A Letter to Future Me

Dear Future Me,

I think it's important to capture where I am right now - and launch that reflection forward so you can read this and reminisce about the way things were. It might make you cringe (reading my old writing usually has that effect) - but I expect it might give you a smile or a chuckle as well. So whether your situation is better, worse, or the same - I hope this letter will give you something to measure by.

Today is 12/27/2025 - and here's a brief summary of what's been going on.

• Evelyn turned 2 a few weeks ago - Tiff planned an awesome party (the theme was "Two the Moon"). During the party it snowed a ton and on the way home Evie and I got stuck at the bottom of a hill and had to call Poobah to come pick us up. 
  
  
• On 11/15 the PETs team that I've been working on for the past couple years hit the end of a contract cycle. The contract was extended but about half the team (Brittany, Masha, Kaushik, and Ali) rolled off the contract. Some additional teammates (Jenn, Priyanka, Vijay, Emeka, and Abdi) were not rolled off but because of some nuance in the extension have been stuck on the bench waiting for a green light. So for the past few weeks, the remaining members of the team (Ian, Jaymin, Padma, Brian, and I) have been holding down the fort and adjust to the new paradigm. There's a whole host of additional chaos in play (government shutdown, massive process overhauls, new agency admin, and more) - so to summarize, things are a bit more stressful than usual.
  
  
• I've been working on this blog and my professional development plan for about 2.5 months now. This will be the 20th post and I have developed a small (but mighty and much appreciated) following. I don't know if I can claim I've figured out exactly what I'm doing here or how it should be done - but I don't feel horribly embarrassed or ashamed of what I'm writing here either.
  
  
• I finished books 97 and 98 today - It's looking like I've got my goal of 100 in the bag. When all is said and done, I will have completed about 60% of the work in the last 12% of the year - but there hasn't been a version of me yet that doesn't put work off until the last minute. Maybe you will have finally cracked that code (I doubt it).

Reading Reflections: November

Buckle up - I really started to pick up the pace in November. I read 23 books - including some of the more relevant ones to date (and some of the more casual ones as well). 

In an effort to not spend my entire evening writing this post; I'm going to skip my reflections on most of the casual reads. Happy to discuss them if anyone's interested though!

 

Making Things Happen - Scott Berkun

Why I read this: This was a part of my curriculum - specifically in support of the PMP. The PMBOK is a nice guide of how project management is supposed to work. Making Things Happen is a book about how project management actually works.

Reflection: This was exactly the kind of book that I find the most valuable. I find very little joy in books that spout pure academia and the way things are supposed to work - and this book was the antithesis to that. Berkun provides advice based on real world experience and successes (and failures). One of Berkun's core philosophies is that the role of the PM is to be responsible for empowering people not process or deliverables. The more that I develop my own skills and knowledge the more that I am certain that the intersection of people and systems is where the magic happens.

Peopleware - Tom DeMacro

Why I read this: This is more PMP curriculum. Much like Making Things Happen this is a book about the real world - not the academic perception of it. 

Reflection: Peopleware is a book about being a PM who puts sociology above technology. As a leader the way to accomplish great big things is to create an environment that empowers and protects your people. This was not something that was surprising to me - but it is surprising how few managers choose to work this way.

Team Topologies - Matthew Skelton

Why I read this: Much of the PMP curriculum I've consumed has been about how to get the most out of a team. This book is about how to build the right team in the first place.

Reflection: This book is basically an ode to/expansion of Conway's Law - "organizations design systems that mirror their own communication structure" - The concept of 'flow' has appeared in most of the PMP reading I've been doing - so it was no surprise that when building an organization/team; flow is the unit by which success is measured. I'm not convinced that all the ideas in this book are as practical in application as the author makes them sound; but the focus on building teams that flow is one that will stick with me.

Accelerate - Nicole Forsgren

Why I read this: This is a part of process management curriculum. Much of that curriculum is based on anecdotes, case studies, and hokey (but valuable) parables. Accelerate was billed as the cold, hard, data driven facts.

Reflection: The book lived up to its recommendation. The only tech team I've ever worked on (my current team) uses a CI/CD model and adopted trunk-based development a little over a year ago - as a result this book was mostly preaching to the choir. Despite this - Forsgren's methodology for measurement was mostly new for me. One of the hard parts about what I'm seeking to do will be measuring whether or not I've been successful - this book will be one I reach for when that time comes. 

The Prince and The Discourses - Niccolo Machiavelli

Why I read this: Read this in college - hadn't thought of it since. I was looking at my bookshelf for a 'next' book and it stood out to me so I snagged it.

Reflection: It is deeply disappointing that a guide to retaining political power in 1500s Florence still seems to be a reasonably relevant playbook in 2025 America. Apparently we have not evolved much the past 500 years.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Why I read this: I got this book at a library sale. I'm not particularly 'in a hurry' as the title suggests - but books about challenging topics that have been written for simple minds appeal to me. 

Reflection: I wish I liked Tyson more. Everything he writes about in this book can be learned quicker/easier by tuning in to one of his rants on whichever podcast he happens to be on this week. It's interesting stuff - but he just doesn't inspire the same sort of wonder as Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking.

The DevOps Handbook - Gene Kim

Why I read this: DevOps is just a fancy name for systems thinking applied to the operations of a tech team. I want to use systems thinking in a field dominated by technology - it was an obvious addition to my curriculum.

Reflection: Having already read The Phoenix Project (the narrative/allegory version of this) - much of this book was more of a refresher than it was new information. The core values - focusing on throughput and breaking silos - are exactly the kinds of changes I want to introduce in organizations.

Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse

The Drama of the Gifted Child - Alice Miller

The Name of God is Mercy - Pope Francis

Walking Disaster - Deryck Whibley

Your Money or Your Life - Joe Dominguez

The Motivation Manifesto - Brendon Bruchard

Switch - Chip Heath

Why I read this: I've made the comment before - it's not enough to know the right way to do things, I have to know how to convince other people as well. That change management knowledge is the focus of Switch

Reflection: For such a perpetually difficult topic - this book makes it seem so easy. "Direct the rider, motivate the elephant, shape the path." A simple framework to capably convince anyone to adopt whichever changes you happen to be implementing. To be clear I liked that they made the framework so simple - but I have no doubts that the execution of that framework is anything but simple. 

The Green Hills of Earth - Robert Heinlein

Animal Farm - George Orwell

Hatchet - Gary Paulsen

Disrupting the Game - Reggie Fils-Aime

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - CS Lewis

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

The Horse and His Boy - CS Lewis

Prince Caspian - CS Lewis

Voyage of the Dawn Treader - CS Lewis

 

This brings my total books read (at the end of November) to 70. 

30 books left to read in December - and as of today (12/22) I'm quickly closing in.

CHG  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Report #1: Nowhere Left to Hide

So now that all of the plan is on the table - there's nothing left to do but keep you all updated on what I'm actually doing to make forward progress. 

 

I expect it'll take me a few posts before I come up with a reasonably functional formula for sharing - so bear with me while I try a few different formats out.

 

For this week - I'm just going to go objective by objective and give an update on the what I've accomplished so far.

 

Objective #1: PMP

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the PMP cohort at work was frozen until sometime in early 2026. The cohort had covered about half of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) before pausing; I read the second half on my own. Since then, I've spent minimal time on this objective. Before the cohort restarts, I'll review the PMBOK again, but until then I'm focusing energy elsewhere.

 

Objective #2:  BA Skills

I can now say with certainty: I have zero intent to pursue a professional business analysis certification. I've done substantial research - and I don't see any tangible value to obtaining such a credential. Instead, I've started strengthening BA capabilities I haven't used much: modeling tools and techniques via a LinkedIn Learning path. It's not particularly interesting work, but it's a common skill set I haven't learned on the job yet.

