Free Advice.
A founder's letter, and the essays beneath it. Hard-won notes on purpose, leadership, and building what doesn't exist yet.
To: the millions of people looking for purpose or a new job, leaders at companies navigating these troubled times, or entrepreneurs in need of a helping hand, I am offering some free advice…
As a tech company, you might wonder why so much of our advice centers around psychology, behavior, culture and mindset. The reason is simple and painful for me to admit: Technology cannot reach its potential without people allowing it to.
I've been lucky to work with some amazing people throughout my career. About 25 years ago, my CFO said to me, "You know too much." At first, I took it as a compliment, but later I realized he was telling me something deeper. Since then, I've made it a point to challenge the "because that's how we do it" thinking and always keep learning.
I've had a front-row seat to some of the toughest challenges businesses face: keeping up with change, using tech to evolve, and building sustainable growth. Along the way, I've spent countless hours experimenting, failing, and learning. It's now second nature for me to question the status quo. If I had to pick a favorite book, Think Again by Adam Grant would top the list. It's all about rethinking and learning, which is right up my alley.
This mindset helped me build, grow and scale companies to help customers achieve real value, employees grow their careers, and investors exceed financial expectations. Now, I want to share what I've learned with anyone who can benefit, whether you're an entrepreneur building something new, managing a team within an organization, or just starting out and figuring things out as you go. Wherever you are in your career, I hope my experiences and insights can help you do some great things.
Unfortunately, there is only enough room here to share the tip of the iceberg for each topic. I can assure you that there are proven results and insightful depth and details below the surface for each and every topic.
Thank you,
Tom Famularo, CEO and Founder, Cap20AI LLC
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Field notes from the front line.
Founder essays, operating notes, and uncomfortable truths. Mostly weekly. Always direct.
The archive
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Time Is NOT on Your Side. No, It Isn't.
Top 10 reasons why, and how, you can get time and AI working for you, not against you
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The Five Stages of Grief in Vendor Relationships
How Denial Becomes Your Most Expensive Line Item
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The AI Genie Is Out of the Bottle
This applies to most of us as individuals, most companies. And let's face it, people are limited and only as prepared as the companies they work for...
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Make It Easy. But Not Always.
If you've ever sponsored a transformation program, you've probably felt it: that moment when a process that should be working instead buckles under noise, confusion, or inertia. It's tempting to reach for a new dashboard, more training, or yet another change champion. But most…
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"If You Dream It, You Can Do It" – really, you can
There's a quote attributed to Walt Disney that's quietly powered much of my life:
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This Ain't That: Chimpanzees, Humans, and AI
The more you know about a related topic or a precursor to a new concept, the harder it can be to learn or communicate with others who have a different perspective on that subject. I've used the phrase 'this ain't that' to snap people out of a common problem when learning new c…
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Now is NOT the Time to Fall in Love
Why Buying Technology Today is a Dangerous Bet
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Go Green(field)
Some call it Greenfield, NewCo, or De novo, but whatever the term, it represents a strategy for companies seeking innovation, seismic shifts, or major transformation by throwing out the old and starting fresh. In my view, this is often the only way to achieve this. I've been a…
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Slice the watermelon into small pieces
Secret to Solving Complex Problems: It's Simpler Than You Think
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Don't Play Blackjack
If you play blackjack "by the book" or follow "conventional wisdom" for a while, you'll waste a lot of time going up and down, mostly breaking even while slowly losing to the house edge (winning only 42.5% of hands). You might hit some wins, but human nature keeps you playing,…
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Business is Personal (if you care about your customers and team)
You've probably heard the phrase, "It's not personal, it's just business." That's a sentiment often tossed around by people who may have never had the weight of real responsibility on their shoulders: responsibility for employees, customers, investors, or even the future of an…