Arriving without a map

We used to study the map before we moved. We traced the route, noted the landmarks, built a picture of the territory before we ever left the driveway. Getting there meant understanding where “there” was, and the nuances of the route. Now we take...

Autopilot tax

We loved the discount. Ten percent off, just for letting it renew itself. Then we stopped using it. We forgot the password. We forgot it was even there. This is not an accident. It is a business model. The convenience is real, but so is the design behind it: friction...

Safety isn’t comfort

We tell ourselves the good team is the quiet one. No raised voices. No tense Tuesday meetings. Everyone nodding along, the agenda moving smoothly from item to item. We treat the hard conversation like a fire to be contained rather than information to be used. Amy...

The sandbox rule

Every kid learns it early. Share the shovel, or leave the sandbox. No exceptions for the kid who builds the best castle. Somewhere between kindergarten and the corner office, we forgot this. The top performer who hoards information. The founder who can’t stand...

The explaining tax

The manager says she doesn’t have time to explain. Then she spends Thursday redoing the report herself. Funny how that works. Every hour skipped in the briefing shows up later, disguised as frustration. It just changes clothes. The founder hands off a project in...