Office hours at work
Many people are shy about asking for other people's time, even if it's actively encouraged, especially when they're new. For those I work with regularly, I »
Complaints are a measure of engagement
Customer complaints are a sign that a product needs improvement. Sometimes that's because a product doesn't work, but other times it's because users are pushing the »
Don't confuse complexity with value
When something is hard to explain, it's tempting to conclude that it must be valuable. While this is true sometimes, in general the ability to explain »
Mutual referral agreements
When building partnerships with businesses that offer complimentary products or services, it's beneficial to align incentives as much as possible. One way to do that is »
Standing up for yourself
We each tolerate different levels of discomfort and inconvenience to prevent others from being unhappy with us. Neither extreme makes sense. People who demonstrate little willingness »
Why businesses prefer unlimited PTO
An increasing number of businesses seem to be offering unlimited PTO policies to their employees. While this is typically marketed as a huge perk for employees, »
Default to using the name on my credit card
When I go to coffee shops, my interaction with the cashier usually goes something like this: I place my order. I'm told how much I owe. »
Managerial debt
Because confrontation can be uncomfortable, many managers procrastinate hard but necessary conversations with people they work with. While this trade-off makes life more pleasant in the »
Price and proposition simplification
Simplicity is a competitive strategy that often goes overlooked. There's a temptation to believe that because a process / idea is complicated, it must be valuable. But »
Charging by the day
As a freelancer doing creative work, it's important to protect your maker's schedule because doing even one hour of billable work has a disproportionate impact on »