 

Additionally - my team at work has recently gone through a substantial transition and as a result I am now the primary business analyst (as well as discount scrum master among other hats). My team is much smaller now and we're exploring how to operate in this new paradigm. The next few months will force my BA skills to grow.

 

Objective #3: Process Improvement

I've completed 10-12 hours of Lean Six Sigma coursework on LinkedIn Learning, targeting 1-2 hours per week with some fluctuation. It's not entirely clear when I should attempt the Green Belt exam, but I'm confident I can meet my Q1 2026 goal.

I'm actively participating in process improvement work at my organization. I occupy a unique role that lets me engage with both the contractor team facilitating improvements and the NASA program teams whose processes are being improved. It's great experience, and I'm grateful for the freedom to participate outside my official lane.

I mentioned planning to do process consulting for a local organization. I'm still preparing materials and plan to start work in early/mid-January. Will expand on this more in the future.

 

Objective #4: Strategic Reading

I've read an astounding number of books in the past few weeks. Of the 15 curriculum books I planned for November and December, I've finished 14 and I'm halfway through the 15th. I will share my thoughts on them more specifically in a future reflections post but to quickly list the 14 books I've completed:

1. "Critical Chain" by Goldratt
2. "The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim
3. "Making Things Happen" by Scott Berkun
4. "The DevOps Handbook" by Gene Kim et al.
5. "Peopleware" by Tom DeMarco
6. "Team Topologies" by Matthew Skelton
7. "Accelerate" by Nicole Forsgren
8. "Switch" by Chip & Dan Heath
9. "The Fifth Discipline" by Peter Senge
10. "Drive" by Daniel Pink
11. "The Pyramid Principle" by John Vallely
12. "Good Strategy Bad Strategy" by Richard Rumelt
13. "The Effective Executive" by Peter Drucker
14. "An Elegant Puzzle" by Will Larson

I think many of these will merit a second read (or third, or fourth) - but all of them have added valuable knowledge to my tool chest. I'm looking forward to sharing my reflections.

 

Objective #5: Reigniting LinkedIn/Blog/Etc.

As I mentioned last week, it's been a challenge to maintain this cadence. Between work, time with Evie, and reading a book every night, finding time to write is hard.

That said, I've enjoyed the exercise. It's nice to be writing again - it's the sort of mindfulness activity I'm not usually good at prioritizing, but one I clearly benefit from.

 

So there you have it - Progress Report #1. The ball is rolling slowly; but it is rolling.

More to come.

CHG 

Reading Reflections: September and October

September and October were some of my weakest months as far as reading volume - but there were some excellent books! This was also the first set of books recommended by Claude as a specific curriculum for my development plan.

 

 

Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke

Why I read this: At this time I was planning on speaking to students at my alma mater about how to deal with uncertainty (I ended up giving a different talk instead) - This book was in support of that plan. It's difficult to imagine a profession that requires a greater understanding of uncertainty than being a professional gambler.

Reflection: This book offered such a unique and welcome perspective. The lesson that resonated with me most deeply was the need to isolate decisions from outcomes. Good decisions can have bad outcomes. Good outcomes can come from bad decisions. We would all be better off and more effective if we put our false sense of certainty to the side and embraced the fact that there are always variables we cannot control.

 

Critical Chain - Eliyahu Goldratt

Why I read this: This was a part of my curriculum. At this point I was still very focused on my pursuit of the PMP and my reading list reflected that. I wanted to consume as much wisdom about project management as I could find - and I knew from earlier reading that Goldratt's wisdom is hard to match.

Reflection: This book was everything I expected - it was "The Goal" rewritten so that Goldratt can show that the core driving principles that can optimize manufacturing can be repackaged and applied to optimize project management as well. Abandoning the 'cost world' for the 'throughput world' seems fantastical - but there is endless evidence to show that it is the right thing to do.

 

The Phoenix Project - Gene Kim

Why I read this: This was also a part of my curriculum and was the perfect follow-up to Critical Chain. If Critical Chain was the Project Management version of "The Goal" - then The Phoenix Project is the DevOps version. Given my current career and role - this was a perspective of these lessons that seemed valuable to add to my toolchest.

Reflection: Maybe it's just because this book is more applicable to my current work - but I found this book to be vastly more relatable than The Goal or Critical Chain. The issues that are faced through this narrative are issues that I'm painfully familiar with. Most importantly and most resonant was the importance of breaking HUMAN bottlenecks. If a team or organization becomes dependent on an operational hero - then that hero MUST be converted from an operational resource to a knowledge resource. This was knowledge that was deeply relevant to my work and immediately changed the way I think.

 

On Settling - Robert Goodin

Why I read this: This book was referenced in a book I'd read earlier this year and sounded interesting - it floated on my list for awhile and finally bubbled to the top. This book occupies the sort of iconoclastic cultural/philosophical thinking that I generally find fascinating and insightful.

Reflection: This would likely be better described as an essay than a book - but I found it extraordinarily insightful. Especially as a supplemental and antagonistic perspective to my entire thoughts on the need for constant growth and forward progress. Goodin writes about the value and the importance of settling. Not as a failure or a compromise - but as an opportunity to fortify our position and create a stronger foundation for us to strive in more important ways.

 

The Magician's Nephew - C.S. Lewis

Why I read this: I have said previously here that C.S. Lewis was a formative voice in my youth - The Chronicles of Narnia represented much of the foundation of my feelings on religion and the theology that has consistently guided me in life. I picked this book (and later the other 6 in the series) primarily for the purpose of entertainment and nostalgia - but in truth there was an itch in my head that was looking to be scratched and I thought perhaps these books might do the trick.

Reflection: Of the 7 books - this one is tied for my favorite. It's difficult for me to articulate what it is about this book that resonates with me - perhaps it is the fact that despite the fact that this book is exceedingly simple; I seem to find something new every time I read it. Perhaps it is the fact that Lewis takes the complexity of the Christian creation story and puts it into a narrative that could pass as a bed time story. All that I am certain of is that this book makes me feel a particular warmth - and I hope that I can share that warmth with my daughter as she gets older.

 

 

 If you've been keeping track - this brings the total read books (at the end of October) to 60.

As of today (12/17) I am in progress on book #88.

Fair warning that the November and December posts will be long. 

 

 

 

Objective #5 Reignite LinkedIn and blog presence

Here we are—the fifth and final objective of my current plan.

This should be the easiest to explain and the simplest to track.

Objective #5 is this blog, my LinkedIn presence, and the general act of putting myself out there.

I can say with certainty (after exactly two months of posting) that this objective is the most difficult of the five:

• It's really hard to keep a consistent cadence week after week (hence this post being a day late)
  
  
• It's really hard to create content that feels meaningful. I'll admit to using AI to help proofread and smooth out thoughts I'm struggling to write down - but other than that every bit of content you've read here has traveled directly from my brain, through my fingers, and into my keyboard. I don't track keystrokes - but if I did I'd bet $100 that backspace is my most used key.
   
• It's really hard to find the right balance between making myself sound like a self-righteous asshole or like a clueless moron. I need enough technical lingo to signal competence  - but not so much that I sound like I'm spewing developmental word soup du jour. 
  
  
• It's really hard to navigate being candid and sharing some of the frustrations that are motivating me without feeling like I'm just turning this blog into a pile of dirty laundry and bitching about my company or my work.
  
  
• It's really hard to spend hours each week meticulously writing these posts for only 5 or 6 people to read them. Building an audience was not the primary reason I started doing this but sometimes it feels futile to be launching into the cold void of the internet. 

