Essays

Essays drawn from building businesses, making calls under uncertainty, and learning the hard way

Posts

Jul 7, 2026Essays

The Agency Cost: Why You Can't Hire Your Way Out of Ignorance

Hired a "Senior Manager" to solve a problem I didn't understand? I didn't hire a solution; I hired a hiding place.

Feb 17, 2026Essays

The Tasmanian Chain: Why Your Business Is Losing Institutional Memory

My new hire learned billing in two days. I celebrated. Then I realized he had no idea what three people and a full week used to look like. When institutional memory breaks, AI doesn't fix it—it accelerates through the gaps.

May 5, 2025Essays

Tier 1 Problems: Why Most Product Launches Fail

A Case study from my own business on how to validate a new business idea to achieve product market fit and why mine failed