Traction Heroes

AI gives us the ability to prototype faster than ever before — which is great, as long as we remember that there's underlying work to be done.Show notes:The Clock of the Long Now by Stewart BrandHow Buildings Learn by Stewart BrandMaintenance of Everything, Part One  by Stewart BrandAntifragile by Nassim Nicholas TalebThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanThe World as a Total System by Kenneth BouldingLiving in Information by Jorge ArangoLiquid Glass

Many so-called accidents can be prevented with a bit of forethought. In this conversation, we explore ways to avoid bad outcomes by preparing beforehand.Show notes:There Are No Accidents, Only Collisions by Alan LevarTraction Heroes Ep. 2: UnprecedentedThe Checklist Manifesto by Atul GawandePass LabsFour Types of Problems by Art SmalleyDrift Into Failure by Sidney DekkerThe Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max (video)

Determining what to track is essential for effective management. But focusing on just a few measures can lead us to miss important things.Show notes:Seeing Like a State by James C. ScottHow Buildings Learn by Stewart BrandPace layersStrategies for Learning from Failure by Amy C. Edmondson (HBR gift link)What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

A reading from a popular job search book prompts a discussion about our inability to accurately self-diagnose — and what to do about it.Show notes:Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry Phyl.orgThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanNever Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl RazWhat Color is Your Parachute? by Richard BollesSo Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal NewportSocial Traps by John Cross and Melvin GuyerMistakes Were Made (bot Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot AronsonConfidential by John NolanJohari windowUsing AI to Illuminate My Blind Spots by Jorge Arango

Jorge shares one of his core mental models — from an unexpected source.Show notes:Axis Thinking by Brian EnoA Year with Swollen Appendices by Brian EnoPolarity Management by Barry JohnsonThe Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max 

On the risks of unquestioningly delegating sense-making to technology in general (and AI in particular.)Show notes:The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr

Our perceptions of what someone else will say or do can influence what they actually end up saying or doing — leading to a dangerous vicious cycle.Show notes:Beyond Belief by Nir EyalLiminal Thinking by Dave GrayThe MatrixMistakes Were Mad (but Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson

Harry and Jorge discuss one of the latter's favorite means for gaining traction: the MacGuffin, a concept with a storied pedigree in cinema.Show notes:Dark Matter and Trojan Horses by Dan HillTrim tabThe New How by Nilofer MerchantHuman-Centered Security by Heidi TrostTempo by Venkatesh Rao

On the importance of mindfulness for gaining traction — and how you can practice to become more mindful.Show notes:Original Love by Henry ShukmanThe Informed Life ep. 75: Hans Krueger on the Cycle of EmotionsThe Tim Ferriss Show ep. 531: Henry ShukmanThe Way AppWaking UpThe Ultimate Coach by Amy Hardison and Alan D. ThompsonBeing in the World

We tackle a key reading from a classic book to solve a perennial problem: how do we talk about what we do so we don't undersell our value?Show notes:Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen, Karen Dillon, Taddy Hall, and David S. Duncan Managing Priorities by Harry MaxMECE principlePositioning by Jack Trout and Al Ries

A conversation about something that's emerging as a central theme in the podcast: how to avoid fooling yourself so you can achieve your goals by seeing more clearly.Show notes:The Art of Action by Stephen BungaySunset Boulevard (1950 film)John BoydTraction Heroes Ep. 6: Chesterton's FenceCrazy Time by Abigail Trafford

Is your business in service to the bottom line or something higher? Whichever you pick will influence the organization's culture.Show notes:Tim O’Reilly in a Nutshell by Tim O’ReillyRosenfeld MediaShai AgassiOODA loopThinking In Bets by Annie DukeThe Art of Action by Stephen BungayMakers and Takers by Rana Foroohar

How do you get useful information from people when the very act of asking might compromise the answer? Harry offers insights from a surprising source.Show notes:Confidential by John NolanClimbing the Ladder of Business Intelligence by James E. Cates, Sam S. Gill, and Natalie Zeituny Precision questioningEnlivenWork

