Week in Review

This Week

This past week, we explored some truly foundational ideas about building, leading, and communicating. We looked at the immense scale of Morris Chang's vision for chip manufacturing and how he created an entirely new system. We considered the power of building a voice for something truly new, through the example of Gwynne Shotwell. We also delved into the steady hand of Mary Schapiro, who guided an entire industry through crisis with clear judgment. The week then shifted to the strategic application of money and leverage with Stacy Brown-Philpot's TaskRabbit turnaround. We went deep into the quiet, meticulous craft of Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, who forged the C language. And finally, we examined the art of public presence and sharing your truth with Sheryl Sandberg's impactful TED Talk. These were powerful stories, showing us different facets of what it means to lead, to create, and to influence. Now, let's take a moment to see how these insights settled into your own work and thoughts this week.

Check In — for each theme covered this week

Now, let's take a moment to consider how these insights might have resonated with your own experiences this week. We'll go through each theme, one by one. I want you to simply reflect on how you engaged with the ideas, or perhaps how the ideas engaged with you.

First, let's talk about Public Speaking & Presence, specifically Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In TED Talk. This discussion was about the power of sharing your truth, even when it feels risky, and how that can transform your presence. It explored how connecting with an audience often involves a degree of vulnerability.

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?

Moving on from that, we heard about Technical Depth & Craft, through the silent crafting of C by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson. This theme really focused on the deep, quiet work of building foundational technology, the elegance of true craft, and its lasting impact on the digital world. It was about the meticulous attention to detail that creates something enduring.

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 explored the theme of Money & Leverage, by looking at Stacy Brown-Philpot and the TaskRabbit Turnaround. We heard how she left Google for a failing startup and then transformed it into an acquisition target. This was a story about making hard decisions, understanding how to apply financial and strategic leverage, and making tough calls to create significant change.

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 then turned our attention to Executive Presence & Boardroom Judgment, with Mary Schapiro navigating the aftermath of a financial crisis. Her story was about restoring trust when the financial world was in ruins. It highlighted the immense pressure of judgment, the need for a steady hand, and the ability to make critical decisions that impact many during chaotic times.

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?

As we moved later into the week, we spent time on Building Your Voice, with Gwynne Shotwell's story, "The Voice of What Was Next." She spoke for a rocket that hadn't even flown yet, building belief and shaping the future through her words. This theme was about the courage to articulate a vision, even when it feels unproven, and to persuade others to believe in what's possible.

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?

And finally, we wrapped up the week with Systems & Scale Thinking, through Morris Chang and his work building the foundry system that made modern chip design possible. This was a profound look at how one person could envision and then build an entirely new operational system, fundamentally changing an entire industry and enabling unprecedented scale. It was about thinking beyond the immediate, to create enduring infrastructure.

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

You might notice a pattern in your answers about where you felt most comfortable engaging, and where you found the most resistance.

Next Week

Next week, we'll explore themes like managing complex projects, effective negotiation, creative problem-solving, and building resilience, so start thinking about which of these areas feels most pressing for you right now.

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