An insightful alternative to the dreadful jargon “learnings”

An insightful alternative to the dreadful jargon “learnings”

“Learnings” is a corporate buzzword intended to describe what you learned from some work activity. It sets my teeth on edge. You might feel the plural “learnings” is a perfectly legitimate word. After all, we have no problem talking about the teachings of Richard Feynman or Charles Darwin. And it’s perfectly understandable to discuss corporate…

Ethical editing; Scribe’s implosion revealed; students stop reading: Newsletter 9 October 2024
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Ethical editing; Scribe’s implosion revealed; students stop reading: Newsletter 9 October 2024

Newsletter 65. Raise your right hand and promise to edit faithfully. Plus, Tucker Max spills the truth, Jane Friedman reveals the fakes, and the copyright office in the crosshairs. The editor’s oath Doctors take a Hippocratic oath, a set of promises to their patients. This is necessary because the patient needs to know the doctor…

Desire-based leadership; Three-Mile Restart; Audio comic books: Newsletter 25 September 2024
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Desire-based leadership; Three-Mile Restart; Audio comic books: Newsletter 25 September 2024

Newsletter 63: A revolutionary new take on management; the lie that Harris and Trump agree on; five ways to write a book. Plus three people to follow and three books to read. What if you actually asked your people what they wanted? Today’s newsletter is a little different. It’s dedicated to my review of a…

How work teams work; “The Power Broker” at 50; Amazon drags workers back: Newsletter 18 September 2024
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How work teams work; “The Power Broker” at 50; Amazon drags workers back: Newsletter 18 September 2024

Newsletter 62: Thoughts on diversity and monoculture, seven terrible author habits, three people to follow, and three books to read. What teams must share — and what they mustn’t In more than 40 years of work, I’ve been part of some amazing teams. Looking back, what strikes me is how effective and functional almost all…

The downside of change; manipulating LLMs; publishers blast book bans: Newsletter 4 September 2024
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The downside of change; manipulating LLMs; publishers blast book bans: Newsletter 4 September 2024

Newsletter 60. Why our culture fetishizes the new and what to do about. Plus, little free libraries take on book bans, the FTC bans fake reviews, why everyone should write a book proposal, three people to follow, and three books to read. Change is Seductive, But It Creates Cognitive Conflict I want you to think…

Beyond workplace heroics; Negative AI branding; conservative manifesto postponement: Newsletter 14 August 2024
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Beyond workplace heroics; Negative AI branding; conservative manifesto postponement: Newsletter 14 August 2024

Newsletter 57: Is rewarding heroics making your workplace better? Plus, Project 2025 book delayed, AI’s marketing value is less than zero, Scottish WorldCon triumph, three people to follow and three books to read. Every heroic workplace act is a sign of failure I worked in companies for 33 years. I was often the hero, and…

Google busted; copyright office commentary; X sues advertisers: Newsletter 7 August 2024
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Google busted; copyright office commentary; X sues advertisers: Newsletter 7 August 2024

Newsletter 56: Why Google got caught and it won’t matter; public domain photo search engine; X whines about boycott. Plus three people to follow and three books to read. Did Google cheat? What do you think. Did Google violate antitrust law by unlawfully using its monopoly to exert leverage in other markets? Of course it…