When I want to reinforce the need for critical thinking, I sometimes bring up the green coffee bean problem. In 2012, a research article entitled “Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Linear Dose, Crossover Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of a Green Coffee Bean Extract in Overweight Subjects” was published in the seemingly reputable journal Diabetes,…
Chesterton’s fence principle can be explained as follows: Don’t take down a fence until you know the reason it was put up in the first place. In other words, don’t be so quick to tear down things you don’t understand. G.K. Chesterton was an early 20th century English writer best known for the Father Brown…
The old saying ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ may well be true. A recent study of ~200 people in three different countries showed that hobbies make us happier than accomplishments. A paper titled ‘Value Fulfilment and Well-being: Clarifying Directions Over Time’ describes a 9-day research study in which participants from…
You might not have heard of MIT professor Gian-Carlo Rota but you should know Rota’s 10 Life Lessons. Rota was an internationally respected mathematician and philosopher, and an influential and admired teacher. He was credited with transforming the field of combinatorial logic into one with a wide range industrial applications – from computers to communications…
Reject the rat race and embrace the parable of the contented fisherman. I’ve lived in Silicon Valley for all of my adult life, whole-heartedly embracing the culture of innovation. I’m repeatedly energized with the amazing people I’ve been able to meet. But I’m not an idealist – as much as I love living here, I…
The Find The Umbrella parable is likely apocryphal but it’s a useful way to explain why absolute rules in companies can backfire from their intentions. While there are many versions of the story, here’s the one I’ve told: A salesperson flies to meet a client only to find an unexpected severe thunderstorm is drenching the…
I’ve never been one to watch a lot of television but, like everyone else, started binge watching during the early days of the pandemic. Soon, I was faced with a dilemma: how long should I give a popular TV series before abandoning it for something else? I decided to follow the Rule of 25 for…
One of the advantages of living in Silicon Valley is you get to meet some amazing people. A recent meet-up with a friend reminded me of the time we got to meet Robert Joss, Dean Emeritus of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. During his career, Professor Joss researched how people can be developed into…
After the robust discussion on my 7 tips for new managers, I decided to add a few more tips: 8. “Do unto others” Treat employees the way that you would want to be treated. Never ask an employee to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself. 9. “Turn chickens into pigs” During bacon and eggs breakfasts,…
After reading my MBWA 101 post, a colleague asked me if I had ever compiled a list of tips for new managers. He wanted to provide some concrete recommendations for a new mentee who had recently become a first line manager. Other than my own management philosophy, I’d never written anything down before so I…