Leadership & Mindset
Rucking and leadership
This was me rucking with 80 lbs. I got home late. I was tired. The easy choice was obvious: eat, rest, and call it a day. But discipline rarely shows up when it is convenient. So I put the weight on my back and went back out the door. Not because I felt motivated. Not because I had extra energy. Not because anyone was watching. Because sometimes the standard you set for yourself has to be stronger than the excuse you are ready to accept.
Email Isn't Broken. We Are.
Twelve years ago, I wrote a post called “7 tips to make email more acceptable”. At the time, I believed email had become one of the great productivity drains in modern work.
I wasn’t wrong. I was just looking at the wrong problem.
Is Remote Work Creating an Invisible Mental Health Challenge?
A new peer-reviewed study published in Science suggests that one of the largest workplace transformations in modern history may be carrying an unintended consequence: increased social isolation and declining mental health among remote workers.
Researchers analysed data from more than 588,000 American workers across five nationally representative surveys conducted between 2011 and 2024. Their conclusion was clear: remote work increases time spent alone and is associated with measurable declines in mental well-being, particularly among individuals who live alone.
Remote work option ending for thousands of workers in 2026 Starting in 2026, thousands of workers will see their remote work options end, requiring them to return to the office full-time. This shift impacts provincial employees who will be expected to work five days a week in person.
The "10 Per Cent" Myth: Why AI Capability Does Not Equal a Pink Slip
The headlines are everywhere, and they are designed to stop your scroll: “AI to Replace 1/10 of the Workforce.”
It is a terrifying number. It represents millions of livelihoods reduced to a statistic. But as a chief information security officer, I do not deal in headlines. I deal in risk, audits and rigorous data analysis.
When you strip away the hype and audit the primary sources released in late 2025—specifically from Project Iceberg (MIT), Yale and McKinsey—a completely different reality emerges.
We are confusing technical exposure with actual displacement.
Here is the fact-based reality of the AI labour market as we enter 2026.
Geoffrey Hinton says tech giants can’t profit from AI investments unless human labor is replaced | Fortune According to Geoffrey Hinton, tech giants cannot profit from their AI investments without replacing human labor. He believes that the massive capital expenditures by companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet are predicated on the idea of widespread job displacement by AI, though he acknowledges AI’s potential for good in fields like healthcare and education.
Built to fail: the structural indicators that doom CISOs
If nearly a quarter of Fortune 500 chief information security officers last just one year in the role, we need to stop asking what’s wrong with CISOs—and start asking what’s wrong with how we set them up.
The great resignation is over. Welcome to the era of 'job clinging.'
In an uncertain economic climate, a new trend is emerging in the global workforce: “job clinging.” Workers, increasingly anxious about their prospects, are choosing to stay in their current roles — often delaying job searches despite dissatisfaction. This phenomenon, born of economic pressure and a cooling labour market, has significant implications for employees, businesses, and the broader economy. While its roots are visible in the United States, its effects are rippling across the world in different ways.
Book Summary: The Languages of Leadership by Wendy Born
The Languages of Leadership by Wendy Bourne Key Message Being an effective leader requires mastering a set of core behaviours and communication styles. These "languages of leadership" styles can help you influence your team, peers, and superiors. Focus on Yourself First Leadership starts with self-improvement. Avoid blaming others and focus on your circle of influence, not your circle of concern. Take things personally—enough to care and grow, but not to the point of burnout. Improve interpersonal skills by engaging with others beyond email—use face-to-face communication to build connections.
Book Summary: The Tyranny of Email by John Freeman
Email's Origins and Control Historically, long-distance communication was the domain of the powerful—governments and the Church—who used it to consolidate control. From the Persian Empire's horse posts to the Catholic Church's scrolls, the common population had no access to reliable long-distance mail until well into the 19th century. Rise of Public Mail Postcards and letters became accessible in the late 1800s due to education reforms and infrastructure investments. Mail turned personal and widespread, spawning new social behaviours such as chain letters, anonymous insults, and early versions of spam.