But the fact that it's hard is exactly why it matters, why it was an objective that I needed to include. For every reason that it's hard, there's a parallel reason why it's valuable.

• A consistent cadence forces me to be accountable to my plans - otherwise I'd come here and tell you about all of the nothing I accomplished the past week. So far my posts haven't really been about progress - but after this week the stage will be set and I'll have nowhere left to hide.
  
  
• Creating meaningful content forces deliberate and intentional growth. It's not enough to just read a book or earn a certificate - I need to come here and intelligently explain WHAT I've learned and WHY it matters. This codifies my knowledge, justifies my growth, and signals I'm developing genuine expertise—not just collecting credentials.
  
  
• Finding the balance between being an asshole or a moron forces me to be a better communicator and a better leader. It refines my ability to read a room and use the appropriate language for my audience. It teaches me to apply challenging ideas like systems thinking or root cause analysis in ways that engage people without needing them to become experts first.
  
  
• Learning how to talk about challenges in my workplace in a way that is candid, critical and productive without being outright negative or demeaning is essential to the work that I want to be doing. I want my observations to enlighten and inspire my peers - not to belittle or shame them.
  
  
• Not having an audience isn't valuable - building one is. 
  
  
  • One reason I don't have many readers yet: I haven't really told anyone about it. Sure, my couple hundred LinkedIn connections might see the link if the algorithm favors me, but until I commit to sharing this directly with friends, colleagues, and coworkers, the flywheel won't start spinning.
  
  
  • Another reason the audience hasn't taken off: the content probably isn't that good yet. I'm a reasonably fine writer—but if two months of mediocre posts built massive followings, everyone would be a blogger. 
    
    
  • The more I do this, the more the content will improve. As the content improves, the audience will grow - and so will I.

So that's Objective #5: holding myself accountable, forcing me to justify my work, and exercising muscles in communication, leadership, and vulnerability that might otherwise atrophy.

After this week, the stage is set. The five objectives are clear. Now comes the hard part: doing the work and reporting back on whether any of this matters.

Thanks for reading (all 5 or 6 of you.)

CHG

 

 

Reading Reflections: August Catch-Up

I still think I'll be able to catch up these posts (and finish my 100 books) before the end of the year!

 

Continuing on with the books I read in August. 

 

Freedom's Forge - Arthur Herman

Why I read this: This was another book that I had added to my list based on seeing it recommended by Dan Goldin on LinkedIn - I've also reached that age in a man's life where I have to choose between an obsession with smoking meat or World War 2 history. I have chosen both. But I digress. The book seemed interesting enough so I figured I'd give it a read.

Reflection: This book was fascinating - and sort of accidentally relevant to my overall growth as well. There might not exist a better case study for emergence in complex systems. This story is about building a distributed system and trusting it to get the job done - the outcome being the most productive economy and the most effective military supply chain in human history. If in the course of my career I can be half as effective as the likes of William Knudsen or Henry Kaiser - I will consider my career an astounding success.

 

An Everyone Culture - Robert Kegan

Why I read this: As I've discussed in my other posts - a big part of my efforts aren't just learning for my own benefit; but also learning how to teach and distribute what I've learned to others. This book offers a framework and some case studies on how to build 'deliberately developmental organizations' - which in many ways is the kind of outcome I am seeking.

Reflection: I enjoyed this book and found the underlying message incredibly valuable - but it was not well suited as an audiobook and I think I failed to properly retain as much content because of it. The primary thesis - that making individual development a core part of your organization is a worthy investment - is a strong one. It stands to reason that the whole can't grow sustainably if the parts aren't given proper care and feeding. I was lucky enough to be able to almost immediately share some of the learning I gained from this book while participating in an ideation team focused on improving developmental opportunities at my company. I will likely give this book another read sometime in the not distant future to try and codify more of its content to memory.

 

Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success - John Wooden

Why I read this: In late 2023, my wife was in her third trimester with my daughter Evelyn and we decided to take a 'babymoon' to Myrtle Beach. While we were there - we watched the ENTIRETY of Ted Lasso. 3 full seasons in like 3 days. I have been obsessed with it ever since. As a result of watching that show - I developed an interest in John Wooden. I found this book at a book sale and had to pick it up.

Reflection: If I was put in charge of an organization and could use only one artifact as a cornerstone for establishing a framework - John Wooden's Pyramid of Success would be it. It is both remarkably simple and astoundingly deep. There is absolutely no question that it works. I think there are some who might not see how easily it can be applied outside of athletics - but there is absolutely no question in my mind that the pyramid is domain agnostic. The core principle - "success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming" is a universal truth that we would all be better off accepting. This particular book is not the strongest resource for learning about/understanding - but it's a good entry point for those with a curiosity about how Wooden's faith guided his thinking. 

 

Great Leader's Grow - Kenneth Blanchard

Why I read this: I bought this at a library book-sale ($5 to fill up a bag). Didn't know anything about the book or Blanchard - but it seemed like my kind of vibe and I had plenty of room in my bag. I ended up bringing it to our vacation in Maine because it was good size to travel with.

Reflection: This book was fine. One of many cheesy allegories out there designed to impart business wisdom. This one was particularly cheesy and probably not really worth the time invested.

 

The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown

Why I read this: This was another book sale find that was well sized for the trip to Maine - and I'm a simple man. I see Brene Brown, I pick it up and read it. The primary villains of Brown's writing - shame, fear, embarrassment, etc - are all constant visitors in my life and work. So I never pass up the opportunity to consume every drop of what she has to say.

Reflection: At the time I was reading this - I was beginning to plan a talk at my alma mater about how to manage uncertainty as students move through college and enter the workforce. This book ended up influencing a lot of the content of that talk. The lessons of this book are much like those in Brown's other books - vulnerability, authenticity, and resilience are the medicine she prescribes in the face of shame and doubt. Her message to embrace your own imperfection and accepting that you are inherently worthy is one that I always need to hear.

 

Thinking In Systems - Donella Meadows

Why I read this: This is the ultimate intro to systems thinking - which as a discipline is not specifically a pillar of my development plan; but is a consistent member of the supporting cast. This book was a part of my core curriculum and I read it in direct support of my development.

Reflection: My reflections on this book deserve their own post - but I will attempt to distill my thoughts to fit here. Reading this book sparked a real hunger for more systems thinking knowledge - and I'll admit had me briefly considering altering my plans to focus more directly on this discipline. The concepts of stocks and flows, interconnections, leverage, reinforcing vs balancing loops are all deeply intuitive and obvious to me  - but prior to reading this book I'm not sure I was as attuned to seeing them in the world around me. The systems thinking thread is one that I will definitely be continuing to pull.  

 

Enough - John Bogle

Why I read this: Familiar story. Book sale. Well sized for travel. Was generally familiar with Bogle and his financial philosophy but figured this book would be an interesting read.

Reflection: This book feels increasingly relevant. The punchline that underscores the book comes from the writing of Kurt Vonnegut:

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!”

— Kurt Vonnegut

I won't pretend to be an expert on macroeconomics or financial markets - nor do I have any desire to wade into the political. I will leave my reflections with the fear that the world my daughter will inherit is at the mercy of those without the knowledge that they have enough. 

 

Broken Angels - Richard K Morgan

Why I read this: This is the sequel to Altered Carbon (read previously this year). I read this one just for fun.

Reflection: This is probably my favorite book in the Takeshi Kovacs series - I wish that Netflix had faithfully adapted it for the second season instead of writing the absolute dogwater nonsense sequel that was released. I suppose I couldn't really claim to be a real science fiction fan if I didn't shake my fist and grumble at TV/Film adaptations of science fiction novels I like.

Objective #4 Strategic Reading Plan

So at this point I've covered the 3 primary objectives of my plan - now lets talk about the secondary/supportive objectives.

One of those is something I'm calling a 'Strategic Reading Plan.'

If you've been following the blog so far - you know that unrelated to my growth work; I set a goal at the beginning of the year to read 100 books in 2025. 

I committed to this goal before I had a formal development plan. It was mostly just aspirational - an attempt to shock my system into re-establishing reading as a hobby.

Now I've retrofitted that goal: I'm still reading 100 books, but I've built a curriculum within it. Some books are chosen deliberately to support my objectives. Others are just for pleasure or curiosity.

The 100-book goal creates volume. The curriculum creates value.

Reading Reflections: June and July Catch-Up

Last weeks improved formula still feels good to me - so I'm continuing on with the books I read in June and July.

The Art of Gathering - Priya Parker

Why I read this: This book was recommended by ChatGPT when I was working through my original not-so-great growth plan. Specifically it was recommended with the intent of making me a more capable facilitator of meetings and how to get more out of meetings where I was a participant.

Reflection: This is one of the 'everyone must read' books that I've read this year. Parker provides a strong framework on how to elevate all forms of gatherings - whether it's a status meeting at work or a dinner party at home. Establishing and defending a purpose for a gathering is something that seems so obvious - but in my experience is so rare. I have some complaints about how Parker delivers her message (I get it - she knows every famous person and has been to every cool underground event) - but the message is worth hearing and taking to heart.

 

Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy - Henry Kissinger

Why I read this: I got this book from Goodwill or a library sale - and to be entirely honest I picked it because I was traveling and wanted something that would easily fit into my laptop bag. I had genuine interest in the book - but I can't claim that my motivations were any more complex than it was a smaller book that would easily pack.

Reflection: I was actually incredibly surprised by how interesting I found this book. Kissinger is a controversial figure - but his understanding and mastery of foreign policy really can't be questioned. This book is nearly 60 years old and Kissinger's analyses are still relevant and worth understanding. This book will not make you feel warm and fuzzy, nor will it inspire much confidence in the future of humanity - but Kissinger understood that in a world with nuclear weapons; classic military doctrine could no longer be sustained. For some reason as I read this - "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath wouldn't stop playing in my head...

 

Chaos - James Gleick

Why I read this: I read this book for the first time several years ago - I had pulled it off the shelf this year to find a passage that I remembered that had been relevant to a conversation I was having. As I was skimming through looking for the bit that I wanted to share; I was reminded how interesting the book was and decided I may as well just give it another read.

Reflection: This is honestly such a great book. None of the topics that Gleick covers are particularly simple or approachable - but somehow he spins them together in a way that makes them go down nice and easy. This is the kind of book that you just want to talk about with anyone who will listen - the number of times (much to my wife's chagrin) that I started a sentence with "Really cool thing I just read..." - from a personal growth perspective this book is like a manual on dealing with uncertainty. It was from this book that I developed one of my desktop sticky note mantras. "Design with uncertainty, don't try to eliminate it"

 

The No Asshole Rule - Robert Sutton

Why I read this: I read this book during a period where I couldn't spend any money on books but I wanted to continue reading things that were relevant - so I asked ChatGPT to review the list of books I already owned and recommend one that would be the most productive/valuable. This was the result. Luckily it really was a pretty good recommendation and wasn't too far out of left field - if I want to help organizations change for the better; knowing how to create safe space for difficult conversations was a must.

Reflection: I am lucky enough to work in a space where I don't really think of anyone as an asshole, and where generally believe this type of safe space already exists (though I don't believe it gets much use - so maybe some tension there). There's really no question that the ability to set ego and self aside when giving and receiving constructive feedback is one of the hardest things to do in any space - personal or professional. It requires clear rules of engagement and trust built up over time and effort. I particularly appreciate that the author provides a self-diagnostic test - turns out that maybe sometimes the asshole is me. (I bet sometimes it's you too)

 

Team of Teams - General Stanley McChrystal

Why I read this: ChatGPT recommendation. This is probably the single most referenced and recommended work when talking about building decentralized trust based teams. I think you would have a difficult time identifying any dialogue on generative cultures or trust based organizations that don't have some roots found in this book.

Reflection: When I first started this book - I remember being a bit shocked that the first group of people that seemed to 'figure out' how to operate a fast moving, decentralized, complex organization in the digital world was actually Al Qaeda. A bit unsettling to me that my desire to build stronger organizations led me to learn core valuable principles from one of the most well known terrorist organizations of the past 50 years. That aside - this book is a real eye opener. No longer can organizations operate using hierarchical command and control methods - in that model the fires will always move faster than the extinguishers. Instead - leaders need to empower and trust their people to act independently. Efficiency is no longer the mark of a high performing organization - resilience and emergence are the new benchmarks. The pursuit of these has become the focus of much of my efforts to grow my knowledge/skills.

The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell

Why I read this: If I want to be successful in my pursuits - its not enough to know how to build better organizations. I have to be able to get other people to join in and build with me. This book is purely focused on how to push an idea over that edge - so it was an obvious choice to include in my reading list.

Reflection: Much of this book has become a bit dated - but there are core concepts that are still absolutely valuable and worth learning. The piece that resonated the most with me is in Gladwell's Law of the Few portion of the book. The roles of connectors, mavens, and salesmen - and more generically understanding that calculated effort at the 'micro' level is the secret to unlocking adoption at the 'macro' level is timeless knowledge that can be applied in any medium in pursuit of any goal. 

 

The Mom Test -Rob Fitzpatrick

Why I read this: During the course of this year I have been toying with a 'million dollar idea' that I have serious intentions of building a start-up around. This book is an excellent guide on how to be sure that your million dollar idea is really worth pursuing.

Reflection: The underlying thesis of this book is that it's really easy to find affirmation for your ideas - but that affirmation is almost always completely meaningless/useless. Nobody who cares about you wants to hurt your ego. People who don't know you will tell you what you want to hear to get you out of their hair. Learning to re-frame how you solicit feedback is vital to making intelligent and informed decisions. Fitzpatrick provides an incredibly simple and accessible method for 'tricking' people into telling you what they really think.

 

 

 

 

Objective #3 Process Improvement Education

Even though the plan technically has 5 objectives - the reality is that objectives 4 and 5 (while still very important and relevant) really just exist to serve and support objectives 1-3. That makes this objective the last real developmental focus for the short term.

I have long enjoyed the symbolism of the three legged stool - and it's by total accident that this plan has also been built on 3 legs. I think one of the big benefits of writing about it here is that it forces me to create and understand the narrative of this plan - rather than just working through the mechanics of it.

Through my writing here - I've come to the conclusion that the main 3 objectives really can be reduced down to: 

• Objective #1 (Pursuing the PMP) is about gaining the credibility and credentials to be in a position to make changes.

• Objective #2 (Strengthening BA skills) is about improving my ability to articulate complex ideas and engage with diverse groups of stakeholders.
  
  
• Objective #3 (Process Improvement Education) is about developing the skills and knowledge to actually be able to introduce strength and resilience into complex systems and organizations.

It's pretty simple - if I want to help organizations learn how to avoid fires I need to understand what processes and practices already exist that support those ends. 

That means learning:

• What process improvement methodologies actually work (and why)
• How to consistently diagnose root causes, not just the symptoms
• How to introduce changes that work, not just novel ideas that are quickly abandoned
• How to measure outcomes and build positive feedback loops. 

I want to study the major process improvement methodologies of the past few decades - for physical AND digital work:

Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, Kaizen, BPR, BPM, DevOps, Scientific Management, and maybe others that I don't know about yet but might discover as I learn.

