Being direct

Most leaders think being direct is harsh. They’re wrong. Steve Jobs killed projects with two words: “It’s sh(one)t.” His team knew exactly where they stood. No false hope. No mixed signals. No, wondering if maybe next quarter would be...

The never signal

Airbnb launched when hotels said strangers would “never” stay in each other’s homes. Too risky. Too weird. Too impossible. When entire industries agree something won’t work, that’s your cue. Universal rejection often signals universal...

Can you still think?

We’re drowning in content that sounds the same because it is very much the same. It comes from the same source: algorithms trained on what already exists, not human minds wrestling with problems. The convenience is seductive. Why struggle with your thoughts when...

When everyone says never

The best opportunities hide behind universal rejection. Netflix mailed DVDs when everyone said streaming would “never” work. Blockbuster had 9,000 stores and laughed at the idea. Consensus isn’t safety. It’s the sound of opportunity walking...

Stop feeding your worries

Time isn’t your scarcest resource. Attention is. You waste mental energy on things that don’t exist yet. Problems that might happen. Conversations that may never come. Outcomes beyond your control. Three questions end this waste: Is this thought true? If...