Justin Fortier interviews retired Marine Colonel Alex Vohr about his book, Speed Kills, which analyzes John Boyd’s OODA loop and its influence on Marine Corps maneuver warfare and business. Vohr explains learning the model during the 1980s doctrinal shift under General Al Gray, why he treats OODA as a theoretical framework rather than a checklist, and how organizations can improve observation, orientation (worldview and biases), decision-making, action, and honest feedback. They discuss complex adaptive systems, uncertainty, luck, and OODA as a parallel to the scientific method where feedback closes the gap between perception and reality. The conversation covers fog and friction, AI-driven ad testing as accelerated OODA cycles, decentralizing authority and leadership by walking around, relative tempo and seizing initiative, nested OODA loops in organizations, resisting ossification, and using principles, culture, and commander’s intent to align decisions at every level.
Get the book at https://toolkit.fm/speedkills

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:38 Marine Corps Doctrine Shift

03:07 John Boyd and OODA

05:09 Applying OODA in Organizations

07:16 Complexity and Feedback

10:41 OODA as Scientific Method

12:26 AI Accelerates the Loop

17:09 Fog and Friction Explained

21:14 Decentralized Decisions

24:10 Speed and Initiative

27:23 Tempo Forces Mistakes

28:49 Speed Versus Accuracy

30:41 Nested OODA Loops

33:15 Staying Relevant Over Time

36:25 Turnarounds And New Leaders

39:42 Walmart Beats Kmart

45:01 Defense And Holding Talent

48:02 Principles Shape Culture

49:25 Commanders Intent At Scale

51:40 Wrap Up And Resources

"The American Invasion" (1901) By Sir Christopher Furness

An unabridged audiobook production of the short book written by shipping tycoon Sir Christopher Furness. This book captures the anxiety of early 20th-century Britain as it faced the rising economic power of the United States. Furness provides a firsthand account of the American industrial giant's rapid expansion, technological innovations, and the looming threat it posed to British industries. With insights drawn from his personal experiences and speeches, Furness explores America's industrial advantages, such as abundant natural resources, large-scale infrastructure projects, and a culture of innovation, while also reflecting on how Britain could maintain its global leadership.

Forward by me, Justin Fortier. Links to come.

Join host Justin Fortier as he interviews Patrick Mehr, the publisher at Plunkett Lake Press, who has digitally transformed rare and old books into accessible eBooks. In this episode, Patrick discusses his transition from a management consultant to a digital publisher, the meticulous process of digitizing books, the challenges of securing electronic rights, and the satisfaction of making valuable books available to a wider audience. Learn about the fascinating stories behind these books and the importance of preserving historical knowledge in the digital age.

Visit Patrick's Plunkett Lake Press: https://plunkettlakepress.com

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Overview

(00:23) Discovering Plunkett Lake Press

(02:34) Patrick Mehr's Background and Journey

(05:24) Challenges and Rewards of Digital Publishing

(09:05) The Process of Digitizing Books

(19:07) Securing Rights and Legal Hurdles

(23:02) Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

(37:18) Conclusion and Closing Remarks

How to Connect with Justin Fortier, Host of The Toolkit

Buying a company is one of the most expensive purchases possible. Investment bankers facilitate the buying and selling of companies and related financing. This episode focuses on the process of advising companies and investment firms to help the buying go smoothly.

Doug Lovette is the founder and Managing Director of Third Coast Capital Advisors, a firm that helps private equity groups and companies develop a strategy to grow by buying other companies. Once the strategy is developed, Doug and his team find companies to buy, secure the interest of business owners and manage all sides throughout the process.

This episode is relevant to anyone looking to buy a company, sell their family business or manage a very important relationship.

Third Coast Capital Advisors: https://www.thirdcoastca.com/team

Find Justin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinpfortier

Jargon

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