Growth Diagnostics

Most plans assume success and hope grit will handle the rest. This post introduces a better approach: imagining failure before it happens.

By using pre-mortems instead of post-mortems, leaders uncover weak assumptions early, and dramatically improve the odds of real success.

We’re taught that certainty equals competence, but that belief quietly kills curiosity.

This post explores why admitting “I don’t know” isn’t weakness, but a turning point for learning, trust, and growth, especially for leaders under pressure to always have the answer.

“We went in a different direction.” Those dreaded words that signal a lost sale. I had just spent five months guiding the prospect through our sales process. I was responsive, professional, and asked all the right “what” questions: They said all the right things. I was confident and had “committed” the deal to forecast. I

“Why did you do that?” Five words that can mean, “I’m curious” or “I’m coming for you.” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it. Sometimes it’s a genuine question. Sometimes it’s code for “You better have a good explanation.” “Why” is supposed to lead us to understanding. But more often than we realize, it triggers