Tag: Leadership

• Giving Trust Sep 28, 2025

  When I first joined the team, my product partner looked at me and said: “I’m going to trust you simply because I need to.”

  It was a striking statement. He had no reason to trust me—I hadn’t earned it yet. Most people expect trust to be built over time. But instead of waiting for proof, he chose to begin our partnership from a foundation of trust.

  As someone new to the company, battling a fair amount of imposter syndrome, his words were incredibly empowering. They set the tone for our relationship and gave me confidence that I could share ideas openly, knowing I had his support.

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• Excessive Criticism is a Sign of Internal Conflict (Projecting)' Feb 18, 2025

  Excessive Criticism is a Sign of Internal Conflict (Projecting) - People take communication for granted. Communication, while natural, isn’t easy. Effective communication is hard. Actively listening is something I consciously focus on to improve my understanding of the information someone else is sharing.

  One of the triggers I’ve picked up on is when someone is overly critical of an individual over the individual’s behavior. kupajo identifies this behavior as projecting personal insecurities onto another person as the subconscious reasoning for critiquing.

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• Barry McCarthy Leadership Advice Feb 11, 2025

  Barry McCarthy on LinkedIn - I’m a Barry McCarthy fan. I heard him speak many times while at Spotify where he was serving as the CFO. He is a brillant business person but also a geniune and honest straight shooter. While his LinkedIn post is largely about Peloton’s streak of successful profitable quarters, buried at the end is Barry’s list of principles which he’s shared over the years.

  I’ll repost them so I don’t forget them:

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• Book Review: The Creative Act Feb 13, 2024
  

  I picked up The Creative Act because it is Rick Rubin. I was intrigued because it isn’t a memoir of his career in the music industry. The Creative Act is Rick’s take on the act of creativity. It is his advice and approach to the creative flow. With such a heady concept I figured I could find inspiration in it and apply it to my life.

  Rick Rubin is a music icon. He’s responsible for launching careers like Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. He’s responsible for cgggggareer pivots like Tom Petty’s first record without the Heartbreakers and Johnny Cash’s American recordings late in his career. Rubin plays no instrument and yet is able to illicit greatness from the artists he works with. The Creative Act is a glimpse into how he’s able to pull greatness out of them.

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