Notes on change

The Chinese Farmer

A parable about patience, allowing things to play out, and not jumping to conclusions.

The Mexican Fisherman

A parable about priorities, balance, and what you're actually chasing.

Let the Magic Happen

Guardrails protect you. Prison bars imprison you. Know the difference.

What You Want Now vs What You Want Most

The question that separates intention from impulse.

Structure vs Spontaneity

You need both. The guardrail becomes a prison when you forget this.

Did You Read the Book?

You think you know the story. You're probably reading the wrong one.

Ask More Questions

Before you make any final statement, know what you're actually risking.

Contempt Without Investigation

You notice it when it's pointed at you. You ignore it when you're doing it.

Daily Non-Negotiables

If you can't do these things, it's time to reevaluate what you're doing.

It's All Small Stuff

Perspective is everything. Most of what you're stressing about doesn't matter.

Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously

Rule 62: The professional world is a construct. You built it. You can refuse it.

Permission to Not Know

The lost art of asking for what you need.

Specificity Prevents Friction

"Take notes" and "take notes and send them to me" are not the same instruction.

The Pepto Plan

Behavior is feedback. Stop treating the symptom and investigate the source.

Don't Judge the Fish

Everyone measures success differently. Stop judging theirs.

You're Defined by What You Do Next

One win out of 1,000 is an anomaly, not a trend.

Success is Internal

You can be lapping the field and still feel like you're failing.

Wu Wei: Effortless Action

Prepare obsessively. Then respond to what's actually in front of you.

Multiple Solutions

Simple can be hard. Complex can be easy. Choose the solution, not the plan.

Make the Choice

Leadership isn't about being right. It's about deciding anyway.

Stay Ready

The wave doesn't wait for you to be prepared. You have to already be ready.

Snakes Shed, Humans Cling

Nature accepts what humans resist.

Hindsight as Foresight

Once you see the pattern, you're responsible for seeing it again.

The Universe Whispers Before It Roars

There are signs. You're just not paying attention.

Reason, Season, Lifetime

Every relationship has an expiration date. Accepting this is what allows you to be present while it lasts.

The Recipe

Balance doesn't mean treating everything equally. It means knowing which bucket each thing belongs in.

Participant, Not Owner

In most situations, you're not in control. You're a caretaker. And that's where your power actually is.

Evolution or Extinction

McDonald's isn't really a burger company. Amazon isn't really a bookstore. The companies that stay on top keep evolving.

The Messenger You're Shooting

When you shoot the messenger, you lose the information. You lose the person. You stay stuck.

The Equation You Can't Escape

If your input isn't giving you the desired output, you change the input. That's math.

"We Don't Do That" — The Leadership Phrase That Kills Organizations

"We don't do that" is a leadership failure masquerading as an answer.

Your Time Has a Price: The Math Nobody Wants to Do

Your time and energy are commodities. The market has rules. Know your price.

Task Mastery Isn't Leadership: Why Companies Promote the Wrong People

Being great at your job and being great at leading people are two different things.

Gasoline Won't Extinguish Fire: Why Recovery Needs More Than One Answer

Even the highest success rates for recovery programs are still low. Addiction is complex.

The Epidemic of Loneliness Isn't About Time—It's About Fear

Loneliness is epidemic because fear is epidemic. Connection is the antidote.

Fear Kills Culture: Why Your Workplace Feels Like a Ghost Town

Fear is what turns workplaces into hollow places where people show up but aren't really there.

We're All Just People: Why Your Title Doesn't Matter in the Room

Strip away the org chart and we're all just people trying to figure it out.

One More Day: Why Hope Matters More Than Judgment in Recovery

Every day someone stays alive is a day they might find their way to recovery.

Give More Than You Take: The Economics of Real Relationships

The people who build real networks aren't executing a strategy. They're genuinely caring.

The 19-Goal Rule: Why Winning Doesn't Have to Mean Destroying Your Opponent

Bill Tierney understood that restraint is a strength, not a weakness.

The Consulting Trap (and How to Avoid It)

The moment you fall in love with your own solution, you stop serving the client.

What Recovery Teaches About Organizational Change

Recovery isn't about willpower. It's about belonging, belief, structure, and community.

Seeing Around Corners: Anticipating Change in Complex Systems

Most crises weren't sudden. They were visible for months beforehand.

When Partnership Beats Procurement

The most impactful initiatives weren't won through procurement—they were built through partnership.

The Adoption Gap: Why Good Software Fails in Healthcare

Software doesn't fail. People do.