Traction Heroes
Digging in to get results with Harry Max and Jorge Arango
Visions
Harry explains how diagrams can help leaders align their teams behind a clear vision — and why that matters.
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Vivid Vision by Cameron HeroldMind mapInspirationTinderboxMindMeisterMindManager (Mindjet)Automating
We discuss a new book that explores the role AI should play in organizations — and how they might align the technology with their strategic goals.
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What Your Machines Should Do by Stefanie HutkaThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana ZuboffUnfinishe Conversations: What Your Machines Should Do (YouTube)Tribal Psychology
We explore how understanding human group behavior might inform AI safety — and how that might also make us better stewards of human groups.
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How Minds Change by David McRaneyThe Righteous Mind by Jonathan HaidtThe One and the Ninety-nine by Luke BurgisWanting by Luke BurgisLearning Modes
Different people have different ways of learning. Knowing how you and those you work with learn best will help you gain traction.
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WEIRD People
Are you more of an analytical or a holistic thinker? The answer might depend on the culture in which you were raised — and understanding that can help you gain traction.
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The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph HenrichBeyond Culture by Edward T. HallThe Long Now FoundationWhat Your Machines Should Do by Stefanie HutkaThe Art of the Long View by Peter SchwartzCultures and Organizations by Geert HofstedeHofstede’s cultural dimensions theorySubsidiarity
How do you delegate authority while maintaining coherence? One way is by establishing solid principles.
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Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader by Charles and Chase KochGood Profit by Charles G. KochThe HP Way by David PackardIncorruptible by Eric RiesPrinciples by Ray DalioTraction Heroes Ep. 11: Gall’s LawTraction Heroes Ep. 16: OODA LoopsReading Notes: “Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader” by Jorge ArangoNormativeFeedback
Harry shares an important insight from a personal place: we must not just get better at giving feedback, but receiving it as well — and it can be especially difficult when feedback is part of your professional skillset.
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Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone & Sheila HeenManagement of the Absurd by Richard FarsonNaĂŻve realismCraft
Jorge digs out an influential book from his past to discuss a critical issue in decision-making.
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The Art of Computer Game Design by Chris Crawford (PDF)Finite and Infinite Games by James P. CarseUX Design Innovation: Challenges for Working with Machine Learning as a Design Material by Graham Dove, Kim Halskov, Jodi Forlizzi, and John Zimmerman (PDF)AlphaGo (Full movie)ÂAgency
It's easy to feel frustrated and powerless — but organizational leaders have more agency than they might think in today's world.
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Incorruptible by Eric RiesSentient Design by Josh Clark and Veronica KindredJoseph Campbell and The Power of MythIncorruptible by Design — Eric Ries Long Now seminarPace Layers
AI gives us the ability to prototype faster than ever before — which is great, as long as we remember that there's underlying work to be done.
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The Clock of the Long Now by Stewart BrandHow Buildings Learn by Stewart BrandMaintenance of Everything, Part One by Stewart BrandAntifragile by Nassim Nicholas TalebThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanThe World as a Total System by Kenneth BouldingLiving in Information by Jorge ArangoLiquid GlassChecklists
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.
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There Are No Accidents, Only Collisions by Alan LevarTraction Heroes Ep. 2: UnprecedentedThe Checklist Manifesto by Atul GawandePass LabsFour Types of Problems by Art SmalleyDrift Into Failure by Sidney DekkerThe Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max (video)Legibility
Determining what to track is essential for effective management. But focusing on just a few measures can lead us to miss important things.
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Seeing Like a State by James C. ScottHow Buildings Learn by Stewart BrandPace layersStrategies 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 ReiterBlind Spots
A reading from a popular job search book prompts a discussion about our inability to accurately self-diagnose — and what to do about it.
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Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry Phyl.orgThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanNever Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl RazWhat Color is Your Parachute? by Richard BollesSo Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal NewportSocial Traps by John Cross and Melvin GuyerMistakes Were Made (bot Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot AronsonConfidential by John NolanJohari windowUsing AI to Illuminate My Blind Spots by Jorge ArangoAxis Thinking
Jorge shares one of his core mental models — from an unexpected source.
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Axis Thinking by Brian EnoA Year with Swollen Appendices by Brian EnoPolarity Management by Barry JohnsonThe Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry MaxÂ
Automation Complacency
On the risks of unquestioningly delegating sense-making to technology in general (and AI in particular.)
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The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr
Perceptions
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.
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Beyond Belief by Nir EyalLiminal Thinking by Dave GrayThe MatrixMistakes Were Mad (but Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot AronsonMacGuffins
Harry and Jorge discuss one of the latter's favorite means for gaining traction: the MacGuffin, a concept with a storied pedigree in cinema.
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Dark Matter and Trojan Horses by Dan HillTrim tabThe New How by Nilofer MerchantHuman-Centered Security by Heidi TrostTempo by Venkatesh RaoMindfulness
On the importance of mindfulness for gaining traction — and how you can practice to become more mindful.
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Original Love by Henry ShukmanThe Informed Life ep. 75: Hans Krueger on the Cycle of EmotionsThe Tim Ferriss Show ep. 531: Henry ShukmanThe Way AppWaking UpThe Ultimate Coach by Amy Hardison and Alan D. ThompsonBeing in the WorldJobs To Be Done
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?
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Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen, Karen Dillon, Taddy Hall, and David S. Duncan Managing Priorities by Harry MaxMECE principlePositioning by Jack Trout and Al RiesDelusion
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.
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The Art of Action by Stephen BungaySunset Boulevard (1950 film)John BoydTraction Heroes Ep. 6: Chesterton's FenceCrazy Time by Abigail TraffordGoing Meta
Is your business in service to the bottom line or something higher? Whichever you pick will influence the organization's culture.
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Tim O’Reilly in a Nutshell by Tim O’ReillyRosenfeld MediaShai AgassiOODA loopThinking In Bets by Annie DukeThe Art of Action by Stephen BungayMakers and Takers by Rana ForooharEliciting Information
How do you get useful information from people when the very act of asking might compromise the answer? Harry offers insights from a surprising source.
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Confidential by John NolanClimbing the Ladder of Business Intelligence by James E. Cates, Sam S. Gill, and Natalie Zeituny Precision questioningEnlivenWorkThe Highest Goal
An end of year reflection on what motivates us to do what we do.
Having a Vision
A reading from an unexpected source leads to a discussion about the importance of having a clear vision.
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Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold (Netflix series)StrengthsFinderPenny-farthingExtreme OwnershipLincoln (film)Listening
Our running conversation goes meta after Harry reads from a book about how to listen better.
You’re Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate MurphyThe Informed Life podcastDuly Noted by Jorge ArangoHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieThe Lindy Effect
Spurred by a reading from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Jorge and Harry have a rambling conversation about building resilient businesses during times of disruptive technological change.
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas TalebPeak Prioritiesunfinishe_The Great Mental Models by Shane ParrishXenixCursorLovableThresholds of Change
Harry brings to the discussion a four-part model for skillfully navigating change.
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Thresholds of Change by Rebecca Borland Reynolds and Connolly FoxADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and our Community by Jeffrey M. HiattPROSCIKübler-Ross Change Curve®Liminal Thinking by Dave GraySocial Traps
Harry offers a taxonomy of five "social traps" that can keep us from gaining traction.
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Social Traps by John Cross and Melvin GuyerSteve Jobs Stanford commencement addressMatthew PerryFrequency Illusion (the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon)Gumption
A reading from a famous director's memoir sparks a discussion about a key trait for gaining traction: boldness coupled with the ability to get things done.
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Every Man for Himself and God Against All (audiobook) by Werner HerzogAguirre, the Wrath of GodComedian The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance by Rich DivineyPruning
Harry offers a short reading from a surprising source about an important question: How do you decide when it's time to let go?Â
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What Would Harry Do? by Juliana Sharaf Necessary Endings by Henry CloudThe Innovators Dilemma by Clayton M. ChristensenKodak  Harry’s newsletterFraming
Jorge and Harry discuss how to proactively shift your mental models to get unstuck.
The Inner Game
Jorge and Harry discuss a classic book about how to avoid getting in your own way through overthinking.
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The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy GallweyStick (Apple TV show)Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. PirsigZen in the Art of Archery by Eugen HerrigelFlow by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiEsther DysonOODA Loops
Harry and Jorge discuss the implications of John Boyd's work beyond its original military context.
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The Mind of War: John Boyd and American Security by Grant Hammond John BoydOODA loopBoyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert CoramScience, Strategy and War: The Strategic Theory of John Boyd by Francis P.B. OsingaHoyt NgAlgorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom GriffithsHow Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan GardnerAI for Leaders
Jorge and Harry discuss a book focused on using AI to lead better — and has underpinnings that align with the show's themes.
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More Human by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline CarterThe Mind of the Leader by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline CarterThe Glass Cage by Nicholas CarrAuthentic Efforts
Harry reads a passage from a book by Robert Pirsig that raises questions about what authentic effort looks like — and the traps inherent in its trappings.
The Power of “No”
Harry gives Jorge advice on how to focus on strategically important things.
Show notes:
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasanunfinishe_ – Jorge's new consultancy with Greg PetroffThe Power of a Positive No by William UryThe Harry Max Boot-up Protocol (How to get going in the morning) by Christina WodtkeEssentialism by Greg McKeownImpro by Keith JohnstoneLevels of Learning & Change
Harry explains a framework for learning and change that originated in the field of NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) — just in time for the launch of Jorge's new consultancy.
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unfinishe_ – Jorge Arango and Greg Petroff’s strategic AI consultancySam and Jony introduce ioTools for Dreamers by Robert B. Dilts, Todd Epstein, and Robert W. DiltsNeuro-linguistic programmingAwaken the Giant Within by Anthony RobbinsGeneral semanticsGall's Law
On the folly of designing complex systems in one go, from the top down.
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Traction Heroes ep. 6: Chesterton's FenceTraction Heroes ep. 2: UnprecedentedThe Design SquiggleSystemantics by John GallA New Kind of Science by Stephen WolframWardley mapPlanning
It's important to plan ahead when working on large, complex projects. Alas, some people's bias for action keeps them from undertaking what they perceive as wasteful exercise. In this episode, Harry shares an exercise that can help.
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Planning for Everything by Peter MorvilleHow Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan GardnerOn Grand Strategy by John Lewis GaddisHofstadter's lawPerforming a Project Premortem by Gary KleinÂProcrastination
What keeps you from doing the things you know you need to do, when you need to do them? The answers go deeper than you think.
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Meditations for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanInnovation Games by Luke HohmannNonviolent Communication Marshall Rosenberg