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What do AI headshots tell us about our values?
Observing the recent influx of headshots built by AI tools, I have noticed a preference toward certain physical attributes and styles. We may not be comfortable saying what we think a “professional” looks like, but our AI models are now speaking for us. One of the existential challenges of AI is that it forces us…
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I am Enough
This has become my meditation mantra. When the too many things to do start swirling into my conscious view, I remember to return to my breath. I know I will never be done. But I need to remind myself that I am enough right now and always. It’s all a bit cheesy, I know. Nevertheless,…
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Reading Recap: October 2024
I fell a little off my five books a month pace this month, but I am still on target for 60 with 10 books left to go in the remainder of 2024. All four of these books were great reads that I recommend. More to come in the deep dive. Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman,…
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Fire Up Your Performance “Jets” with a Persona
When you hear him interviewed in his home, Justin Jefferson comes across as quiet and unassuming. He strikes you as someone who would be comfortable sipping an herbal tea while reading at a coffee shop. That’s not what you would expect from one of American Football’s elite wide receivers. Playing football in general requires a…
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In Defense of Coaching
A recent episode of the Best of Both Worlds podcast took a Q&A question about engaging with career coaches. The hosts took a very skeptical view of most coaches and recommended that the listener proceed with caution. Despite my title here, I wholeheartedly agree with this advice. It isn’t easy to differentiate before meeting between…
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Reading Recap: September 2024
🧑⚕️Disabling Professions by Ivan Illich A series of essays arguing that professional societies make individuals less able to understand certain decisions. This lessens our individual agency and we become dependent on professionals. Professional societies sustain their relevance through a cycle on increasing complexity which requires us to rely on them more and more. 🎢Thrillville U.S.A.…
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More AI More DIY?
Outsourcing drudgery is a common recommendation from productivity experts and leading entrepreneurs. Tim Ferriss recommended leveraging human virtual assistants as a key strategy to unlock The 4-Hour Workweek. Cal Newport and Laura Vanderkam have sung the praises of outsourcing various chores to enable parents to be both highly productive and live a well-balanced life. Despite…
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Three things Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach Business Leaders
You have probably seen that prominent tech leaders such as Mark Zuckerburg and Elon Musk are training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Maybe you wonder how fighting appeals to these titans of the tech industry. I won’t argue the efficacy of one martial art over another, but one thing that stands out for Jiu-Jitsu is that you…
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Reading Recap: August 2024
A quick summary of the books I read this past month. I will do a deep dive later this month. On the road to 60 it’s 41 down, 19+ to go. 🤫Quiet Leadership by David Rock Drive workplace performance by changing how we and our colleagues think. Coaching techniques to help others change their own…
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Transposition of Discomfort
Establishing new habits and routines is hard. It is common to feel some mental resistance when you try to take action on your new practice. When I talk with people about building a reading practice, they often comment that it is hard to focus and make progress on reading if they have not been doing…