Daily walks

The CEO knew better. During our two-day strategy session at a remote hillside retreat, deep in planning and decision-making, he insisted on something seemingly simple: walks. Before dawn’s first light, during breaks, and as evening shadows stretched across the...

Season’s edge

Every quarter marks a boundary, not just a date. Would you plant seeds in winter? Chop wood mid-summer? Of course not. Yet in business, we treat January like October and April like January—days blur together without acknowledging nature’s rhythm. The quarter...

Anchored

The market shifts, a key employee quits, your biggest client walks away – these aren’t storms you invited. Yet here you are, in the churning center. The Stoics understood this distinction perfectly. Epictetus reminded us that while we cannot control...

Necessary friction

In a world where comfort rules, teams falter. The Lincoln cabinet, notoriously filled with rivals, produced America’s most consequential presidency. Lincoln deliberately assembled strong-minded individuals with conflicting views—what historian Doris Kearns...

‘A-Players’ myth

A-player mythology pervades leadership circles. These mythical beasts deliver 3-5x standard output while attracting more unicorns to your stable. The promise is seductive: fill your ranks with these superstars and watch your company soar. You want them. You need them....