Many so-called accidents can be prevented with a bit of forethought. In this conversation, we explore ways to avoid bad outcomes by preparing beforehand.

Show notes:

• There Are No Accidents, Only Collisions by Alan Levar
• Traction Heroes Ep. 2: Unprecedented
• The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
• Pass Labs
• Four Types of Problems by Art Smalley
• Drift Into Failure by Sidney Dekker
• The Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max (video)

Determining what to track is essential for effective management. But focusing on just a few measures can lead us to miss important things.

Show notes:

• Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott
• How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand
• Pace layers
• Strategies for Learning from Failure by Amy C. Edmondson (HBR gift link)
• What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

A reading from a popular job search book prompts a discussion about our inability to accurately self-diagnose — and what to do about it.

Show notes:

• Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry 
• Phyl.org
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz
• What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles
• So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
• Social Traps by John Cross and Melvin Guyer
• Mistakes Were Made (bot Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson
• Confidential by John Nolan
• Johari window
• Using AI to Illuminate My Blind Spots by Jorge Arango

Jorge shares one of his core mental models — from an unexpected source.

Show notes:

• Axis Thinking by Brian Eno
• A Year with Swollen Appendices by Brian Eno
• Polarity Management by Barry Johnson
• The Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max

On the risks of unquestioningly delegating sense-making to technology in general (and AI in particular.)

Show notes:

The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr

Our perceptions of what someone else will say or do can influence what they actually end up saying or doing — leading to a dangerous vicious cycle.

Show notes:

• Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal
• Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray
• The Matrix
• Mistakes Were Mad (but Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson

Harry and Jorge discuss one of the latter's favorite means for gaining traction: the MacGuffin, a concept with a storied pedigree in cinema.

Show notes:

• Dark Matter and Trojan Horses by Dan Hill
• Trim tab
• The New How by Nilofer Merchant
• Human-Centered Security by Heidi Trost
• Tempo by Venkatesh Rao

On the importance of mindfulness for gaining traction — and how you can practice to become more mindful.

Show notes:

• Original Love by Henry Shukman
• The Informed Life ep. 75: Hans Krueger on the Cycle of Emotions
• The Tim Ferriss Show ep. 531: Henry Shukman
• The Way App
• Waking Up
• The Ultimate Coach by Amy Hardison and Alan D. Thompson
• Being in the World

We tackle a key reading from a classic book to solve a perennial problem: how do we talk about what we do so we don't undersell our value?

Show notes:

• Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen, Karen Dillon, Taddy Hall, and David S. Duncan 
• Managing Priorities by Harry Max
• MECE principle
• Positioning by Jack Trout and Al Ries

A conversation about something that's emerging as a central theme in the podcast: how to avoid fooling yourself so you can achieve your goals by seeing more clearly.

Show notes:

• The Art of Action by Stephen Bungay
• Sunset Boulevard (1950 film)
• John Boyd
• Traction Heroes Ep. 6: Chesterton's Fence
• Crazy Time by Abigail Trafford