The one on subtraction
The accumulation problem, part 2
Friends,
I hope that all is well with you and yours, and that this e-mail finds you on a boat with shoddy connection, in the tropics, three months after I sent it.
Now accepting speeches and assignments for 2026
THE 2026 KEYNOTE DECKS
When the ground moves. How to survive and thrive in a world of dynamic uncertainty. (Based on a new book by the same name.)
What to do when you don’t know what to do. How to create a competitive advantage from change. (Based on a new book by the same name.)
The great AI divide. How artificial intelligence creates a K-shaped capability landscape. (On the practical possibilities and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in strategic decision-making.)
The volcano that birthed Frankenstein. How contexts enable innovation — and how to make the most of it. (A narrative-based talk on how world-altering creations can come from the most unlikely events.)
THE 2026 SERVICE OFFERING
Domains:
Adaptive strategic management. Formulation, audits, support, ABCDE framework.
Uncertainty management. Dynamic uncertainty, executive decision-making.
AI transformation. Capability creation, strategic utilization, process redesign.
Board effectiveness. Stewardship, oversight, leadership.
Marketing management. Strategy (global and local), go-to-market, innovation.
Formats: advisory retainers, fractional leadership (CSO/CMO), workshops, offsites, onsite training, online seminars, university lectures.
For any and all project inquiries, including presentations, merely send me an email by clicking this text.
The TL;DR
Most organizations are under the impression that they prioritize, but in reality only rank, rename, or evenly distribute priorities. Real prioritization requires subtraction: clear collision rules, displaced capacity, changed calendars, and meaningful consequences. If nothing else becomes smaller, slower, later, or dead, the prioritization exists in name only.
Personal updates before we go-go
No personal updates; I am on vacation. Or so I have promised my wife.
Moving on to markets.