Reader, In December 1952, London disappeared. London, 1952 A temperature inversion trapped coal smoke over the city and visibility dropped to feet. Smog wasn’t new and “dirty air” was so normal that people had adapted to it. London relied heavily on coal for a long time. They needed it for home heating, power generation, and industrial operations. And because of the cold, residents were burning more coal to stay warm However, the coal used was high in sulfur and when burned, it produced:...
about 2 hours ago • 1 min read
Reader As you may (or may not) recall from the last Reflection, TJ was challenging an old guy (me) about writing today. After all, I’m full of “old information” and the world has changed a LOT. At the end of last week’s reflection, I commented on Ackoff’s concept of “formulating the mess.” Here are some notes on the application of his thinking to today’s world. I’ve mentioned the concept of system wickedness in several reflections so I’m not going to dig into that. However, although...
6 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, So, why should I write another book? TJ posed that question and not-so-subtly challenged me with “Sure, you’re kind of smart, but as an old dude your knowledge is out of date. After all, The Prepared Mind of a Leader was published twenty years ago.” 2006 The point of the 2006 book was to examine the skills leaders needed to be better prepared for a changing world. Is 2026 really that different from 2006? Maybe not, but I think leaders at all levels are being challenged in new ways....
13 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, Here’s the draft introduction to a forthcoming book which is still untitled. Leadership When the World Will Not Sit Still Many leaders today have come to an unsettling realization: the word in which they are leading no longer behaves in ways for which their experience prepared them. Problems do not stay solved. Decisions trigger consequences far from where they were made. Actions intended to stabilize the organization often introduce new forms of instability. Stakeholders disagree not...
20 days ago • 3 min read
Reader, I had a nice conversation with my friend TJ this morning. We were talking about AI and how this technology is changing the world of work. TJ is both excited about AI and just a wee bit worried. Our conversation got us into a short exploration of “on the other hand.” Here are a few of TJ’s ponderings that I thought worth passing along. On the one hand, by using AI I can produce multiple explanations, not just the first plausible one. On the other hand, if I let it provide the “best”...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Reader, Judgment is the human capacity to make sound decisions when rules are incomplete, data is ambiguous, trade-offs are real, and consequences unfold over time. Judgement is not synonymous with intelligence, expertise, or analytics. Judgement is an integrative act. It combines: Contextual understanding (We are part of a larger system.) Interpretation of weak signals (We imagine “what if” scenarios.) Moral and ethical reasoning (Yes, truth and morality still count!) Experience-based...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader, AI has hit our current and future workforce with a proverbial 2x4. Is a college degree necessary and sufficient for helping our future leaders build a meaningful career? What about additional “executive education?” The disruption facing leadership education is often described too simply. We hear explanations such as: “AI will change teaching.” “Degrees are losing value.” “Executive education needs to go digital.” Each of these statements is partially true but incomplete. What leaders...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, In 2025, I wrote 49 issues of MindPrep Reflections and, as you know, I've been interested in how AI is affecting us and how we might use it. So, as an experiment, I loaded all 49 issues into NotebookLM and directed it to "summarize them identify the major themes." The response came in about 3 seconds and, frankly, it's right on the mark. Scary (and interesting.) The exact response follows if you are interested in reading what has been on my mind. This is long, so grab a cup of coffee....
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Reader, Organizations, whether armies, companies, charities, universities, or city councils are designed to achieve shared goals. Some succeed and some fail. And some fail catastrophically. Background Because some of my thinking was formed during my time in the Marine Corps, I often turn to military history to find models that can be applied, as appropriate, to business education and advising. One of my favorite books is Military Misfortunes, The Anatomy of Failure in War (Cohen & Gooch,...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, Skepticism is a mindset that consists of questioning, doubting, and carefully examining the validity of claims made by others. And it’s nothing new. Socrates, Descartes, Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, and the magicians Penn & Teller were and are noted for their challenges and approaches. What about the need for “everyday skepticism?” Do any of these seem familiar? A famous actress recommends a health supplement with no scientific backing. You ask: What evidence supports this? Are you...
4 months ago • 1 min read