It could take years to become a master at any one of these methods - let alone all of them. So I'm choosing to focus the majority of my attention on a single process school (Lean Six Sigma) and will allocate a smaller percentage of my time towards consuming primers on the others so I can maintain a more well rounded understanding of the process management landscape.

I've chosen LSS as my focus because it is what is currently being implemented in my workplace.

If I obtain an entry level LSS belt (Green) before the end of Q1 2026, I can immediately put myself in a position to become a leader in helping the program adapt to this new model of operations and gain critical real world experience. The program has consistently struggled with periods of massive/unsustainable amounts of work - and the changes being implemented are intended to start 'flattening the curve.'

In parallel I'm planning on running an engagement with a local organization with which I'm connected - they have had ongoing difficulties with membership and finances for more than a decade and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to help them implement sustainable improvements. Initial assessments will start the second week of January.

After Q1 I will continue to seek practical opportunities - at work and within my network/community. My intent would be to increase my LSS credential to the black belt level before year end 2026, but as I continue to study and learn about the other methodologies I may discover that another path makes more sense. So we'll put that in the TBD column.

I do feel like I need to address some of the same tension I discussed in my Objective #2 post regarding credential vs capability.

You're probably reading this saying "Two weeks ago this guy said he didn't want to just collect credentials, and now here he is listing off another credential - what gives?"

There's two reasons why the LSS Green belt gives me less anxiety than the BA credentials - 

1.  LSS belts require practical application - they're not just a study guide and an exam. I will have to actually demonstrate I can improve processes, not just talk about how someone else recommends doing it.
   
   
2. The Green belt is a "light" credential. It's enough to signal that I know a thing or two about process improvement - but it's a small enough commitment to obtain that I don't have to invest an enormous amount of time/energy just to add another line to my email signature. It's a foot in the door.

I may just be irrationally weighing this credential by a different standard than the BA credentials - but for whatever reason this one doesn't give me the same hesitation.

I also want to be clear: LSS is my focus; but I refuse to believe that there is any single methodolgy is the answer. Every system is different. Every organization is unique. I want to have a full tool chest, not just a hammer that sends me searching for nails.

I don't expect to master every process management method (that would take decades) - but looking to Baker Mayfield as my guide - I want to be feeling pretty dangerous. 

 

 

So that's the third leg. 

Put it all together and I will have the knowledge to do things better, the ability to communicate it with others, and the credibility to get people to listen.

This is how I stop fighting fires. This is how I stop fires from ever starting. 

Knowledge. 
Communication. 
Credibility. 

Sounds like a pretty solid foundation to me.  

 

For anyone who's pursued process improvement credentials: Is LSS the right starting point, or is there something better I've overlooked.

What's the shortest road between theory and practice?  

Let me know.

 

CHG 

 

Reading Reflections: May Catch-Up

I haven't really loved the execution of these reading reflections so far. 

I haven't really been reflecting so much as reviewing and frankly I don't think I'm really qualified to provide meaningful reviews. I want to talk about how these books influenced my thinking - not whether or not they're 'good' based on my subjective point of view.

I think some of this is a result of the 'lightning round' catch up nature of these posts - but I think I can adjust things a bit to keep these catch-up posts brief and formulaic while developing a better focus on what I think is relevant.

Trying that formula for the first time this week as I catch-up on the books I read in May.

 

Meditations on First Philosophy - Rene Descartes

Why I read this: I had read this in college and found it fascinating at the time. I can't say exactly what motivated me to re-read this but it was calling to me from my shelf.

Reflection: Descartes meditations are like a case study in problem solving. Sure - Descartes is dealing with matters of existential importance, but the basic premise of removing ALL of the noise and slowly bringing signal back is such a fantastic process worth examining and trying to replicate.

Sabbath as Resistance - Walter Brueggemann

Why I read this: If I remember correctly - I became aware of this book because it was referenced in one of the books I read earlier this year. I often build my "Want to Read" list by going down reference rabbit holes in books that I like. Many of the books I've read this year were chosen because they were sources for other books I had read.

Reflections: I really liked this book for a lot of the same reasons I liked 4000 Weeks. The whole world is so focused on how to constantly fit more and more action into every minute of every hour of every day. Like 4000 Weeks; this book draws attention to the value and importance of inaction. Temperance is a virtue we could all aspire to practice more intentionally.

The Wisdom of Teams - Jon Katzenbach

Why I read this: This was another book that had been referenced in a prior read - it had a strong reputation and was in a topic area that I'm always trying to learn more about.

Reflections:  I think if I had read this book in 1993 when it was published - it might have changed my life. In 2025 it's easy to appreciate why it has such a solid reputation; but the vast majority of the lessons and content have been refined, improved, and delivered in far more approachable and consumable literature.

Good to Great - Jim Collins

Why I read this: Jim Collins is always high on the list of authors worth reading if you have interest in pursuing an MBA. I think by the time I actually read this I had decided the MBA was not a direction worth investing in - but I owned the book and it's a 'classic' so I figured I may as well give it a read.

Reflections:  There's no question why Collins is one of the kings of business literature - his writing is easily consumed and his research methods and case studies are strong. The hedgehog concept is a brilliantly simple framework for success and the evidence he presents make a strong case. Unfortunately - a not-significant number of the 'great' companies as defined by his team's criteria were later caught with a hand caught in the fraud cookie jar. The added fraud variable adds reasonable doubt to the accuracy of his arguments - but not enough so to invalidate the book or its findings.

Brave New Work - Aaron Dignan

Why I read this: This was the first book I read as a direct result of my AI fueled growth plan and was recommended to me by ChatGPT. During this time work was particularly stressful and I had a certain sense of despair at the thought that I might be enabling a never-ending series of crises that would inevitably end in disaster for my work, my colleagues, and ME! This book was recommended as the first step toward rethinking how I approached my work.

Reflections: Wow. Just wow. My opinion of this book may have been inflated by some combination of desperation and confirmation bias - but reading this book felt like waking up. Dignan confirms what I had been suspicious of - the solution to an organization hurtling off the tracks isn't to seize more control; but rather to relinquish it. Every single person in the organization needs to be motivated and empowered to prevent and fight fires. I don't know if every argument and assertion made in this book is accurate - but I know in my bones that an organization built on the foundations he proposes will be stronger and more successful than an organization built on classic top down command and control.

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell

Why I read this: Malcolm Gladwell is another one of those "have to read" sorts of authors - I picked up this book at a used book sale at my local library. It's not his most popular book - but I had seen it referenced in a few places in the past and figured it was worth a read.

Reflections:  The case studies in this book are fascinating. Gladwell manages to put his finger on the mechanics of intuition and instinct; and how they can be learned and leveraged. This book is likely not as important or influential as "The Tipping Point" - but I found this topic to be wildly more interesting and more widely applicable.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson

Why I read this: I bought this book years ago. I made it a few chapters in at the time and really liked it, but then life happened and I never finished it and pretty much forgot about it. I ended up reading it because I was having trouble sleeping one night - I didn't want to wake up my wife, and I didn't have my headphones - so I did a quick scan of my eBook library and saw this one sitting at 10 or 15%. Figured I may as well pick it back up.

Reflections: If the title doesn't make it obvious - this book has a certain brashness and candor that makes it far more enjoyable to read than a lot of the dry and dense tomes I had read earlier in the year. In a roster of books on the topic of how to fix the world and make things suck less - Manson reminds us (as a comfort) that sometimes things just kind of suck and there's nothing we can do about. The whole book is like an extended (and vulgar) edition of the Serenity Prayer.

