-
Seamen, Entrepreneurs, Commanders: Skin in the Game
True leaders don’t walk away in a storm. True leaders can’t walk away, as they have skin in the game. Some lessons from sailing.
-
Kids and Startup? The Challenges Are Surprisingly Common
Juggling kids and startup and looking for parallels? Days normally don’t unfold as planned, and you can’t walk away from your responsibilities.
-
It’s Harder to Kill Your Company Than You Think: The Value of Options
Can you walk away and kill your company every time something bad happens? Of course not. You need to find a way out of the situation.
-
True Strategy Means Choosing What Not to Do
True strategy isn’t about lofty vision statements, it’s about making tough choices. It starts with deciding what not to do.
-
Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Work: My Daughter Works For Me
My daughter wanted to earn some money by working at my company. I turned it into a life lesson for her: Work is teaching kids responsibility.
-
Why CEO Term Limits Might Save You and Your Company
CEO term limits can prevent burnout and protect your company’s future. Learn when it’s time to let go and how to transition with impact.
-
Why All-Rounders Beat Experts in Dire Times
In uncertain times, all-rounders beat experts. Generalists are crucial for solving today’s toughest challenges.
-
Do You Think You’re Good at Time Planning? Think Twice
Nothing would get done if the 5 minutes before midnight didn’t exist. That’s a bad excuse for not improving your time planning skills.
-
Do You Want to Be Successful? Then You Have to Give a Fuck
Success starts with caring. Give a fuck — about customers, tasks, and urgency — is what separates top performers from everyone else.
-
Do You Want to Be Successful? Learn to Cope with Frustration and Setbacks
Learn how to cope with frustration, setbacks, and shifting priorities — because real success comes from how you respond to challenges.
-
Should You Use ChatGPT for Emotional Writing?
I have been in situations where I couldn’t find the right words. Don’t use ChatGPT for emotional writing in such situations.
-
Why Mountaineering Feels Like Entrepreneurship
Mountaineering is exhausting but rewarding — just like entrepreneurship. Discover the parallels that make both so challenging and fulfilling.
-
True Leaders Don’t Walk Away When Things Get Tough
Great leaders don’t walk away — even in crisis. Here’s what entrepreneurs, commanders, and parents all have in common when the storm hits.
-
Off-Site Team Meetings Sound Like Having Fun as a Team. I Have a Better Idea
Extended face-to-face meetings are way better than off-site team meetings. Ditch the rafting and the bungee jumps.
-
Productivity Is a Solo Myth. Efficiency Is a Team Discipline.
Forget solo productivity tips. Learn how efficiency in teams comes from fewer tools, smaller teams, real conversations, and simple processes.
-
How Focus Fridays Work in Startups: Our Leadership Rhythm Fix
Focus Fridays transformed how we work. We changed our leadership rhythm to reduce chaos, boost output, and protect deep work time.
-
What Kennedy’s Quotes Teach Entrepreneurs About Choice and Hardship
Kennedy’s famous quotes offer timeless lessons for entrepreneurs — from choosing hard paths to putting the team first. Here’s how they apply to startups.
-
Life Is a Negotiation — Not an Enforcement
Business, government, or neighbors — life is all about give and take. Real negotiation isn’t about rules, but mutual benefit.
-
Lonely Leadership Decisions: A Story from an Airline Captain
From pilots to CEOs, tough calls come with the role. Most of those leadership decisions are taken in loneliness.
-
How to Kill Innovation: The Talk That Stops Progress
Legal hurdles, slow procurement, endless discussions: Real-life experience with some common blockers that kill innovation.
-
Why Endless Discussions Kill Progress: Start Small, Act Fast
Too many projects die in endless discussions. Some hard-earned lessons on why doing things twice is better than doing nothing at all.
-
Leadership Lessons from Mountaineering in a Changing World
In times of rapid change, here are some leadership lessons from mountaineering that include teamwork, attitude, and flexibility.
-
Lessons from Aviation to Lead the World into the Future
Error culture and decision-making offer powerful lessons from aviation for entrepreneurs facing high-stakes decisions under pressure.
-
Send Your Lawyers on Vacation If You Want to Enter New Territory
A bold geothermal energy project in Switzerland gives an excellent example of why you should send your lawyers on vacation from time to time.
-
What Startup CEOs Really Do All Day (Hint: It’s Not Just Meetings)
From crises to customers, strategy to culture, startup CEOs juggle priorities in a constantly changing environment.
-
Swim Against the Current: Why Thinking Long-Term Pays Off
What 15+ years in the military taught me: Prepare when others don’t. In crisis, those who swim against the current stay afloat.
-
Boost Your Productivity With A Personal Sprint Board
What works for software development, also works for personal task management
-
Why Summer Is the Best Time to Refocus Your Life
Use the slower summer months to refocus your life. Learn strategies to sharpen both your work and personal life.
-
Why Experiences Matter More Than Material Gifts
Happiness doesn’t come from material gifts. It comes from time well spent with close people. A good mindset to prepare for times of crisis.
-
Stop Emailing. Start Talking Again.
Innovation doesn’t happen over email. Real progress comes from real conversations. You’d better stop emailing and start talking again.
-
Forget the Quick-Wins. Good Solutions Take Time
There is no overnight success. Growth and good solutions take time, effort, and setbacks. That’s true for startups, products, and people.
-
Time Blocking Is A Dead-End For Leaders
I have used time blocking for one straight year — and I have abandoned the method recently.
-
Our Hiring Was Broken — Until We Reversed the Process
Our hiring was broken. Discover how reversing the interview order improved our hiring success and reduced declined offers.
-
Why I Am Hiring Military Guys
Mission focus, adaptability, and speed—key traits for today’s complex and volatile world. That’s why I am hiring military guys.
