatest inventors, but few people study him because of his business acumen. The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World reveals entrepreneurship lessons from Thomas Edison that hold timeless insights, especially for founders navigating uncertain markets. While Edison built a name synonymous…


  • March Reading List: 4 Best Books I Read in March 2025

    March Reading List: 4 Best Books I Read in March 2025

    March may have been the month with the most books that I stopped reading. I put down quite a few books that did not make my March reading list. For whatever reason, a majority of the books I started reading never resonated with me. What I ended up with in my March reading list was…


Want new posts delivered to your inbox?

I send a short email every Friday (Friday Five) with five things worth your time — books, ideas, tools, or insights from the week.

Join the Newsletter

Looking for my Friday Five newsletter?

Browse all Friday Fives


Scroll to Top
Michael McHugh
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.