Best of… Essays.

A colleague recently asked me if I’d gathered my best articles into a book. I haven’t, at least not yet. But, in the meantime, I took the inquiry as an invitation worth accepting.

Going back only through the last couple of years of essays, it was fascinating to see the data on which essays rose to the top. While I’d rewrite some pieces entirely, these resonate most with readers:

The Courage to Be Rare — because in a market saturated with sameness, the most strategic thing a leader can do is resist the pull to fit in.

The Flight Pattern of Trust — because high-performing teams don’t move in lockstep, they move in coherence, and this piece shows what that actually requires of a leader.

When Culture Becomes Community — because culture is the system, and community is what the system produces. Most leaders are building one while hoping for the other.

The 8% That Holds Your Team Back — because a small fraction of unaddressed behavior sets the ceiling for everyone else.

Crisis as a Test — because while pressure can build character, it first reveals it.

Nice Guys Finish First — because kindness isn’t a soft skill, it’s a compounding asset, and most leaders have been running the wrong race.

Pressure as an Honor — because the leaders who thrive under pressure aren’t the ones who eliminate it, they’re the ones who’ve learned to read it as a signal that the work matters.

The Garden We Were Given — because who you are as a leader matters more than what you’ve built.

Words That Raise People — because the right words, said directly and specifically, can change what someone believes about themselves.

What Leadership Still Asks of Us — because the most consequential act a leader can take is knowing when to step back and make room.

If you want a more trusting team, a culture of belonging or a magnetic brand that attracts more of the right customers, I can help. If you'd like to explore if working together makes sense, drop me a line.

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