The Twenty Percenter
Weekly advice for top business professionals.
The Delegation Matrix (3 Min Read) | Vol. 194 March 13, 2026 “Some decisions are consequential and irreversible — one-way doors — and these decisions must be made methodically, carefully, slowly, with great deliberation and consultation.” – Jeff Bezos The Delegation Matrix In my coaching, I see the same pattern over and over. A business …
The Red Right Hand of Resolve (2 Min Read) | Vol. 193 March 6, 2026 “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.” ― Winston S. Churchill The Red Right Hand of Resolve Wendy and I have been binging Peaky Blinders before the movie comes out this …
Two Laws Every Leader Should Know About Time (4 Min Read) | Vol. 192 February 27, 2026 “It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.” – Douglas Hofstadter Two Laws Every Leader Should Know About Time Read that quote again. It’s a riddle wrapped in a truth bomb. …
Marco Polo (3 Min Read) | Vol. 191 February 20, 2026 “The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali Marco Polo A surprising favorite from my 2025 reading stack was …
The Solomon Paradox (2 Min Read) | Vol. 190 February 13, 2026 “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ― Isaac Asimov The Solomon Paradox King Solomon University of Waterloo psychological scientist Igor Grossmann studies wisdom. He explores the times when we make good and …
6,000 Wiener Dogs Can’t Be Wrong (2 Min Read) | Vol. 189 February 6, 2026 “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.” — Peter Drucker 6,000 Wiener Dogs Can’t Be Wrong “I feel like I’m on a rocket ship and …
There’s a Lot Between All and Nothing (2 Min Read) | Vol. 188 January 30, 2026 “The most important step a man can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step.” – Brandon Sanderson. There’s a Lot Between All and Nothing When I was a grad student …
One Room. One Book. Radical Simplicity (3 Min Read) | Vol. 187 January 23, 2026 “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry One Room. One Book. Radical Simplicity In April, I’m taking my first trip to Japan. While …
Switch Off Your Should-O-Meter (1 Min Read) | Vol. 186 January 16, 2026 “‘Should,’ is a shame-based statement that creates stress and anxiety in your body and mind.” – Suzanna Newsonen Switch Off Your Should-O-Meter Earlier this month, I went for a walk with my friend Juanpablo. He’s in a career transition and shared how …
Sliding Doors, Time Blocking, and the Battle for Your Life (2 Min Read) | Vol. 185 January 9, 2026 Quick Note: Today’s email is about the battle for your calendar. If that battle feels real to you, the First Domino is designed to help. Doors are open until January 14th, with just a few spots …
