Writing

Best of the archive

A curated selection from my weekly CEO newsletter, chosen for what still holds up.

Looking for the Trusting AI essay series? Start here.

Decisions

When to decide and move onMaking decisions can be tough, but procrastination is worse.
When average beats perfectA business runs well when many concurrent activities are in simpatico and interdependencies align.
6 Steps to avoid painful projectsThe early warning signs of a problem project, and six steps to avoid one.
12 Emotional Turning PointsTeam sentiment follows predictable patterns through the inevitable ups and downs.
What’s so special about A Year?Peter Drucker said “We greatly overestimate what we can do in one year, but we greatly underestimate what is possible for us in five years.”

A Question of InnovationWho doesn’t enjoy an opportunity to test ideas to overcome daily challenges and create a better way.
How to discover new valueWhy the usual route to a new business system, listing what is wrong today and buying a platform, keeps failing.
How to find that hidden valueToo much time and money is spent on technology that falls short of its goals.
Technology Investment 101Over the last three decades, I’ve seen rich returns from technology initiatives that have truly transformed businesses.
Why do your customers care about you?Have you asked all your customers lately why they care about you?
Where do you get your best ideas?You’re a leader filled with all kinds of ideas for the future.
CEO Primer : Technology StrategyThe best technology investments can transform your business.
What value does your business data really provide?Earlier in my career, I spent time helping the Wall Street firms with their first forays into big data.
Innovations are ideas—implementedGreat leaders curate those ideas and make the best come true.
The Three Steps in Every UpgradeWhen you improve your operations, you’re upgrading your business.
Inspiring confidence with the Foothills ModelConfidence and change go hand in hand.
Don't Copy Paste your businessWhile wrapping up a CEO workshop on Value, I noticed one of the attendees sitting distraught in her chair.

Bottleneck Whack-a-MoleIf your business completes more than a handful of transactions a day, you have a production line.
The cost of delaying qualityIf you’ve shipped a product, created software or designed a business process, you’ll likely have experienced the 10x quality rule.
Reproducing SuccessA step-by-step path for bringing your vision to life, and doing it again.
Out of the boxYour Business has an out of box experience.
Let's be clearClarity is the best investment you will make.
How CEOs and Innovators make better decisions togetherYour CEO needs simple answers to pressing questions, de-risked decisions, and prudent investments.
The problem with systems dictating your process ...Can we agree that your business performs better when everyone's approach is thoughtful, somewhat consistent, and continuously improved?
Your systems will break—you decide what happens nextThe failure of VISA’s European systems caused widespread losses.
Keep innovation and process in lock-stepA client told me she’d love to innovate but has to stick to the process.
The shortest road to your digital potentialThe road to your digital potential doesn’t have to be long and winding.

You can't trust technology for everythingWe all make mistakes, and we all pray they don't get noticed like the false nuclear alarm in Hawaii.
Optimism is sure to get you in troubleOver optimism is a sure way to sabotage the best investments, most accurate timelines and delivery of the intended outcome.
CEO Primer : Information Security Quick WinsThis post lays out some simple, inexpensive measures that will reduce your Information Security exposure considerably.
Crisis builds confidenceIt's a shame how many projects approach a crisis point when the timing of critical outcomes is at risk.
No Need to Outrun the BearI was skiing in the woods this winter and noticed some interesting paw prints in the snow.
Introducing WAgile—your new balance between confidence and uncertaintyForget the obsession with planning methodologies—there are only two things you need to consider to get the job done.