The Subtraction Game
Decision Balance Newsletter | 1.30.2024
Key Insight
An essential element in reducing friction at work is to subtract, simplify, and streamline. Stanford professors Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao launched The Friction Project to examine why it is hard to get things done in organizations. A key problem is leaders who suffer from “addiction sickness.”
A question to ask yourself
What do you do when you have exceeded your expectations or just feel ‘done’ with your current career path but are not ready to retire? World champion surfer Carissa Moore explains how it is hard to find the motivation after sustained success and suggests that winning comes with diminishing returns. In my coaching we address this in two ways (1) turn money into meaning and (2) add the excitement of uncertainty by starting a new project adjacent to your area of expertise so you can rediscover a beginner’s mindset.
Reading, podcast thoughts
The real cornerstone of success is discipline and the establishment of effective routines. Structure ensures you are prepared to take advantage of opportunities that align with what you do well. Pattern recognition is not an accident; it’s when self awareness and preparation meets opportunity.
Lagging industries like govtech, healthcare, legal, construction, and education are most ripe for AI disruption according to VC NFX. They further explain that building an AI solution solely on selling a faster process with greater efficiency is not enough. A solution should not just improve existing roles, it should eliminate large sections of the target customers’ opex.
Health
Longevity is increasingly a focus for healthcare practitioners and investors. Perhaps no place is more focused on this than the Buck Institute in Marin County, CA. Their mission is to end the threat of age related diseases and not just increase lifespan but also healthspan. To do this they are seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the biology of aging itself. We cannot perform at an elite level for a sustained amount of time if we are not healthy. How much do you understand your own biology and the principles that lead to longevity? Visit the Buck learning portal to increase your knowledge or join me for a tour of the facility in April.
Welcome to the DecisionBalance newsletter where I share insights, questions, and reading recommendations. I coach asset managers and start-up founder/CEOs to set goals, improve performance, and find deeper meaning in their work.
