My favorite things of 2025
I’ve been spending most of the holiday break so far just hanging out with my partner and our daughter–reading books, playing games and watching movies. The only time I’ve eked…
Essay
Crunch and other systems archetypes
One of my favorite parts of The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge is his focus on systems thinking. So many persistent problems within organizations (and individuals!) stem from invisible systems that shape…
Why your studio needs a vision (even if you think it doesn’t)
Most leaders I talk to don’t have an explicit long-term vision for their studio. They don’t think they need one. After all, startups thrive on agility—chasing opportunities, pivoting fast, reacting…
Finding co-founder alignment
Co-founder drama is a studio killer. When co-founder relationships go south, you’re not just in for awkward meetings—you could tank your entire company. Disagreements over vision, leadership, or financial decisions…
Why “unique” is better than “best”
Are you competing to be the best? Or to be unique? According to business strategist Michael Porter, unless you are competing to be unique, you don’t have a strategy. After…
Annual Review 2024
Sitting down every year between Christmas and New Year’s to review the past year is the most valuable ritual I’ve adopted for my business and my life, hands down. Each…
My favorite things of 2024
During the break I sat down to reflect on the past year. As part of that, I always take a long hard look at everything I saw, read, heard and…
Supercharge your studio ambitions
Success doesn’t come from thinking small or taking tiny, safe steps. It’s built by looking far beyond what feels possible in the moment. If you’re only planning one step ahead,…
The 5-step plan for better core values
Defining and fostering company culture might seem like just another task on a founder’s to-do list, but it’s actually one of the most crucial parts of building a successful business.…
A brief guide to better feedback
Whenever feedback comes up in my coaching, it’s usually in this form: “How do I give feedback so that people will listen?” And it’s completely understandable. When you are trying…