Essays on creative leadership,
culture, and the human side of work.
Published weekly, with an original illustration. Two series: Becoming and Advisory Notes.
The moment the limited potential assumed by others gave way to the hint of a future fueled by talent.
“They never know what they want.” Said with a roll of his eyes as they closed out the call. Not something anyone wanted to hear. Craig can be like that. When he’s down, he needs to bring everybody down. Maybe he thinks it’s okay ‘cause he’s the Creative Director. Whatever. The last thing needed is…
There’s a concise method to get any client at any scale to commit to you in the moment.
Many of the older men were missing one or more fingers. That was one of the first things I noticed at the farm. I asked and the word was, “People get relaxed around the machines over time, forgetting how dangerous they are and…” I was sixteen. It must have been the first time I realized…
I walked, didn’t run, past the cow. Sure, this wasn’t going well. But not wanting to seem uncool –– I was sixteen after all –– I moved with a swager and self-assurance I didn’t have. As planned, Oscar Miller picked me up midday at the crossroads where the Greyhound bus dropped me. Loading my bag…
Ushered into what I assumed was the boardroom, I could feel my ankles begin to itch –– a sure sign that I knew deep down this could go badly. I’ve known since I was nine or ten that anxiety is the cause of my ankles’ itching. If the itch gets bad enough, it’s nearly impossible…
Asking for a raise or increasing your fees feels riskier than ever. Corporate layoffs announced daily. CEOs, CMOs, and other top positions constantly changing. Yet, corporations holding more cash now than any time in history Stock market is erratic. AI is taking and disrupting white-collar jobs. University degrees no longer guarantee success. U.S. gov laying…