An end of year reflection on what motivates us to do what we do.The Highest Goal  by Michael RayEchelon FrontExtreme OwnershipThe Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif BabinSteve SieboldTHE SECRETThink and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillThe ONE Thing by Gary KellerThe Strangest Secret by Earl NightingaleFlow by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiValues Clarification by Sidney Simon and Leland Howe Logical Levels modelMaslow's hierarchy of needsJohn CutlerTrimergence

A reading from an unexpected source leads to a discussion about the importance of having a clear vision.Show notes:Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold (Netflix series)StrengthsFinderPenny-farthingExtreme OwnershipLincoln (film)

Our running conversation goes meta after Harry reads from a book about how to listen better.You’re Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate MurphyThe Informed Life podcastDuly Noted by Jorge ArangoHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Spurred by a reading from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Jorge and Harry have a rambling conversation about building resilient businesses during times of disruptive technological change.Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas TalebPeak Prioritiesunfinishe_The Great Mental Models by Shane ParrishXenixCursorLovable

Harry brings to the discussion a four-part model for skillfully navigating change.Show notes:Thresholds of Change by Rebecca Borland Reynolds and Connolly FoxADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and our Community by Jeffrey M. HiattPROSCIKübler-Ross Change Curve®Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray

Harry offers a taxonomy of five "social traps" that can keep us from gaining traction.Show notes:Social Traps by John Cross and Melvin GuyerSteve Jobs Stanford commencement addressMatthew PerryFrequency Illusion (the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon)

A reading from a famous director's memoir sparks a discussion about a key trait for gaining traction: boldness coupled with the ability to get things done.Show notes:Every Man for Himself and God Against All (audiobook) by Werner HerzogAguirre, the Wrath of GodComedian The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance by Rich Diviney

Harry offers a short reading from a surprising source about an important question: How do you decide when it's time to let go? Show notes:What Would Harry Do? by Juliana Sharaf Necessary Endings by Henry CloudThe Innovators Dilemma by Clayton M. ChristensenKodak  Harry’s newsletter

Jorge and Harry discuss how to proactively shift your mental models to get unstuck.Framers by Kenneth Cukier, Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, and Francis de VéricourtBreakneck by Dan WangPrecision questioningIceberg model

Jorge and Harry discuss a classic book about how to avoid getting in your own way through overthinking.Show notes:The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy GallweyStick (Apple TV show)Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. PirsigZen in the Art of Archery by Eugen HerrigelFlow by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiEsther Dyson

Harry and Jorge discuss the implications of John Boyd's work beyond its original military context.Show notes:The Mind of War: John Boyd and American Security by Grant Hammond John BoydOODA loopBoyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert CoramScience, Strategy and War: The Strategic Theory of John Boyd by Francis P.B. OsingaHoyt NgAlgorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom GriffithsHow Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

Jorge and Harry discuss a book focused on using AI to lead better — and has underpinnings that align with the show's themes.Show notes:More Human by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline CarterThe Mind of the Leader by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline CarterThe Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr

Harry reads a passage from a book by Robert Pirsig that raises questions about what authentic effort looks like — and the traps inherent in its trappings.On Quality by Robert PirsigZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert PirsigLila by Robert PirsigTraction Heroes Ep. 11: Gall’s LawAtomic Habits by James Clear

Harry gives Jorge advice on how to focus on strategically important things.Show notes:The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasanunfinishe_ – Jorge's new consultancy with Greg PetroffThe Power of a Positive No by William UryThe Harry Max Boot-up Protocol (How to get going in the morning) by Christina WodtkeEssentialism by Greg McKeownImpro by Keith Johnstone

Harry explains a framework for learning and change that originated in the field of NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) — just in time for the launch of Jorge's new consultancy.Show notes:unfinishe_ – Jorge Arango and Greg Petroff’s strategic AI consultancySam and Jony introduce ioTools for Dreamers by Robert B. Dilts, Todd Epstein, and Robert W. DiltsNeuro-linguistic programmingAwaken the Giant Within by Anthony RobbinsGeneral semantics

