Over the years, I’ve found that the best way to make sense of complex situations – whether at work or in life – is to break them down using simple, practical frameworks. On this page, I’ve shared some of the mental models I’ve built along the way. These are tools I’ve used to lead teams, stay productive, and make better decisions. Each one comes with a short summary and a link to a deeper dive on my blog or newsletter.
The 3 Pillars of Smart Work
“You’ve got to work smart, not hard.”
It’s advice we’ve all heard—maybe from a boss, a productivity guru, or even a well-meaning colleague. As a leader, you may have even given this advice yourself.
But here’s the problem: this advice is often misunderstood. Too many people interpret “working smart” as an excuse to cut corners, avoid effort, or seek shortcuts. This leads to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and a lack of real, meaningful progress.
With The 3 Pillars of Smart Work, I unpack this misconception and redefine what working smart actually means.
The 2N Formula for Clear Communication
The corporate world today is filled with corporate jargon and ambiguous words.
The higher up you go on the corporate ladder, the more likely you are to hear them.
As tempting as it might be to sound clever, I believe that the hallmark of a true, authentic leader lies in their ability to be clear, concise, and direct.
And how do you achieve those? That’s where the 2N Formula comes in.
The Value Triangle (and the Death of the Iron Triangle)
In today’s era, it is the value that you deliver that defines your success.
Customers are less concerned with meeting arbitrary deadlines or staying within a fixed budget if the resulting product or service fails to meet their needs or expectations. They are open to trying and testing incremental enhancements, and participating in trials and betas to help improve the quality.
In today’s landscape, you need to focus on delivering value by adopting the modern levers available to you as a leader via The Value Triangle: Investment, Incremental Value and Frequency.
The 3 Stages of Communication in Leadership
In gaming, “pro” players don’t start their game at the pro level. They start as rookies, and work their way up just like everyone else. Some players — the ones that are dedicated, focused, and strategic — move up the stages faster.
As I thought about this, it struck me that leadership communication is not much different.
Just like in gaming, leadership communication involves stages. The 3 Stages of Communication in Leadership, aka the 3 I’s are: Inform, Inspire, and Influence, and the sooner you master, the more effective you will be as a leader.
👉🏼 Full Article: The 3 Stages of Communication in Leadership
Mind-boxing: The 6-box Framework
Leadership is complicated. Every leader is different. They have a unique style, a unique background, and a unique approach.
Add to that the different levels of leadership. You may be a front-line manager, a middle manager, or a senior executive.
With all that added complexity, it can feel daunting for you to go about doing your job, and to prioritize what matters most in your role.
I developed Mind-boxing, or the 6 Box Framework, as a practical tool to help leaders align their time with their priorities. This framework is about more than managing your calendar—it’s about managing your impact.