People And Systems Are Essential — When I began researching worker-owned co-ops I had never worked for one or seen one in action close up. So when I read the first principle of worker cooperatives is “voluntary and open membership,” I took to mean that I had let anyone join. In addition, I read that when…

How a worker-owned co-op, not a startup, can create the lasting impact you imagine — Don’t you hate when you read a food label and it contains a laundry list of ingredients that it requires a PhD in chemistry to understand? Or a phone charging cord that breaks within a week? …

What I learned from retraining myself to breathe through the nose — I’m a sleep geek. Like many who are caught up in the personal development and biohacking craze, I have read, listened to, and I tried nearly every trick in the book — a dark room, eight-plus hours of sleep, exercise, decreased caffeine, a better bed, specialized sleep music, meditation, no…

A practical guide to creating an iconic brand — A week before Christmas in 1980, the famous Western actor Paul Newman and his close friend A.E. Hotchner were hanging out together drinking beers in Paul’s barn in Westport, CT. While the place was no longer in use, the odor of the idle barn and horses remained. As the two…

The 5 Pivotal Forces — “That was a fun ride, but what happened? Great product. Team. But where were the users?” I asked my business partner as we discussed where we went wrong with our company. The app startup space was red hot when we launched SALT. …

Three learnable skills, when combined create massive results. — “Steve was the most remarkably focused person I have ever met in my life” -Jony Ive (former Chief Design Officer at Apple) When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. …

Win your morning and you’ll win your day. — If you think about it, to attain a “happy life,” all you need are happy days. And the best chance of having a happy day is to start it in a good mood. It is like warming up to play a sport or instrument. It is more difficult to play…

With a little prep we can be more focused while meditating. — If you have trouble calming your mind down while meditating, don’t worry. You’re not alone. As someone who meditates twice a day for two hours, I can empathize. Even to this day, it can be hard for me sometimes. …