There's a moment every founder hits. The company is growing. The team is bigger. Deals are more complex. And somehow, everything still runs through you. Every decision. Every hire. Every customer escalation. Every strategy pivot. You built it that way intentionally — because in the early days, that'
You hired them for a reason. Strong resume. Great interview. Everyone in the room liked them. Six months in, something's off. They're not hitting the mark. Meetings drag. Results are inconsistent. You're frustrated, and so are they. Here's the hard truth: it&
In the fast-paced world of business, I've seen too many CEOs launch ambitious visions only to watch them fizzle out in execution. It's not for lack of ideas or talent—it's often a fundamental disconnect. Vision gets proclaimed from the mountaintop, but it doesn&
A strategic person is someone who consistently makes decisions by seeing the long-term goal, understanding the system around them, and choosing actions that create the greatest leverage over time. The opposite is a tactical or reactive person—someone focused on immediate tasks, short-term fixes, and local problems, with little consideration
Which is better to get things done, analysis or action? Not everyone is analytical. For those that are, what if you spend most of your time breaking down problems, looking at options, creating plans and thinking for weeks before you act? If your job is to manage all the risk
I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. - Mother Teresa Based on your goals, can you see who needs to be part of your team to accomplish what you need? If you are not technical, but you want to
I have struggled with many ways of working out over the years based on changing seasons of life. When I reflect on times where I was consistent in my workouts, it was because I removed friction. I have a front door with a one mile loop around my neighborhood. My
I have not observed life to be balanced or fair. Life is largely dynamic and asymmetrical. When things are bad, they can get worse faster. When things are clicking, they can break through to new heights. So, what should your strategy be to take advantage of the reality of asymmetry?
Gallup found that companies have only an 18% success rate in the hiring process. That's absurd! Hiring processes are broken and don't quantitatively find fit. In addition, only 30% of employees are engaged at work. The rest are actively looking elsewhere or quiet quitting. It'
It's tempting to use your instincts on people when hiring. People can be very persuasive and likeable, but that's not always the best qualifier for getting the job done. You are hoping that their results will match up to their promises. You are guessing. The cost
When you have to deliver on requirements definition for technology and software projects, it is critical that you consider all the stakeholders involved for their input, buy-in and consideration. This includes: * Customers * Users * Managers * Analysts (those who are looking at data/reporting) * Partners If you design and drive requirements alone,
If you find yourself getting toasted from your workload, dealing with people or stretching beyond your comfort zone, here are some tips for managing your work energy wisely.
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I am always looking to grow. I have a system for pushing on my knowledge, and I thought I would share with you so you can build your own process from these nuggets. Here are practices you can incorporate: * Use Apple Notes. I take handwritten notes all day on nice
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Delegating sounds attractive to leverage your time; however, depending on who you are handing off to, you may have missed expectations. Based on our profiling at Culture Index, understanding how autonomous someone is will dictate the difference between delegating with more clarity and effectiveness. You may notice, for example, a
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Sunset on Lake Dillon We have been enjoying family this summer! The picture above is taken while hanging with Sonya's sister and brother-in-law. We hiked in with backpack chairs, some wine and a speaker. The time was simple and relaxing while sharing some laughs together. We hiked back in the dark.
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PCH to Big Sur - Bixby Bridge Hearing the rhythm of the ocean waves sure does refresh the heart and mind. Sonya and I traveled through California this month, starting in Laguna Beach for a few nights, watching a friend perform at The Comedy Store in LA and eating incredible Korean BBQ at Quarters, a
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Sonya and I have been married 26 years today! We are having fun, in love and looking at what is next. We just got back from 8 days in California starting in Laguna Beach, where we relaxed and took in God's restorative beauty on the beach. We headed
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Don Dalrymple Management Consultant Teeing up with friends at Keystone Ranch golf course! Hi, Summer in the mountains feels healthy and soul refreshing! I'm out hiking, playing tennis and hitting some rounds of golf with friends. I enjoy my friends and family for laughs, nature and fun. It's hard to
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Don Dalrymple Advisor Working on the road circa 2013 I have worked remotely for about 18 years. Maybe my attraction to using systems helps. Largely, I have been remote because I like freedom, my family and getting things done. When I worked in an office, I had so much wasted time. It's hard to go th
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When it comes to product-market fit, there are various approaches one could take. Guessing on what customers want and pushing your technology towards them is one way. However, this approach can be fraught with misses and unmet expectations. A friend just shared with me how listening carefully to the problems
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The world is crowded and much of what we are looking for as consumers and business buyers tends to exist. We live in a world of too much, not too little. As a seller, the challenge of figuring out what to build, who it serves and what a business model
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In these times of uncertainty, we can feel anxious and unsettled. There are tectonic shifts happening in the work world. Remote work has caused real estate prices to drop (One shocking headline even shared a deal of a 98% decrease in a commercial real estate sale in St. Louis). AI is relentlessly pu
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I got this automated coaching tip in my team platform. The tip, powered by AI, is helpful towards team building. This helps me understand myself and my teammates consistently over time. Frankly, I did not realize that I had a process for working through my emotions. When I step back,
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We may have an opportunity to start an idea, but if the product market fit is not even viable in the beginning, we can waste a lot of time and money in our entrepreneurial pursuits. Here is something you can do to get a feel for the risk and reward: