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 #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 #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 »
Principle #26 – Feel stuck? Extend your time horizon. The view is different. When life feels stormy, it’s tempting to obsess over the next cloud overhead. Every setback feels permanent, every drizzle like a flood warning. But short-term conditions don’t tell the whole story. Meteorologists know this well: today’s storm often gives way to tomorrow’s
Feeling Stuck? Check the Long-Range Forecast Read More »
Principle #25 – Sometimes there’s one right way. Probably not this time. Tech culture loves the idea of “the one right way.” One formula to rule them all, one update that fixes everything, one perfect workflow that never fails. Spoiler: that’s not how complex systems work. In tech (and business), the “one right way” is
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