12 Logical Fallacies That Undermine Your Intelligence, Influence, and Leadership (And How to Spot Them) If someone is using these tactics, they’re not trying to learn or share—they’re trying to manipulate you. I was never the quickest, smartest, or most creative person in school, at work, or on the mat. In fact, for many years, I was anything but and quite gullible. I wanted to be a sponge, to take in as much information as possible. Taking a cue from Socrates: “I know that I know nothing.”...
1 day ago • 8 min read
The Trust Equation: Why Removing Self-Interest Is the Key to Great Leadership You can have all the credibility, reliability, and intimacy in the world. But if you’re too focused on yourself, nobody will trust you. The other day, during a session with my executive coach, we were talking about some business challenges I’ve been experiencing. He asked me: “Since you like frameworks and mental models so much”—he actually doesn’t prefer them as much, which is one reason why he’s a great coach for...
2 days ago • 8 min read
You Are the Bottleneck: Why Most People Sabotage Their Own Success (And How to Stop) The most powerful lever in the world is useless if you don’t know how to apply force properly. 3-4 million years ago man first grabbed a rock and a stick, he’s been able to increase his ability to impact the world. More importantly, he’s been able to use the leverage those tools allowed. The rock allowed him to leverage space with force. The stick, with a fulcrum, allowed him to leverage force itself. And...
3 days ago • 8 min read
Mastery Isn’t About the Skill—It’s About Mastering Yourself Discipline is just a habit. And the easiest way to build it is to start with what you love. When I was young and dumb, trying to make my way in the world, I was like most young men. Full of energy, fury, and potential. But very little utility, credibility, or capability. All I knew was that there were a few things I loved doing and exploring: Reading Martial arts Learning and growing And a few things I “had” to do to make my way in...
4 days ago • 9 min read
Why Being Simple Is the Smartest Move You Can Make (And Why Intelligence Without Wisdom Is Dangerous) The uncarved block doesn’t ignore complexity. It just refuses to be controlled by it. Often, being called “simple” has connotations of stupid, basic, not a person who seeks to accomplish much in life. But what if I told you that’s the exact opposite of the truth? What if being “simple” is actually the smartest move you can make? What if simplicity is a sign of great intelligence and wisdom,...
5 days ago • 7 min read
The Secret Geometry of Success: Why You Need to Be a Square, Circle, and Triangle (And Know When to Be Each) Not every strategy works in every situation. The key is knowing which shape to become. A few years ago, I was at a cafe I used to hang out at—before it was taken over by new owners who changed the whole vibe and lost most of the clientele that had been going there for years. The Meraki logo I saw a guy wearing a simple black cap with symbols on it: a triangle within a circle within a...
6 days ago • 8 min read
How Committed Are You to Getting Good? (Leaders Make Progress, Losers Make Excuses) If you want to know what matters to you, look at your calendar. Your discretionary time tells the truth. For almost two and a half years at Meraki, I’ve scheduled myself to be there six to seven days a week. I only miss my schedule if I’m sick and don’t want to share my germs, or if I have to schedule something over my training time. Other than that, I show up to “train.” Even if that means I’m beat up and...
8 days ago • 8 min read
Why Empathy Is the Most Underrated Leadership Trait (And How Hurt Leaders Hurt Everyone) Hurt people hurt people.Healed people heal people.Which one are you? You may have heard the meme: "Hurt people hurt people." I saw it all the time on the construction site. Journeymen and foremen who were treated like shit as apprentices—who endured toxic work culture, verbal abuse, and callousness—would turn around and treat those under their supervision the exact same way. Not knowing how to process...
8 days ago • 8 min read
Why Personal Leadership Matters More Now Than Ever: When 65% Would Rather Follow Orders Than Do What’s Right Time is long, but people’s memory is short. And that’s why history keeps repeating itself. There’s a saying: “Those who can't remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” And unfortunately, it’s true. Not because the lessons aren’t there. But because people’s memory is short. I remember when gas prices in LA were approaching $5 a gallon. I was driving a service truck for work, so I...
9 days ago • 9 min read