The Math of People, Profits, and Pretense
The more I think about today’s workplace tension, the less I think AI is the problem. I think it simply exposed a deeper issue. AI’s promise is simple: minimize labor costs to boost margins. It’s…
When Will the AI Insanity Stop?
The numbers for 2026 are painting a grim picture for the industry’s “frontrunners.” We’re looking at an operational model where, for every dollar of revenue brought in, the lead horse—OpenAI—is burning an additional $1.22 just…
AI, Blackmail, and Thanksgiving
If you’re still in the AI cheerleading camp, I totally get it. I use it daily and have the same love/hate relationship I do with Amazon, Google, and other entities who’ll eventually own my soul.…
Chest Pains, Hallmark Cards, & Running on Empty
The status reports look great. But how about the people creating them? Status reports tell us the health of our projects. They tell us less about the efficiency of the team producing them. Your PMO…
RTO and Corporate Self-Sabotage
The lease is signed. That bill isn’t going anywhere—lights on or off. So what is the business case for the rest of it? Utilities. Security. Parking. Office supplies. On-site staff. That is variable overhead layered…
Burnout Buzzwords You Need to Know
Since 2020, the workplace has developed quite a creative vocabulary. Quiet QuittingEmployees put in just enough effort to stay employed. Coffee BadgingEmployees showing up just long enough to satisfy attendance policies. Quiet CuttingCompanies create exciting…
Coffee Badging
Remember quiet quitting? That was when extra effort died and doing just enough to survive the payroll cycle became the new baseline. Quiet quitting was a strike against effort. Coffee Badging is the sequel. This…
What Fire
I’ve known organizations that consistently struggled with project delivery. One in particular had spectacular turnover. Roughly half of the PMO and development staff turned over every 18 months. Every 18 months. And this had been…
Time for a Quick Call?
Someone panics. A meeting appears on your calendar. No agenda. No context. Often late in the day, which is always a gift. The chance that the right people are on the call is roughly the…
3-30 AI Strategy: Almost a Good Idea
The Theory Replace a 30-person department with 3 supervisors and a fleet of AI agents. Headcount drops. Costs fall. Productivity supposedly rises. The math is a slam dunk. The board applauds. The bonuses are wired.…