Articles
I write about books, business, habits, and ideas that age well — the kind of insights that compound over time.
Explore the full archive below, or jump into a topic that interests you most.
Looking for a place to start?
→ Entrepreneurship — Lessons from building and studying businesses
→ Books — Notes, reflections, and curated reading lists
→ Friday Five — A weekly dispatch of five things worth your time
Latest Articles
-
January Reading List: 5 Best Books I Read in January 2026
Michael Dell is in a University of Texas dorm room, taking apart computers and selling them for a profit. Steve Jobs is in a conference room, telling someone their work isn’t good enough. Edwin Land holds a camera that develops a photo in minutes and realizes the world isn’t ready for it. Play nice, but…
-
Red Bull Brand Strategy: Why Brand Beats Product Every Time
It’s the early 1980s in Bangkok. Dietrich Mateschitz is visiting his business partner, Chaleo Yoovidhya. He’s introduced to a local energy tonic, Krating Daeng, popular among truck drivers for its stimulating effects. His jet lag disappears almost immediately. Following this discovery, Mateschitz partners with Chaleo, adapts the tonic for the Western market, and builds the…
-
How Sam Walton Built a $50 Billion Company by Thinking Small Strategy
Sam Walton was an avid pilot who owned his own small planes. It was part of his thinking small strategy. He flew himself to rural stores that would one day number in the thousands. Competitors like Sears and Kmart weren’t doing this. Flying to his stores let him hear directly from frontline associates. Walton’s edge…
-
The Walmart Secret: Why An Employee Ownership Culture Wins
Moonlight rides gave Sam Walton a way to connect with his logistics team. He often spent nights riding in the cabs of Walmart delivery trucks. He wanted to hear what drivers were seeing. On one of those late-night trips, a driver suggested backhauling, picking up merchandise on the return trip instead of driving back empty.…
-
Why Saving Customers Money Is Sam Walton’s Ultimate Customer-First Business Strategy
It was the early 1960s in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart founder Sam Walton wanted to spend less on marketing so he could charge less. That meant unconventional, low-cost ways to get attention. It was all part of his customer-first business strategy. As part of it, he offered discounted watermelons and free donkey rides. The goal was…
Want new posts delivered to your inbox?
I send a short email every Friday (Friday Five) with five things worth your time — books, ideas, tools, or insights from the week.