On the folly of designing complex systems in one go, from the top down.Show notes:Traction Heroes ep. 6: Chesterton's FenceTraction Heroes ep. 2: UnprecedentedThe Design SquiggleSystemantics by John GallA New Kind of Science by Stephen WolframWardley map

It's important to plan ahead when working on large, complex projects. Alas, some people's bias for action keeps them from undertaking what they perceive as wasteful exercise. In this episode, Harry shares an exercise that can help.Show notes:Planning for Everything by Peter MorvilleHow Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan GardnerOn Grand Strategy by John Lewis GaddisHofstadter's lawPerforming a Project Premortem by Gary Klein 

What keeps you from doing the things you know you need to do, when you need to do them? The answers go deeper than you think.Show notes:Meditations for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanInnovation Games by Luke HohmannNonviolent Communication Marshall Rosenberg

A discussion about the deep underlying causes of the turbulence we're experiencing, and how to think about our agency in the situation.Show notes:Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella MeadowsHarry’s TEDx San Antonio presentationCynefin frameworkMistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) by Carol Tavris, Elliot AronsonRich DivineyJocko WillinkLeif BabinExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

How do you act effectively in times of uncertainty? One way is by asking yourself better questions. In this conversation, Harry shares a framework to do just that.Show notes:- Masters of Uncertainty by Rich Diviney- 8 1/2- Cascading Choices Framework by Roger Martin

Implementing changes – especially irreversible and potentially catastrophic changes – requires humility and understanding. In this conversation, we discuss Chesterton's fence and the art of mindful change-making.Show notes:The Thing by GK ChestertonChesterton’s fenceSeeing Like a State by James C. ScottSystemantics by John GallGall’s lawChristopher AlexanderDrift Into Failure by Sidney Dekker

Acting skillfully entails choosing the right thing to do at any given moment. But these actions must also serve higher-level goals. In this conversation, we explore the relationship between both levels of priorities.Show notes:On Grand Strategy by John Lewis GaddisThe New How by Nilofer MerchantPlaying to Win by A.G. Lafley and Roger MartinFour Thousand Weeks by Oliver BurkemanInnovation Games by Luke Hohmann 

Mental models are key to thinking and acting skillfully. But the phrase "mental models" itself has several meanings. In this conversation, we explore models of mental models – and land on one with practical implications for your life.The Power of Impossible Thinking by Yoram (Jerry) Wind, Colin Crook and Robert GuntherIndi YoungThe Informed Life ep. 82: Indi Young on Time to ListenMental Models by Indi YoungFarnam StreetThe Great Mental Models Series by Shane ParrishMistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot AronsonCharlie MungerImmunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa LaheyDiagnosing Your Own Immunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey (pdf)Minds At WorkLiminal Thinking by Dave Gray

Relying solely on data for decisions is limiting; integrating intuition and diverse insights enhances judgment and outcomes.Show notes:LibbyAlchemy The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life by Rory SutherlandThe Fountainhead by Ayn RandNexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah HarariHow to Measure Anything by Douglas HubbardDrift into Failure From Hunting Broken Components to Understanding Complex Systems by Sidney DekkerEmbracing the Unexpected: Creative Transformation Amid Rapid ChangeCreativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition) by Ed Catmull and Amy WallaceToyota Production System

Harry shares an extreme personal experience in service to exploring the question: How can we act skillfully in unfamiliar circumstances? Show notes:An introduction to Ambient Music by Jon DaleSpinning Away by John Cale & Brian EnoThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana ZuboffSteve Jobs introduces the iPhone (YouTube)Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu SuzukiDunning–Kruger effectRobert Montoye - LinkedInExtreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif BabinExtreme Ownership AcademyThe Informed Life episode 75: Hans Krueger on the Cycle of EmotionsWaking Up app

Exploring the balance between self-deception and reality in goal setting and navigating chaos in professional settings.Show Notes:MIT Professional EducationCreativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition) by Ed Catmull and Amy WallaceAlvin TofflerHigh Output Management by Andrew S. GroveJohn Cutler (LinkedIn)The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams