Thread by @fortelabs

10 lessons I've learned in 2022 the hard way

About communication, leadership, leverage, and letting things go

1. Don't communicate emotionally charged messages via text or email

Sending emotionally charged messages in written form usually leads to the recipient making the most dramatic and negative possible interpretation.

If there are emotions involved, make a phone call.

2. No one creates better content or marketing in our niche than us

I always assume that we still have a lot to learn.

But now, I'm learning to trust that we know what we're doing and that there are no big secrets out there.

3. I'm a Wisdom Worker, not a Knowledge Worker

Early in my career, I was an Information Worker, spending most of my time taking in, organizing, and editing information for others.

Then, I became a Knowledge Worker, conveying tacit knowledge I’d begun to gather from experience.

Now I see myself as a Wisdom Worker.

Letting go of the implementation details almost completely and instead helping others feel through uncertainty and fear to their truth.

4. There is no greater source of leverage in the world than ideas

I realize part of my motivation for pursuing a traditional publishing deal for my book was that I lost faith in the power of ideas on their own.

I felt it wasn’t enough to publish interesting ideas online.

Now I’m returning to the realization that ideas are indeed the greatest source of leverage in the world, and I want to spend more time with them.

5. It's ok to change my mind

After working with a business coach, I realized I have a strong aversion to changing my mind about anything.

I have an internal narrative that changing my mind means I’m inconsistent, flaky, and therefore can’t be trusted.

I’ve increasingly seen the negative side effects of this attitude, such as sticking to decisions that make no sense or maintaining strategies that aren’t bearing fruit.

In 2023, I’m embracing the freedom to change my mind freely.

6. The CEO is the ceiling to the company

Now that we have a team, I can see clearly that the company is an extension of my psychology as the founder.

All my strengths and knowledge get amplified and extended, but so do my weaknesses and limitations.

My #1 job is to proactively work to uncover my blindspots because otherwise, they become permanent fixtures of the organization I’m trying to lead.

7. With great leaders, you don't need a lot of their time

In the past, I demonstrated my commitment to my business through brute force.

I spent more time and exerted more effort than anyone else as proof of my commitment.

But as we welcomed our second child, this attitude needs to give way to another:

That the measure of my success as a leader is how minimal my intervention can be.

I’m committed to stepping back and allowing others to make their own decisions and find their voice as leaders.

8. My purpose is to bring people together over ideas, in inspired communities

I asked myself recently:

What has always been true about me? What's my essential nature?

When I looked at the most meaningful experiences of my life, they all had to do with bringing people together in inspired communities centered around the power and beauty of ideas.

I want to return to this more purposefully next year.

9. I don't play zero-sum games

I noticed that whenever I was faced with a competitive, zero-sum game – a situation in which someone else had to lose in order for me to win, or vice versa

I chose to opt out of that game completely.

At heart, I’m not a competitor. I’m a cooperator, and I’m drawn to environments where everyone can win.

As the PKM space heats up and competitors flood the market, I’m going to look for the new, more exciting game I can play next.

10. It’s time to give up teaching the BASB course

This was the hardest one for me to acknowledge.

Teaching Building a Second Brain has been the defining activity of my life since 2016.

I’ve given it everything I have – every ounce of energy, every good idea, every creative solution.

But 16 cohorts are enough, and now it’s time to let a new generation of leaders take the reins.

If you’re eager to meet me live on Zoom for the last time for 4 live sessions, then participate in Cohort 16.

We start on January 10th.

Sign up here:
buildingasecondbrain.com/membership