Principle #36 – What’s old is new again. Again. In leadership, it’s tempting to chase shiny new solutions. The latest framework, the buzzy tech tool, the trendy management fad—we love to believe the newest thing will finally fix everything. But here’s the reality I’ve seen over years of leading teams: the best ideas are often […]
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Principle #35 – Gratitude is contagious. Pass it on. In a high-tech startup, speed is everything. We push code at 2 a.m., pivot on product direction before breakfast, and celebrate funding rounds with coffee instead of champagne. It’s intense, chaotic, and easy to forget one thing: gratitude. But here’s what I’ve learned as a senior
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Principle #34: Watch out for the decider problem. In the world of crypto, fortunes are made—and lost—because people chase hype. Some influencer tweets “Buy this coin!” and thousands jump in. No one checks the blockchain, the project fundamentals, or even if the coin does anything useful. The result? A wallet full of worthless tokens. Organizations
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Principle #33 – Build Systemic Liberty Imagine a city with no roads, no bridges, no traffic signals—just a wide-open space where everyone can drive wherever they want. Sounds like freedom, right? Until the first intersection collision, the first traffic jam, the first person who can’t find their way. That’s what happens in organizations when we
Freedom Needs Infrastructure Read More »
Principle #32 – What we do is what we believe. Act on purpose. Picture a big-city mayor delivering a passionate speech about sustainability—then approving a budget that cuts public transit funding and paves over green space. What do people believe? Not the speech—the actions. In leadership, what you say matters far less than what you
Actions Speak Louder Than Campaign Promises Read More »
Principle #31 – Same people. Same roles. Same problems. In chess, every piece has unique strengths. Bishops glide diagonally, rooks dominate straight lines, knights jump in clever L-shapes. Put a knight on a diagonal path and it just… sits there. Teams are no different. When someone isn’t performing, it may not be about effort—it might
Are Your Pieces in the Right Squares? Read More »
Principle #30: When in doubt, spread accountability out. Picture this: an office where one poor soul is in charge of everything—cleaning the breakroom, unclogging the coffee machine, fixing the flickering lights, and somehow still managing their “real” job. Result? Burnout, frustration, and probably a sticky floor. In leadership, we often make the same mistake: dumping
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Principle #29: Leadership is defined by the presence of followers. Picture this: a long-distance runner flying down the trail, flawless stride, focused eyes, pushing hard. Impressive, right? But then you notice—no one’s behind them. Are they a leader… or just out for a really long solo run? Leadership isn’t about how fast, strong, or visionary
If No One’s Running With You, You’re Just Out for a Jog Read More »
Principle #28: Manager means accountability for team results. Picture a football coach bragging: “Our quarterback had a perfect game, our kicker nailed every field goal… sure, we lost 42–10, but look at those stats!” Ridiculous, right? That’s what happens when managers focus only on individual performance and forget that their accountability is for team results.
Coaching Means the Whole Team, Not Just Star Players Read More »
Principle #27 – What we know for sure is tiny. Blind spots are many. Artists know a secret: you never see the whole picture at the start. A painter begins with a blank canvas and an idea, but halfway through? They discover the shadows are off, the colors don’t pop, or—oops—that nose looks weird. The
Your Canvas Is Bigger Than You Think Read More »