Let's get
it done.

I am not here to be liked. I am here to be effective.

My career from software into media taught me that my real skill isn't coding; it's translation. I want the company's value to be accurately reflected in its brand that the world sees. My major function mirrors the media's value in the way that I reflect CEO vision with execution.

Sometimes I am overly direct. I won't waste 5 minutes on complimenting your shirt. My primary focus is productivity and I don't waste energy on performative warmth. When I want to know how you're doing, I will give you the space and time to tell me everything. I respect your time and my time but I don't need you to like me to unblock a workstream.

That's a little disarming for people. Usually we like to warm up to each other first, but I hate hidden conflict. I hate manipulating the room, and I hate when everyone pretends to be happy. I don't want to walk through a minefield. I want to dig up ordnance, look at it together, and find a solution so we can all move forward without worrying about when or where or what will set someone off. Contrary to my directness, I'm actually very sensitive to people's emotions. I just don't use flattery or shallow validation. I use transparency and acknowledgement. Certain types of people act very defensive around me, but I never start the war. I end it before it begins by enforcing logical decisions and showing my peers that even if they don't like me, they can trust me.

This clarity is where I differentiate myself. You don't need a CoS for the days when the strategy deck is perfect; you need them for the days your house floods on Christmas Eve. I don't get sad or angry at anyone. From my perspective, everything is meant to fail. I lost my house and everything I owned twice. All of it will happen, but a lot of times we can find better ways to operate more efficiently and effectively because the original plan doesn't work out.

The sternness and determination lets people mistake me for a perfectionist. Truthfully, I am not looking for perfection. I am looking for the maximum. I do my best and relentlessly iterate to do slightly better. Being a controlling micromanager wastes my energy and everyone's talent. I understand that level of control yields no results and is the most ineffective way to work with a great team.

I manage people by understanding their internal process. When I train new hires, I ask a lot of questions, even personal ones. I need to know how you process your own experiences. I check for anxiety and confidence. I scan for output blocks. I did this work on myself to raise my own ceiling, so logically I believe I must do it for anyone who needs to improve. It is not just about the skill. It is about conditioning that other person to run marathons.

I hope my house doesn't flood again, but plans might go completely underwater because they are just plans. When it happens, we find a better way, and I'll make sure everyone around me has the lungs to keep running when it does.