Week in Review

This Week

This week, we looked at some very different ways people make an impact. We started by exploring public speaking and presence. We learned about anchoring a nation in crisis. Then we moved into the craft of technical depth. We saw how a simple idea can transform an industry. We talked about money and leverage. We saw how something not yet fully formed could be incredibly valuable. Executive presence was also on our minds. We explored the difficult decisions leaders sometimes face. We considered how to deliver painful truths. We also delved into building your voice. We looked at finding a new mission after a significant setback. Finally, we ended the week with systems and scale thinking. We examined how rethinking a supply chain can change an entire market. Each day brought a new perspective. Each story offered a different kind of lesson. This week wasn't just about famous names. It was about the choices they made. It was about the actions they took. It was about the underlying principles behind their success. Now, it's your turn to reflect on those principles. It's time to see where you stepped in this week.

Check In — for each theme covered this week

So, let's start with our first theme of the week. This was about public speaking and presence. We listened to the story of Jacinda Ardern. She anchored her nation during a crisis. Her empathy and clarity were remarkable. The world was watching. Her country was hurting. She stepped forward with a calm resolve. She didn't just deliver facts. She offered comfort. She provided clear direction. She connected deeply with her audience through genuine concern. The lesson here wasn't just about standing on a stage. It was about being truly present. It was about finding your authentic voice under immense pressure. It was about communicating with conviction and care, ensuring your message was both heard and felt. We considered how you might bring more of that calm connection, that empathetic clarity, to your own important interactions this past week. Think about moments where you needed to be heard, where your words carried extra weight, or where you needed to influence others positively. Maybe you had a tough conversation with a colleague. Perhaps you presented a new idea to your team. Maybe you simply needed to be a calming presence for someone in your personal life. It could be as simple as articulating a boundary. It might be explaining a complex idea. The core principle is about connecting authentically, conveying your message with intent and integrity. It’s about making sure your words land as you intend them. It’s about recognizing the emotional weight of your communication. It’s about choosing to lead with empathy, to listen as much as you speak, and to adapt your message to your audience's needs. We explored the power of clear, direct communication. We thought about how crucial it is to read the room. We considered the significant impact of your tone and body language. When you tried to apply these ideas, what did that look like? What immediate impact did you observe? What did you notice about yourself in that moment? What did you learn about your own capacity to influence and connect? Now, take a moment to reflect deeply on your week through this lens.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

Next, we moved into the realm of technical depth and craft. We looked at Dan Bricklin and the story of VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet. He didn't just write a program. He crafted a revolutionary tool. This wasn't merely about coding. It was about seeing a profound, pervasive problem. People needed a better, more flexible way to do financial modeling. They needed real-time calculations. Bricklin didn't just build software. He engineered an elegant solution that mirrored how people thought about numbers. He then translated that understanding into a functional product. This story highlights the immense importance of craftsmanship. It emphasizes precision and dedication to master a specific skill. It shows how true technical depth isn't just about accumulating knowledge. It's about knowing how to build, how to refine, and how to innovate. It’s about creating something new or significantly improving something old, in a way that genuinely transforms work. We explored what it means to truly dig into a problem. We considered the sustained dedication required to achieve high expertise. We thought about the meticulous effort involved in creating a durable, useful tool. This lesson was about getting your hands dirty, solving something from the ground up, and the satisfaction of truly understanding and shaping a complex system. Perhaps this week, you tackled a complex technical challenge. Maybe you spent extra time refining a process or a piece of code. Maybe you simply dedicated focused time to dig deeper into understanding how a particular system or tool really works. Did you take the time to truly master a small but critical part of your craft? Did you focus on the often-overlooked details that make something truly excellent? What was the outcome of that focused, deep effort? How did it feel to engage with that level of depth and precision? What challenges did you face? Now, take a moment to consider your week through the lens of technical craft and depth.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

Then, our focus shifted to the crucial themes of money and leverage. We heard about Andy Rubin and his journey with Android. He sold it to Google before it exploded into the global phenomenon we know today. At the time, Android was an operating system with potential, but not yet a proven success. Yet, Rubin saw its future value. He understood its immense potential for scale and impact. This story highlights the ability to identify leverage points – those critical assets that can dramatically multiply your impact or return. It's about making a bold, strategic move when others might still be hesitating. It’s about recognizing latent value, the hidden worth in something not immediately obvious to everyone. It's also about understanding the market's trajectory, anticipating where things are headed, and knowing when to let go to allow something to scale in new, larger ecosystems. We talked about how to position yourself, your ideas, or your projects for maximum impact and return. We considered how to make smart decisions with limited resources. We explored creating value, even when that value isn't immediately recognized. The lesson here is deeply rooted in vision. It’s about strategic foresight, about seeing around corners. It's about understanding the mechanics of transactions and value creation far beyond the surface. Perhaps this week, you faced a situation that required a keen eye for leverage. Maybe you made a tough financial choice. Perhaps you negotiated a deal, a salary, or your time. Did you look for a way to get more impact from less effort? Did you spot an opportunity where others saw only an obstacle? Did you actively leverage a skill, a connection, or a resource you already had in a new way? What did you gain from consciously looking at situations with a 'leverage' mindset? What did you risk, and what was the payoff? What did you learn about the true value of things, or about how to articulate that value convincingly? Now, reflect on your actions this week related to money, resources, or influence.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

Mid-week, we turned our attention to executive presence and boardroom judgment. We learned about Meg Whitman and her tenure at Hewlett-Packard, specifically the incredibly difficult decision she faced: a massive, surgical split of the company. This wasn't about seeking popularity. It wasn't about pleasing everyone. It was about making the right, strategic call for the long-term health of the organization. It was about delivering hard news, impacting thousands, with absolute clarity, unwavering conviction, and a meticulously reasoned strategic rationale. It was about displaying steadfast leadership under immense public and internal pressure. This story offers profound lessons about gravitas. It teaches us about decisive action when the stakes are at their absolute highest. It illuminates the nuances of judgment when there's no easy path forward, when any choice will inevitably cause pain. It also teaches us about how to communicate painful truths effectively – not by sugarcoating, but by delivering information with respect, transparency, and a clear vision for the future. We talked about the immense weight of such decisions. We explored the importance of projecting confidence and control, even when the situation is turbulent. We considered how to maintain credibility and trust when making choices that impact many people's livelihoods. This isn't about being cold, but about being clear-eyed and resolute in service of a larger purpose. Perhaps this week, you faced a situation that called for your own executive presence or strong judgment. Maybe you had to deliver difficult news to a team member or client. Perhaps you made a critical decision that wasn't universally popular but felt necessary. Maybe you simply had to stand firm on an unpopular but important stance, defending your judgment. How did you prepare for that conversation or decision? Did you consciously lean into your executive presence? Did you articulate your reasoning clearly and calmly? What was the immediate impact of your decision or communication? What lasting effect did it have? What did you learn about your own capacity for judgment and leadership under pressure? Now, reflect deeply on that experience.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

Later in the week, we shifted our focus to building your voice. We heard Reshma Saujani's story. She ran for Congress, a public endeavor, and she lost. It was a very public failure. Yet, from that defeat, something remarkable emerged: she found a new mission, a clearer purpose. She went on to found Girls Who Code, changing countless lives. This story is a powerful testament to resilience in the face of public setback. It's about the courage to pivot when your initial path closes. It's about using your experiences – even the painful ones – to fuel a new direction, to forge a more impactful path. It was about crafting a message that truly resonates, born from genuine passion and a deep understanding of a problem. We explored finding authenticity in your communication, speaking from truth and conviction. We considered the raw courage it takes to speak up, especially after a stumble. We talked about turning setbacks into new directions, into powerful platforms for change. We thought about how to give your ideas power, not just through what you say, but through the conviction, vulnerability, and purpose with which you deliver them. Building your voice isn't just about speaking louder; it’s about speaking with clarity, purpose, and maximum impact. Perhaps this week, you felt a setback. Maybe an idea didn't land as you hoped. Maybe you needed to articulate a new vision or a different approach that emerged from a challenge. Or perhaps you simply needed to speak your truth more clearly in a personal or professional setting. What happened when you intentionally tried to express yourself more authentically or with a renewed sense of purpose? Did you find new clarity in your message or in your understanding of your own convictions? Did you connect with others in a way that felt more genuine and impactful? What did you learn about the relationship between vulnerability and strength in your voice? What challenges did you face? Now, take a moment to reflect on your journey this week in building and using your unique voice.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

Finally, we wrapped up the week with the expansive theme of systems and scale thinking. We looked at Michael Dell, not just as a computer salesman, but as a groundbreaking supply chain architect. He didn't just sell computers; he engineered an entirely new, direct-to-consumer system for delivering them. This radically different approach created a massive competitive advantage and reinvented how an entire industry operated. This story is fundamentally about seeing the big picture. It's about looking beyond individual components to understand the intricate interconnectedness of everything within a process or an organization. It's about optimizing processes, not just for immediate gains, but for future growth, resilience, and scale. It's about designing entire operations from the ground up, with efficiency, speed, and customer value at the core. We talked about the power of elegant design in complex systems – how simplicity often hides immense complexity behind the scenes. We explored how seemingly small changes in one part of a vast system can have massive, cascading impacts across the whole. We considered how to think strategically about bottlenecks, leverage points, and feedback loops within your own work or organization. This kind of thinking helps you move from simply doing tasks to actively designing smarter, more effective ways of working. It encourages you to ask 'why' and 'what if'. Perhaps this week, you looked at a repetitive process in your work or personal life. Maybe you actively tried to streamline something that felt clunky or inefficient. Maybe you consciously stepped back to think about how your specific tasks fit into a larger team effort or organizational system. Did you identify any inefficiencies that could be significantly improved with a systemic change? Did you see a way to leverage existing resources or tools more effectively? What insights did you gain about how things really work, beyond the surface? What would it mean to apply a rigorous systems lens to one of your biggest challenges next week? Reflect on that experience now.

1. Did you attempt the action? (yes / partially / no)
2. What actually happened when you tried it?
3. What got easier, or what's still hard?

What's Actually Improving

As you listen to your own answers, you might notice patterns forming. You might see where your efforts connected with the week's themes. Perhaps you're seeing clearer what specific areas are growing stronger for you.

Next Week

As we look ahead to next week, we'll dive into themes like building conviction, negotiating for impact, simplifying complexity, and fostering psychological safety, with a focus on truly listening to understand.

This is a self-check, not a scored assessment. There is no fabricated progress metric here — only what you notice for yourself.