I’m starting a new role, I’ve been able to take a step back and view the situation without all the history. Seeing the big picture for what it feels like going on a new hike. I walk paths that are new to me and see views that are new to me. Nobody has ever walked…

I listen to the same music by the same bands pretty much every day. I find comfort in knowing every note and beat. I’m excited to hear an element I’ve never heard before. Maybe it’s very faint harmony. Sometimes it’s learning that the vocal track fades from left to right in a subtle way. The…

The act of getting to know someone is not only about the present. We need to understand who that person was and who they want to be. Their actions either confirm or betray their aspirations. Leaders help their teams take aspiration-confining actions to help those people be who they aspire to be.

I always have an urge to build systems that are fun, robust, and a bit too complicated. And the most useful system I’ve ever used has been a simple notebook and a simple pen. Not too many, not too much. Start with one.

I like working remotely. I do NOT love it. I miss the close relationships that are easier to form when sharing the same physical space. I miss having a location designed to facilitate work. I miss the commute (mine was easy) that clearly separated work from home. That time of reflection and transition made me…

As time marches on, I value the quiet mornings more. The potential of a full day ahead meets the anticipation of sunrise. The plans are perfect and the intentions are full. There are no bumps and no last-minute requests. The mornings are unrealistic but very welcome.

Burnout is, unfortunately, a normal and common occurrence for high-performing people. We strive to make everything work and lose ourselves along the way. And I am beginning to think that it is almost necessary. We need to learn where to draw those boundaries. We need to understand how every choice is a tradeoff. And we…

When the routine is interrupted, all chaos ensues. Although I try to keep calm, there is an increased chance that I’ll forget something that I regularly do without thinking (eg, feeding the cat… sorry Johnny). I just remind myself that all will be accomplished. Maybe not in the cleanest, most efficient way, but it will…

Great craft begins with understanding the basics, then stretching into uncomfortable territory. Learning language then incorporating personal details into a speech. Figuring out how to sew then trying a new design. Mastering proper form then striving for a world weight-lifting record.

I find difficulty in differentiating between my “self” and my “action.” The former is the culmination of my experiences, biology, and environment. The latter is what I do in reaction. However, those actions then inform my experiences, creating a strong bond between both self and actions. I do not think they are ever fully separated….