Learn to Think in Color

What's Upstream from AI? Big-Picture Framing – Before the Algorithms We usually start thinking about AI at the moment of output: the answer on the screen, the suggestion in the product, the summary in your inbox. But the real leverage point sits  before AI  ever runs—upstream in the human choices, data, and incentives that quietly shape what these systems can and can’t do. Think of AI as the last mile of a long pipeline. Upstream are decisions about which problems deserve automation, what “good” looks like, whose data we use, and what risks we’re willing to accept. This piece gives you a simple mental model for that “before AI” layer, so you can influence outcomes long before you’re stuck arguing with a model’s answer. What does “upstream from AI” actually mean? Most AI debates start too late. A model behaves strangely, people argue about prompts, and someone suggests another safety filter. By then, the important decisions have already been made. “Upstream from AI” is everythi...

What Makes a Leader Worth Following? How real leadership earns trust, not just titles Big Picture Framing A  leader worth following  is less about charisma and more about the quiet patterns of behavior people learn to trust. In practice, we don’t follow job titles; we follow the people who make us feel safer, stronger, and clearer about where we’re going. This question invites you to look beyond buzzwords and ask, “Who would I actually choose to walk behind when the path gets foggy?” As you explore, notice how character, competence, and genuine care combine into a kind of “gravity” that pulls people in. Understanding that gravity is the first step to building it. Beyond Job Titles: The Core of Followability Think about the last time you  chose  to follow someone (not because you had to). It probably wasn’t their title that convinced you. It was a feeling:  “I trust this person.” At the core, a leader worth following consistently delivers three things: Character ...

What topics create instant common ground? Common Ground How to skip small talk and spark real connection in seconds Big-picture framing Topics that create instant common ground act like conversational shortcuts: instead of circling in small talk, you land quickly on something both people recognize, care about, or have lived through. The trick isn’t memorizing clever lines; it’s knowing which themes feel safe, shared, and easy to talk about with almost anyone. In this piece, we’ll unpack  topics that create instant common ground , why they work psychologically, and how to use them naturally in real conversations at work and in life. You’ll leave with concrete examples, a mental checklist, and a way to practice until this feels intuitive—not awkward. What makes a topic “instant common ground”? Think of common ground like a Venn diagram between your world and someone else’s. Instant common ground topics sit in the overlap that’s likely to exist with  almost  anyone, even if ...

How do you design constraints that force better thinking? The art of boxing yourself in—on purpose. Framing the Question Designing constraints is less about limitation and more about focus. When you  design constraints  well, you narrow the field of options just enough that your brain stops flailing and starts reasoning. Instead of “we can do anything,” you’re working inside a deliberate sandbox that makes tradeoffs visible and assumptions impossible to ignore. In this post, we’ll explore how to create constraints that sharpen judgment, unlock creativity, and prevent lazy default thinking. Along the way, you’ll see practical examples and patterns you can reuse whenever you want deeper, better thinking—alone or with a team. Why constraints can make us smarter If total freedom were the secret to great thinking, open-ended brainstorms would always work. They don’t. Constraints help because they: Reduce decision overload so you can actually move. Force you to choose what really ma...