The Journal — Vol. 18 Essays, data & field notes Updated weekly

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EssayMarch 20268 min

The compounding advantage of saying no

The highest-leverage decisions a founder makes are almost always subtractions. Here’s how to find the ones worth making.

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06 entries
Essay
2009 · 6 min

The compounding advantage of saying no

Why the highest-leverage decisions are usually subtractions.
Data
2012 · 9 min

What founders get wrong about their second act

The reposition that matters most comes after product-market fit.
Notes
2016 · 5 min

Capital is a tool, not a scoreboard

A simple reframe for thinking about money and momentum.
Essay
2020 · 12 min

The quiet operating system behind durable brands

Brand isn’t a logo — it’s the discipline of keeping a promise.
Interview
2024 · 7 min

Why your best hire is the one who disagrees

Structured dissent is the cheapest risk management there is.
Essay
2009 · 8 min

Building a company that outlasts its founder

What it actually takes to make yourself replaceable.
In The Press

Selected appearances

Forbes “The translator founders call before the board” Feature Bloomberg On building companies that compound Podcast The Times A conversation on capital, brand, and restraint Keynote The Journal The case for working with fewer clients Interview
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