Skunk Works - Ben Rich

Why I read this: Former NASA Administrator Dan Goldin mentioned in a post on LinkedIn that this was one of his favorite 'must read' books. Beyond that - this book has the allure of being about one of the coolest organizations on the planet and it actually falls quite nicely into my research and examination into how you build stronger more functional organizations.

Reflections: This book is a perfect blend of history, case studies, leadership lessons, and personal memoir. I doubt that there is any better literature on how an organization can consistently accomplish seemingly impossible things over a period spanning decades. The stories in this book are strong evidence that an organization's culture is the cornerstone of its success - more confirmation that I'm headed in the right direction.

One Month Check-In

It's been a month since my return to blogging - feels like a reasonable opportunity to take a break from talking about objectives and spend a week checking in on progress and the bigger picture.

 

So going through each objective to give a progress report:

 

Objective 1: PMP

This objective has fallen completely off the rails. The PMP cohort I was a part of at work has been paused until the new year. I'm dedicating a bit of time to studying the PMBOK and doing some PM related learning. But until the cohort starts back up again this objective is basically blocked. 

Because the final step of this objective is an exam that I can't take until after the cohort has completed - I don't want to invest a ton of time exam prepping now since it will likely be 4 or 5 months before I am eligible for the exam.

I'm a bit bummed about this because I was originally hoping to have the PMP locked up before the end of 2025 - but that's life.

 

Objective 2: Strengthen BA Skills

Because the PMP is on pause - This objective has now functionally moved into the top slot. It's also become increasingly relevant because the principal BA on my current project is being (at least partially) rolled off my contract. 

So ready or not - I will be the primary BA starting next week.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious about this. But I've got a great team, and we're all navigating this transition together.

I'm taking this as an opportunity to step up and take ownership for things that I previously would have deferred on - and I am certain that the practical knowledge that I gain the next several months will be far more valuable than anything I might learn from a book, video, or class.

I am spending an hour or two a week consuming BA related courses on LinkedIn Learning to help fill in gaps, and I'm continuing to examine the value in a formal BA credential.

 

Objective 3: Begin Formal Process Improvement Training

I've not gone into detail on this objective yet - but the general intent is to pursue Lean Six Sigma credentials and consume alternative process improvement literature.

While completing that work - I want to find some opportunities to apply the process improvement knowledge I already have and understand.

I haven't formally entered an engagement yet - but I believe I have lined up an opportunity to put these skills in practice starting in January and am currently working on some assessment/analysis frameworks that will be the opening activity in that engagement. 

Will go into more detail on this objective next week, and more detail on this potential opportunity when it's a little more set in stone.

 

Objective 4: Strategic Reading Plan

If you've been following my Monday posts - you'll know that I had a goal to read 100 books this year. Prior to creating my learning plan I was just reading things I already had on the shelf or that were recommended via various channels.

As a part of the plan - I developed a more targeted 'curriculum' of books that are supportive of the other objective areas and that curriculum is the basis of Objective #4.

That curriculum included 7 books from the plan start (Oct 15) through the end of November. I've already completed 6 of those books and am about two thirds done with the 7th.

This objective will get covered in detail in 2 weeks - and at that time I'll talk about which books are a part of the curriculum and why they were chosen.

 

Objective 5: Reignite LinkedIn/Blog Presence

1 month in and this will be my 10th post to the blog. I've established and have been maintaining a regular cadence of two posts a week with an "A" post on Wednesdays and a "B" post on Mondays.

I don't have much of a following yet - I generally only get somewhere between 5-10 views per post. But right now it's not really about the audience, it's about the habit. 

Posting here is a form of accountability and traceability that is necessary for me to be successful on this path.

Maybe the blog will draw a massive audience someday - maybe not. I'll be here either way.

As with Objectives 3 and 4 - I'll be diving deeper into this objective in the coming weeks.

 

Overall

I'm relatively happy with where I'm at - I'm doing the things that I committed to do.

Writing the blog is probably the hardest part - learning things is easy for me. 

Coming here and writing about it is hard.

It forces me to really think about the things that I'm doing so I can articulate them here.

It forces me to accept that I'm not some brilliant thought leader who's dropping never before seen insights
.
I've not yet figured out how to appropriately talk about challenges or frustrations from my work - they're a big driving factor in my growth but I don't want to drop dirty laundry here that gets me in hot water.

I've not yet figured out how to appropriately share all of my fears and vulnerabilities while still signaling that I am an extremely capable high performer who will contribute to the greatness of any organization I am a part of.


There's this Mark Manson quote that I keep repeating to myself as I write here:


"You can't be an important and life changing presence for some people without also being a joke and an embarrassment to others."

 

Thanks for reading!

 

CHG 

 

Reading Reflections: March and April Catch-up

I'd like to have my Monday posts be a reflection on whichever book I've read the previous week - but seeing as I'm starting this practice with a massive backlog of books I'd like to talk about I figure I'll reflect on the books I've read this year month by month until I'm caught up. 

 

Once I'm caught up I'll put a bit more depth into these reflections; but until then it's the lightning round.

 

Here's March and April. (I only read 1 book in March)

 

Altered Carbon - Richard K Morgan

This was not my first read of this book - I had discovered the series a few years back as a result of the Netflix adaptation. Not a whole lot of value outside of entertainment - but it's a fun read.

8/10 

Space to Grow - Matthew Weinzierl, Brendan Rosseau

Space to Grow was well written and extremely topical to the program I work with at NASA. The book has an excellent balance of hard data/analysis and approachable storytelling.

This was probably the first book I read this year that prompted a strong desire for discussion. I really wanted a book study group to talk about this with and hear what others had gotten from it.

Economics and the Space Industry are both topics that don't always lend themselves to consumption by laymen - but I found that this book did an excellent job of breaking down both to be very easily consumable.

If you're interested in the commercial space sector - this book is definitely for you.

8.5/10 

 

Four Thousand Weeks - Oliver Burkeman

"Any finite life - even the best one you could possibly imagine - is therefore a matter of ceaselessly waving goodbye to possibility" 

If there was one book I've read this year that I could put in your hands and tell you to read - it would be this one.

I've read tons of productivity books all centered on how to squeeze more work into less time - Burkeman arrives with the antithesis. 

Life is not an optimization problem - it's a short and fragile gift that can only be enjoyed if we take time to enjoy it.

This one is a 10/10, must read, I will buy it and send it to you if you ask me to.

What Life Should Mean to You - Alfred Adler

I'll be the first to admit that this book was probably a bit out of my skill level. It had been referenced in one of the prior books I read and as such was added to my list.

There's probably a whole body of psychology knowledge that would have been a good primer before diving directly into Adler's 300 pages of challenging and dense exploration. There's also 100 years of psychology research that has occurred since this book was written - so there may have been more value reading a more timely work.

All that said - I found the content to be reasonably interesting. I had been entirely unfamiliar with the concepts of individual psychology prior to reading and generally found them to be relatable.

If I'm being honest - there is a degree of quackery underlying all of Adler's assertions - but I expect that comes with the territory of pretty much all early 20th century psychology.

6/10 - There's really no reason why anyone who isn't studying psychology should read this. It's no objectively bad - it's just not likely to be particularly interesting or relevant otherwise.

Influencing Human Behavior - Harry Allen Overstreet

This book was referenced in How to Win Friends and Influence People - which is what brought it onto my reading list.

This was another dense read.

Overstreet argues that influence is a result of understanding - not coercion. To develop influence over others you need to appeal to their values, emotions, and sense of purpose. 

The content and the message were great.

The delivery left some to be desired - there were times that Overstreet comes off as incredibly arrogant and condescending and he never uses one word when ten will do the trick.

