Re-imagine and Outwit: Leadership Lesson from Spider’s Web
Last weekend Ukraine unleashed a coordinated drone strike, nicknamed “Spider’s Web,” that pierced deep into Russian territory—bypassing traditional defenses and striking at the heart of strategic military infrastructure. It wasn’t brute force. It was transformative innovation in action, one that flips the script in an asymmetric environment.
The stunning operation holds a powerful lesson for business leaders: You don’t beat giants by playing their game. You beat them by changing the game entirely.
It’s the same dynamic behind the historical story of David vs. Goliath—and the core mindset behind The Slingshot Framework: Guide to sidestep industry norms, reimagine boundaries, and turn constraints into slingshots for growth.
Just as Ukraine turned lightweight drones into an unstoppable strategic force, companies can harness creativity to outwit much larger competitors and transform industries.
If your organization is still trying to scale by force, it’s high time to grab your slingshot instead.
#SpiderWebStrike #AsymmetricWarfare #StrategicInnovation #DisruptiveLeadership #FutureOfLeadership #BusinessTransformation
Beware of mighty warships that don't float
Last week, a rare piece of self-deflating news trickled out of North Korea, concerning the ceremonious launch of the country's most advanced naval destroyer. With Kim Jong Un personally in attendance, the ship became unbalanced, tilted to one side and became stuck right next to the docks.
Hmmm. The much anticipated, cutting edge naval vessel promptly sinking before its maiden voyage. Sound familiar? You bet. History does indeed repeat itself. Back in the 1620s, The Vasa was built to be the mightiest, most fearsome warship of its time. It was constructed under the orders of Sweden’s ambitious king, Gustavus Adolphus.
The Vasa was to set sail on August 10, 1628 from Stockholm in front of a crowd of awestruck spectators and foreign dignitaries. It fired a salute and proceeded out of the harbor. But it never made it out. Due to faulty design, the ship tipped to one side and sank before its maiden voyage.
The parable of the Vasa is one I use with corporate leadership teams to think about their strategic focus: Are they so caught up in installing and using frontline technology that they lose sight of its usefulness to end customers? If yes, then their new product or service launch might just flop right out of the gate at its market introduction - as spectacularly as the Vasa did. Or, much more recently, as the most advanced North Korean destroyer did.
#leadership #historylessons #korea #technology #strategy
Profit or Purpose?
I had the privilege of interviewing Tony Hsieh — the visionary behind Zappos and author of Delivering Happiness — before his tragic passing on my Slingshot Living radio series. What he said was more than insightful. It was a roadmap for business success:
“If we get the culture right, then most of the other stuff — customer service, brand loyalty — becomes a natural byproduct.”
Tony rejected the idea that companies must choose between profit and people:
“Connectedness will not only make you individually happier — it actually makes your company more successful.”
He described happiness as a science — not a soft ideal:
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Pleasure (short-term highs)
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Passion / Flow (deep immersion)
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Purpose (being part of something bigger)
And he put forth this challenge:
“Happiness isn’t about what you sell — it’s about what you stand for.”
What if you thought of your company less like a business… and more like a conduit for delivering joy?
🎙 Full conversation from Slingshot Living Radio soon to be shared.
#TonyHsieh #DeliveringHappiness #CompanyCulture #FutureOfWork #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CustomerExperience
Why do people die with their song still inside them?
This question hit hard during the radio interview Jesse Dylan and I co-hosted with the legendary Sir Ken Robinson – who was the world’s foremost voice on creativity in education.
Sir Ken's response is more relvant than ever, and needs to be heard by leaders, educators, and innovators today: “Our education system was built for industrialism. It’s a manufacturing model. It’s about standardization and conformity.” Yet we are all different. Our job is to reawaken the natural talents in each of us. That’s what creates energy. That’s what builds our future.”
Sir Ken was one of our very first guests on the Slingshot Living Radio series – in which we had extraordinary conversations with world visionaries around the concept that life and business are meant to be lead creatively, passionately, and distinctively.
I’ll never forget this comment he made during our talk: “Some people get energy from what they love. Others are drained by what doesn’t resonate with them. Passion isn’t a luxury – it’s fuel.”
As we transform our systems of work, leadership, and learning - inspired by Sir Ken - let’s not just tweak the current models. Let’s slingshot forward into something exponentially more meaningful.
What aspect of your life or work do you want to reimagine most?
#Creativity #FutureOfWork #EducationReform #Leadership #Innovation #SirKenRobinson #PersonalGrowth
Why Entrepreneurs Need to Focus on Personal Growth
During my fast-paced discussion with Vishen Lakhiani on the Mindvalley Podcast, I touched on why personal growth is the secret weapon for entrepreneurial success:
"Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business; it’s about building yourself. As you level up personally, your business can scale in ways you never thought possible."
In today's world of relentless change and continuous learning, the most successful entrepreneurs are those who constantly transform —not just their business, but their mindsets. 🌱
Is your personal growth driving the growth of your business?
#EntrepreneurMindset #GrowthMindset #SelfDevelopment #BusinessSuccess #Leadership
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