leadership
Kodak built the first digital camera yet asked the wrong question. AI will answer anything instantly, but the real skill is in wrestling with a problem long enough to know what to ask in the first place.
Screens are not neutral. Unlike a playground, TV shows, video games, and online platforms are designed to keep people engaged and make stopping difficult. Recognizing this difference is essential for setting boundaries and teaching healthy habits around technology.
marketing
Your brand isn't your logo or marketing—it's what happens when customers need help. Every interaction either builds trust or breaks it. The gap between promise and delivery determines if people become loyal advocates or walk away disappointed.
book review
Yeager’s mentor mindset—high standards paired with high support—rejects the false choice between demanding rigor without help and lowering the bar. It makes challenge a compliment and support a sign of respect.
book review
Service is black and white; hospitality is color. In our increasingly transactional world, the deliberate creation of human connection isn't just good business; it's a form of resistance. A little color goes a long way in a black-and-white world.
I recently bought the Fuji X100VI, a camera I’ve admired from afar for years but never committed to until now. Over the years, I’ve cycled through several Fuji cameras, including the X-T20, X-T4, X-S10, and X-S20, but none have truly stuck. While I always loved Fuji’s aesthetics,
Quotes
Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being offers thoughtful reflections on creativity that deeply resonated with me, especially in my professional life and creative hobbies. Though I didn’t fully connect with his spiritual approach, Rubin’s individual insights provided valuable inspiration.
AI
I’ve returned to handwritten notes using fountain pens and paper—but now with a workflow that actually works. With ChatGPT, I snap a photo and say, “Transcribe and organize my notes,” and it turns them into clean, structured, digital notes in minutes.
leadership
Leadership means envisioning a world that doesn’t yet exist and clearly communicating that vision. Without strong communication, even the most compelling ideas remain unrealized. True leaders inspire others to join in building a shared future.
Insights on books, productivity, leadership, and other ideas worth exploring.
Over the past three years I've incorporated short hikes throughout the week to step away from my desk and get out into nature, which always helps me think differently. Before each hike, I usually pick a specific project or topic to think about. It could be something work
I'm the first one to raise my hand at this. Far too often, I feel unmotivated, but the reality is that I need clarity on what I'm going to be doing. Awareness is key. When I know that my motivation is frequently due to the lack of clarity, I can take action to make the task clear.
Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey is another book in the productivity sphere that argues for the importance of intentional focus for creatives and knowledge workers. One of the unique contributions to this field is the idea of scatterfocus, which is simply letting your mind wander. He outlines three different ways to
The whole concept of breaking news runs on a very potent myth.
If you’re anything like me you want to build better habits into your daily life. Too often I have grand plans and quickly fall off the wagon. Atomic Habits reminds us to start simple by making it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
Digital is not always the sweet fantasy that we think it is. Analog tools, with their limitations, actually enhance our experience with whatever activity we are doing with them. There are tradeoffs but there are also tradeoffs when it comes to digital that we oftentimes don't see.
Cal Newport argues for intentional technology use, emphasizing choosing tech that aligns deeply with personal values. Newport recommends a “digital declutter” to reclaim solitude and meaningful engagement, avoiding shallow distractions to preserve autonomy and genuine connection.
Adam Grant’s Think Again argues we often fail to question our biases and assumptions. He emphasizes rethinking as a crucial leadership skill, urging leaders to actively seek honest feedback, rely on data-driven decisions, and openly admit mistakes to grow and improve effectively.
One thing I try to remember when working out a vision for a new initiative, project, or even just small changes. A vision birthed in isolation is a vision that dies in isolation Justin Irving
Grit coupled with deliberate practice will help you attain your learning goals on any topic. Angela Duckworth has four helpful tips when it comes to the topic of grit.
Listening regularly to Cal Newport’s podcast inspired me to enhance my reading habits, prioritizing Kindle use, scheduling dedicated reading sessions, choosing books over phone scrolling, shifting from podcasts to audiobooks, and finishing books with intentional “closing pushes.”
Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee critiques productivity culture and argues for doing less, emphasizing genuine production over busywork. Helpful for anyone feeling overworked.
