Essays and notes
Longer arguments than a post, shorter than a book. The enduring ideas live on Philosophies; this is where they get tested against whatever is happening now.
You Can’t Direct What You Can’t Interrogate
Vibe-coded throwaways are fine for getting signal. The failure is the throwaway that never gets thrown away, and the judgment needed to tell a demo from a system.
Why I Wrote a Personal Operating Guide (And Why Every Leader Should)
Most organizational dysfunction is caused by unspoken expectations, not incompetence. Writing down how you think and decide removes the guesswork.
Code Was Never the Unit of Value
Code was never the unit of value. Lean’s definition of value, applied to software, shows what AI is actually compressing, and what engineers are left to do.
Works in Progress Told in Three Truths
Be forgiving of your former self, firm of your present self, and flexible of your future self. Three truths about feedback, grace, and leading people who are all works in progress.
Fate or Destiny, What Do You Choose?
Fate is what happens when we don't decide. Destiny is the choices we make. A simple 2x2 of what we know and don't know shows why humility is a leader's best tool.
Leading Remotely: Creating Culture From Afar
Culture happens whether you want it to or not. How to build it remotely: say what you'll do, set explicit expectations, and reinforce through praise.
Leading Remotely: Lessons from 5+ Years in the Trenches
What five-plus years of leading 100% remotely taught me: remote-first is not remote-only, offices become optional, and the hard parts are time zones, pacing, and rapport.