Articles

The principle that non-perishable things (ideas, technologies, books) can be expected to survive in proportion to their current age. If a book has been in print for 100 years, it will likely remain for another 100 years – while a new book will likely disappear quickly.

Lindy Effect

The principle that non-perishable things (ideas, technologies, books) can be expected to survive in proportion to their current age. If a book has been in print for 100 years, it will likely remain for another 100 years – while a new book will likely disappear quickly.

Benoit Mandelbrot (mathematician who observed the phenomenon); Nassim Taleb (popularized and named it after Lindy's delicatessen)

Mar 23, 2025

A methodology identifying the most important limiting factor (constraint) in a system and systematically improving that constraint until it's no longer the limiting factor. The five-step process focuses on the bottleneck that governs overall system throughput.

Theory of Constraints

A methodology identifying the most important limiting factor (constraint) in a system and systematically improving that constraint until it's no longer the limiting factor. The five-step process focuses on the bottleneck that governs overall system throughput.

Eliyahu Goldratt (physicist who introduced it in his novel "The Goal" in 1984)

Mar 23, 2025

Organizations design systems that mirror their own communication structure. Named after programmer Melvin Conway, this principle observes that software interfaces reflect the social boundaries of the companies that create them.

Conway's Law

Organizations design systems that mirror their own communication structure. Named after programmer Melvin Conway, this principle observes that software interfaces reflect the social boundaries of the companies that create them.

Melvin Conway (computer programmer who observed the pattern in 1967)

Mar 23, 2025

A leadership response framework for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. For each VUCA challenge, VUCA Prime offers a corresponding leadership approach: Vision counters volatility; Understanding counters uncertainty; Clarity counters complexity; Agility counters ambiguity.

VUCA Prime

A leadership response framework for volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. For each VUCA challenge, VUCA Prime offers a corresponding leadership approach: Vision counters volatility; Understanding counters uncertainty; Clarity counters complexity; Agility counters ambiguity.

Bob Johansen (futurist at Institute for the Future who proposed it in 2007)

Mar 23, 2025

A decision-making framework that recognizes five contexts (simple, complicated, complex, chaotic, and disorder) requiring different leadership approaches. By identifying which domain you're operating in, Cynefin guides appropriate responses.

Cynefin Framework

A decision-making framework that recognizes five contexts (simple, complicated, complex, chaotic, and disorder) requiring different leadership approaches. By identifying which domain you're operating in, Cynefin guides appropriate responses.

Dave Snowden (knowledge management researcher who developed it at IBM in 1999)

Mar 23, 2025

A framework for managing unsolvable problems – ongoing dilemmas where both poles have value and need balancing rather than choosing one side. Unlike problems with solutions, polarities (quality vs. speed, individual vs. team) require managing both poles simultaneously.

Polarity Mapping

A framework for managing unsolvable problems – ongoing dilemmas where both poles have value and need balancing rather than choosing one side. Unlike problems with solutions, polarities (quality vs. speed, individual vs. team) require managing both poles simultaneously.

Barry Johnson (organizational theorist who developed Polarity Management in 1992)

Mar 23, 2025

The observation that "institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution." Organizations founded to address specific problems often resist truly solving them, as doing so would eliminate their reason for existence.

Shirky Principle

The observation that "institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution." Organizations founded to address specific problems often resist truly solving them, as doing so would eliminate their reason for existence.

Clay Shirky (technology writer who articulated it in 2010); similar to the economic concept of "regulatory capture"

Mar 23, 2025

The recognition that emptiness or absence is a critical design element, not merely the lack of something. In architecture, empty space creates function (rooms); in music, silence frames notes; in graphic design, white space creates focus.

Empty Space Value

The recognition that emptiness or absence is a critical design element, not merely the lack of something. In architecture, empty space creates function (rooms); in music, silence frames notes; in graphic design, white space creates focus.

Lao Tzu (ancient Chinese philosopher); Dieter Rams (modernist designer known for minimalism); John Cage (composer who explored silence)

Mar 23, 2025

A philosophical paradox where a perfectly rational donkey, placed exactly between two identical hay piles, would starve to death because it has no reason to choose one over the other. This illustrates how too much symmetry in options can lead to decision paralysis.

Buridan's Ass

A philosophical paradox where a perfectly rational donkey, placed exactly between two identical hay piles, would starve to death because it has no reason to choose one over the other. This illustrates how too much symmetry in options can lead to decision paralysis.

Jean Buridan (14th-century philosopher, though the paradox is named after him rather than created by him)

Mar 23, 2025

Jevons Paradox

The observation that increased efficiency in resource use tends to increase (rather than decrease) total consumption of that resource. First noted with coal: more efficient steam engines led to more coal consumption as new uses became economical. In AI today, efficiency gains will paradoxically increase total energy consumption through expanded deployment and novel applications.

William Stanley Jevons (economist who identified the pattern in coal use in 1865)

Mar 23, 2025

Tesla Cybertruck

Cars for Families

Tesla Cybertruck

Most American-Made: Tesla has held the #1 position as the most American-made car for the past three years. Lowest Maintenance Costs: Tesla vehicles have the lowest maintenance cost over a 10-year period, as reported by Consumer Reports. Top Safety Ratings: Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X and Cybertruck, have all recieved 5 star safety ratings. Full Self Driving Option: It offers a path to turn your vehicle into an elite level long-drive system similar to Waymo unlike any other purchasable car Unconventional Design and Features: The Cybertruck's unconventional design and features, like the flat, stainless steel body and bulletproof glass, might not appeal to all families, and some features might not be practical for everyday use. Practicality Concerns: The Cybertruck's high ground clearance and potential for difficulty in parking in urban areas could also be a drawback for some families.

Apr 1, 2025

Tesla Model 3

Cars for Families

Tesla Model 3

Most American-Made: Tesla has held the #1 position as the most American-made car for the past three years. Lowest Maintenance Costs: Tesla vehicles have the lowest maintenance cost over a 10-year period, as reported by Consumer Reports. Top Safety Ratings: Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X and Cybertruck, have all recieved 5 star safety ratings. Full Self Driving Option: It offers a path to turn your vehicle into an elite level long-drive system similar to Waymo unlike any other purchasable car

Apr 1, 2025

Tesla Model Y

Cars for Families

Tesla Model Y

Most American-Made: Tesla has held the #1 position as the most American-made car for the past three years. Lowest Maintenance Costs: Tesla vehicles have the lowest maintenance cost over a 10-year period, as reported by Consumer Reports. Top Safety Ratings: Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X and Cybertruck, have all recieved 5 star safety ratings. Full Self Driving Option: It offers a path to turn your vehicle into an elite level long-drive system similar to Waymo unlike any other purchasable car

Mar 31, 2025