But nevertheless a worthwhile read.

7/10 

Decoding Greatness - Rod Friedman

I really enjoyed this book. Friedman's argument/approach is a relatively simple one - mastery and success can be reverse engineered and replicated. 

This book was extremely practical, easy to read, and provides enough evidence to reasonably justify its argument.

It also was the source of a statement that's become a maxim for me: 

"Turn negative feedback into corrective action" 

 9/10

Mastering Conversation Skills - Helen Stone

This is potentially the only truly BAD book I've consumed this year. 

I listened to this as an audiobook because it was free and I was just starting to branch into audiobooks as a way to read. 

This book was bad. An amalgamation of uninformed armchair psychology and nonsensical anecdotes wrapped into a really good guide on how to be an awful conversationalist.

0/10 - If you were someone who struggled with social interaction - reading this book would make you worse.  

Fahrenheit-182 - Mark Hoppus

I also selected this book because it was available for free as an audiobook on Spotify - thankfully it was actually worth listening to.

I have been a fan of Blink-182 for most of my life and was reasonably familiar with much of the band's history.

Mark's memoir offered a great perspective. The band has had so many challenges and squabbles over the past 30 years - and Mark doesn't shy away from talking about them. 

This book felt like a perfect appendix to their album "One More Time"

For Blink fans - definitely worth the read.

8/10 

Objective #2: Strengthen Business Analyst Skills

The second objective on my short term to-do list was strengthening my core BA skills.

At this point I've been in a Business Analyst role for almost 2 years - In that time:

• I've been a key contributor toward planning and executing ~7 major releases and countless smaller ones
• I've become so embedded with my customer and stakeholders that oftentimes I can articulate their requirements better than they can. 
• I've developed unmatched expertise on the program's operations, tools, and people.
• I've helped build incredible chemistry within my team.
• I've consistently met or exceeded ALL of my KRAs (key result areas)

The truth is (and I remind my team of this often) - I have no idea what I'm doing. 

My "formal" BA training was a handful of LinkedIn Learning courses I took back in 2022, and an Udemy crash course that my company had me take shortly after I was hired in 2024.

Everything else I know either comes from various mentors or has just been learned by doing.

 

As it turns out - that's enough to be a pretty damn good BA.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that my consistent success in this role hasn't been by luck or by accident - it's been a result of the fact that apparently I DO know what I'm doing.

But other than a handful of bullet points on my resume - I've got no proof.

 

Reading Reflections: February Catch-up

I'd like to have my Sunday Monday posts be a reflection on whichever book I've read the previous week - but seeing as I'm starting this practice with a massive backlog of books I'd like to talk about I figure I'll reflect on the books I've read this year month by month until I'm caught up. 

 

Once I'm caught up I'll put a bit more depth into these reflections; but until then it's the lightning round.

 

Here's February.

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Every now and then a book lives up to the hype. This was one of those cases. It's absolutely unbelievable to me that a book written nearly 100 years ago is still just as relevant, important, and critical today.

I can't say that I learned anything wholly new - I've worked in enough customer facing/sales roles to have been trained on a lot of this content over the years; and it's no question to me that all of those trainings are derivative of the lessons Carnegie teaches in this book.

This is one of a handful of books I've read this year that I would say that every single person should read. No caveats. This book will provide value to truly ANYONE who chooses to read it. 

It's a clear 10/10 

 

The Advantage - Patrick Lencioni

This book was okay - but not Lencioni's best. 

There is a sort of implied condescension layered through this entire book that makes the whole thing feel more like a lecture from a snotty consultant than a call toward doing things a better way.

The content and recommendations in this book are worthwhile - but not particularly novel.

This is a 6.5/10. I don't regret reading it but there are likely better books covering the same topics.  

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

"The horror, the horror!" 

I don't know what inspired me to pick this one off the shelf. I read it a few times in high school - and figured it was worth another read with 'grown-up' eyes.

For such a short book - this is one of the harder ones I've read this year. It's dense and dark. I'm not remotely qualified to provide a meaningful commentary on this book.

I give it a 7/10 - but with the caveat that it's probably a must read for anyone who considers themselves a highly educated adult 

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis 

"We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement" 

I adore C.S. Lewis. His perspective on Christianity was a major influence on my own. 

Screwtape is such a brilliantly simple examination of such a complex topic - and to my mind should be required reading for any Christian who has ever tried to wield their faith as a weapon or tried to claim their own opinions as God's.

This one is an 8/10.

The Catalyst - Jonah Berger

This book was good - but probably could have been about half as long. The core questions/lessons being taught are novel and interesting; but the author spends far too much time setting up stories and relaying anecdotes.

The anecdotes are interesting and generally support his arguments - but there is a sense of confirmation bias to many of them that weaken them. I did not feel that he consistently was able to demonstrate causation. 

All that said - I did enjoy this book - and despite his weak evidence found his arguments agreeable.

7.5/10 

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck 

This was another case of a book I read in high school that I figured I should read with more grown up eyes. I'm glad I did.

We read a handful of Steinbeck books when I was in school and they never really resonated with me - but this time around it was a different experience.

This is another short book - but there's just so much here. Much like with Heart of Darkness though - I don't feel qualified to provide meaningful commentary.

8/10 - this one really hit a nerve for me.  

Objective #1: PMP

Lets dive into my short-term objectives one by one and talk about WHY they made the list and HOW they will support my core principle.

 

If you'll remember from the Plan - 

The first objective on my short term to-do list was obtaining my PMP certification.

For those who aren't familiar with what a PMP is - 

PMP stands for Project Management Professional. It is the most widely accepted credential for Project Managers (PMs) and obtaining the certification is a clear signal that a person has developed the core competencies required to be a successful PM. 

There are a handful of requirements that must be met before a person can even SIT for the exam 

(with a bachelors degree I'll need to be able to show 36 months of project management experience and am required to complete 35 hours of formal project management training)

and after satisfying those criteria I can sign up for the 180 question and nearly four hour exam to test my knowledge and (if I pass) receive the certificate. And then even after receiving the PMP - there is an ongoing requirement to complete a certain amount of professional development activities to maintain the certification.

It's a lot.

So why is this Objective #1?

Because my company offered a free PMP training class.

This was something I had gotten myself into prior to starting to really think about this renewed commitment to growth. I joined this class before I had identified a core principle. I joined this class for no other reason than the fact that it was available to me. 

That's it.  

Kind of a let down right? You're probably thinking "He's spent all this time talking about a plan and his principles - and he's just out here winging it"

But to use my friend Dan's favorite quote - "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in awhile."

The PMP skills and competencies are relevant - stakeholder engagement, risk registers, change management, etc...

But to be totally honest that's really not the point.  

All of the knowledge and skill in the universe is wasted if I don't have permission to use it.

I'm given a lot of freedom in my current role. I never feel afraid to speak my mind or question a manager's decision - but at the end of the day my job is to execute whatever plan my managers choose, whether I agree or not.

This is a key part of the firefighting trap -  and the PMP certification is strong first step to getting out of it.

The capabilities I have and am learning will give me the skills to escape - but it's the credential that will provide the opportunity. 

So how is it going so far?

The cohort started back in late June - with the primary objective being to read, analyze, and review the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) in anticipation of being able to take the exam some time in Q3 2025.

That timeline is not holding up.

For no fault of anyone - the cohort has had a difficult time meeting regularly and making progress. As of our last meeting we were only about halfway through the PMBOK and I suspect we won't regain a pace that will allow us to take the exam before the end of the year.

In spite of that - I've been doing plenty of my own self-studying to prepare. 

• I've read through the PMBOK in its entirety, and while there are areas where I could use some review/clarity I feel relatively comfortable with the content.
  
  
• I've been using a handful of different tools to practice for the exam. PMI and LinkedIn both offer great resources for exam prep - and I've been using an AI education app called Sizzle to study some of the concepts that are more foreign to me

I've been trying to commit at least 2 hours a week to preparing - and while I can't claim to hit that benchmark every week I feel confident that when it comes time to take the exam, I will be ready. 

On its own the PMP won't teach me how to stop fighting fires

But it might give me the standing to actually implement what I know and what I'm learning.

If you've navigated similar credential gaps or have any tips on preparing for a big exam - I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading,

 

CHG 

 

 

 

Reading Reflections: January Catch-Up

 I'd like to have my Sunday posts be a reflection on whichever book I've read the previous week - but seeing as I'm starting this practice with a massive backlog of books I'd like to talk about I figure I'll reflect on the books I've read this year month by month until I'm caught up. 

 

Once I'm caught up I'll put a bit more depth into these reflections; but until then it's the lightning round.

 

Starting with January.

 

The Goal - Eliyahu M. Goldratt

Wow. What a way to start the year. If I remember correctly - towards the end of last year I was giving some sober consideration to pursuing an MBA. The Goal is at the top of pretty much every MBA reading list - and there's really no doubt as to why.

My dad was an operations manager for most of my formative years - so a lot of the lessons this book teaches weren't entirely new to me but this was my first time being exposed to a more academic examination of the theory of constraints

This book has absolutely changed the way I see and approach process challenges at work AND in my personal life. 

This one is a must read. 

10/10 

A Call To Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power - Jimmy Carter 

I had this book on my shelf for some time and was inspired to read it after President Carter's passing at the end of 2024.

Carter's compassion for women worldwide is important and relevant - but there are times in the book where it feels he prioritizes a defense for religion over a defense of humans. This weakens his message.

His premise that violence against women is often predicated on false interpretations of religious texts is one that I want to believe is true - but I did not feel that his evidence is strong enough to definitively make that assessment.

Despite this frustrating hollowness - the book is worth reading.

7/10 

A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking

Picking up this book - I expected I'd get through 5 or 10 pages and be so overwhelmed by it I would have to abandon it.

I have never been so wrong. 

Hawking breaks down the complex mysteries of the universe with a seemingly unending supply of wit and charisma that take what could have been a college textbook and turn it into a narrative nonfiction. I found that once I had made it through the first few pages I couldn't put the damn thing down.

It is unlikely that I'll be getting any calls from Cambridge to lecture on cosmology -  but I finished this book knowing significantly more about the universe than I had before.

If you're a nerd (like me) - this is a must read.
If you're not - you might still enjoy this one.

9/10 

Neuromancer - William Gibson 

This one had been on my list for a long time - I had started it probably 5 or 6 times and never made it past the first chapter.

This book is dense. 

The story burns slow and Gibson deliberately leaves gaps that had me re-reading the page trying to understand what I'd missed.

All that considered - this was a fantastic read. The impact that this story has had on science fiction (and science fact) is obvious. 

I don't know if I'd call this one a must read - there is undoubtedly a very particular audience that is likely to enjoy it.

If you like dense sci-fi you've probably already read this one, if you don't there's an adaptation coming to Apple TV in the near future.

8/10 

The Core Principle

Learn to stop fighting fires and start building houses that won't burn - and develop the skills to teach others how to do the same. 

I mentioned this core driving principle in last week's post. What I didn't do is bother going into any particular detail about what that means - or why I've chosen it as my core principle. This week I wanted to take an opportunity to expand.

At some point - I fell in love with crisis. 

 

Perhaps it was in my high school stage crew days - the adrenaline rush of having a few dark seconds to transform a set or having to track down a missing cast member moments before they're intended to go on stage.

Or it could have been during college - doing sports broadcasts out of an ambulance that had been gutted and turned into a TV studio. There's certainly a thrill in jumping out of the back of the truck and sprinting 100 yards to fix a bad connection on a camera.

Maybe it was in the midst of wet socks and long days as a winemaker. 

Or the satisfaction of helping a banking customer through a moment of financial panic.

 

All I know is that when I arrived at my first role with NASA SBIR/STTR - I was already addicted to putting myself in the middle of a tempest - and I had never considered that this was a mistake.

"Problem Solving" was one of the key skills I've used to market myself when seeking employment the past decade. If your back is against the wall - you can trust that Carl will come through to save the day. This is a reputation that I'm deeply proud of and I do not regret building.

Much of my success in my current role has come as a result of my willingness to dive into a mess and get my hands dirty. These skills have allowed me to build strong relationships with other high-performers and have allowed me to stand out as a key contributor. 

But if I'm the guy you call to absorb chaos and produce stability - that means my value is dependent on the continued arrival of chaos! 

As I've gone through my third year with the SBIR program and seen many of the same crises appear - I've come to the painful realization: 

I've never solved a problem - I've just been helping the team survive them. 

Which is certainly a valuable contribution in the moment but often times allows the problem to continue to grow unchecked. If I keep bailing out the boat fast enough no one will ever bother to plug the hole letting the water in.

 

This is not sustainable.   

• It sets a ceiling on my career growth - my team can't put me into a strategic role when they need me for a tactical one.
  
  
• My willingness for late nights and missed meals lessens every time I find myself fighting the same old fires.
   
• I have become a bottleneck for my organization. I'm usually pretty good at staying on top of things - but the longer this goes on the bigger my incoming pipeline gets - and I can only do so much. The opportunity for me to be responsible for a critical failure increases.
   
• I can see the forest - but my time is spent stuck on the trees. I have a front row seat on every crisis and have ideas on how we can prevent them. But before I get a chance to share those ideas I'm whisked along into the next crisis.
   
• My continued success is dependent on continued chaos. 

 

So how do I break the addiction?

It's one thing for me to become aware of the problem with my addiction to firefighting.

It's another to find a way out.

 

To reuse the metaphor from above - how can I stop bailing out the boat without letting the boat sink. This is why learning to 'build better houses' is so important to my growth.

 

The only way that I can stop spending all my time fighting fires is to create an environment where the fires never start. If I can't create that environment - then I need to at least make it so that others can address fires before they start burning out of control.

That means:

• Getting better at documenting my work. Much of what I do is dependent on tacit knowledge or personal relationships that were built on years of trust. I can't easily hand those things to others - but I can document the fires that I encounter and how I put them out.
   
• Learning to design and execute better processes. In a complex environment that means learning to embrace uncertainty. It means allowing and accepting failure and leveraging lessons learned to improve. It means giving up some control in pursuit of emergence.
   
• Analyzing decisions and outcomes independently from one another. A good decision can have a bad outcome. A good outcome can come as the result of a bad decision. The outcome alone is not enough to support the necessary feedback loop.

I can't do it alone.

If I learn to escape this trap and someone else just falls in to replace me, nothing actually changes. The trap is just a symptom of a larger disease that infects most workplaces.

People like me work long hours to keep everything running smoothly - while most people never realize how close the whole organization comes to collapse every other day. We become shock absorbers that allow a broken system to keep running.

So it's not enough for me to just fix my own perspective and solve this locally. I want to help fix the whole chain.

• I want to help my organization (and others) develop resilience.
   
• I want to multiply the impact of the lessons I've learned. One voice is a zealot. Many voices are a crusade.
  
  
• I enjoy this type of work - and I can imagine building a career around these ideas.

I'd love to hear from people if they find themselves in a similar pattern in their life/work. 

Do you find yourself constantly solving the same problems over and over?

Have you figured out how to escape - or are you still in the trap?

CHG