email 3: a leadership framework, algorithms + screens, body-mind
“Consume less and create more” is what I kept telling myself at the start of the year. It’s much harder than I thought it would be to keep up with biweekly emails, write new blogs, and stay on top of my other responsibilities. But, I’m learning that done is better than perfect, so here’s to the messy creative process.
leadership [DAC + free will?]
I first came across the DAC model of leadership in the book, Becoming a Strategic Leader. If you want a quick summary, check out this blog post from the Center for Creative Leadership.
leadership = direction + alignment + commitment
Now couple this model with the mental model that you’re the only person with free will (just go with it). How would you change your leadership style? If everyone is programmable (and highly distractable), are you providing clear direction? Does the environment foster alignment between personal roles and responsibilities and the organization’s goals? Are making it easy to be committed to the greater good? “We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior,” said Stephen Covey. If you’re the only person with free will, you’ve got to set up the environment and structure communication so that you get the behaviors you want from others. Here’s a good video on behavior change using Jonathan Haidt’s elephant-rider-path framework.
life [screens + algorithms]
Having a child has made me question my relationship with screens, especially my phone. As a species, we are profoundly ill-equipped to maximize our long-term happiness. While the smartphone allows us to tap into the entirety of human knowledge, it’s more likely to turn us into vegetables than enlighten us. I tend to think that phone usage, particularly social media, is akin to eating junk food – it feels good for a little but if you aren’t careful, you’ll regret it. Technology evolves quicker than humans (and our regulations), so we really are at the mercy of algorithms. Here’s an interesting read: What Makes TikTok so addictive? Endless personalization is a dream until it becomes a nightmare. Smartphones remind me of soma in Brave New World.
contemplative path [awareness + body]
“Spirituality, religion, Buddhism, or anything you follow will teach you over time you are more than just your mind. You are more than just your habits. You are more than just your preferences. You’re a level of awareness. You’re a body. Modern humans, we don’t live enough in our bodies. We don’t live enough in our awareness. We live too much in this internal monologue in our heads.” – Naval Ravikant in The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul introduced me to the maniacal monologue in my head and sparked my interest in the spiritual path. I’m grateful for meditation for showing me that it’s possible to embody pure awareness (not just during formal practice) and for ashtanga yoga for connecting me with my body. If you’re unfamiliar with ashtanga, here’s a great video, Just Practice.
recent blogs
part 2 private pay treatment the bad: a critical look in the mirror (read the full post here)
There is a pervasive scarcity mindset.
Clinical sophistication is secondary to referral relationship management.
We are a cliquey, incestuous bunch.
Mythology and storytelling often trump “the science.”
Programs often lack strong, widely used theoretical frameworks.
booknotes: The Psychology of Money (read here)
Control your ego to create wealth.
Take risks but avoid ruin at all costs.
Growth is [mostly] a function of time [due to compounding].
currently writing
proposed mental health reforms: how smart regulations can increase the quality of behavioral healthcare
booknotes: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
currently reading
A Theory of Everything by Ken Wilber
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky
