Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, learning, and behavior change. When faced with rigid bureaucracy, most of us react with frustration. We complain that the “System is out to get us” or that things “Just shouldn’t be this way.” In a world of rapidly accelerating AI, this collision between technological innovation and bureaucratic inertia isn’t going away. We each have a choice: build responsive systems or continue to stumble through chaos. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean...
13 days ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, learning, and behavior change. Fear is misunderstood as a negative emotion – as something to be avoided. Instead, it is a useful guide for action. Some of the most significant moments in my life came as a result of moving towards fear. I’m currently at one of those crossroads in my life. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The gift of fear For many years now, I’ve...
20 days ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, learning, and behavior change. I’ve known AI is important for years, but not taken it more seriously than I did the rise of blockchain, social media, or AOL chatrooms. My philosophy has been that of a casual early adopter, “Oh, look! The world’s changed again. But I still need to go train my handstands.” That changed last week... If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓...
28 days ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, behavior change, and learning. The allure of breaking news, the infinite scroll of a social feed... Amidst the chaos of modern life, the ability to go deep – to immerse yourself in something new – isn’t just useful. It's sanity. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Rabbit holes, and why they matter Three weeks ago, my girlfriend and I were looking at rentals just...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, behavior change, and learning. Over the last four months, I’ve dealt with a death in the family, a friend’s mental health crisis, an unexpected move, an angry client, a new relationship, the news, and still trying to run my business. This is what to do when you want to hide under the covers. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ What to do with overwhelm Over the...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, behavior change, and learning. Identity is malleable. When big events happen in our lives, those moments shape us. But it is up to us to decide who we become as a result. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The identities we hold I was at dinner with my parents and my girlfriend last weekend. For some reason, Robin’s Cafe came up in conversation. Anyway, I got on...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience, behavior change, and learning. "The future is becoming increasingly difficult to predict." Those words, written in the Responsive.org manifesto more than a decade ago, are more true in 2025 than ever. What can we as individuals and working within organizations do to adapt? If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to design for change In 2015, the authors of...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about resilience. The world is chaotic. It is no longer the case that the unexpected might happen. It can, and probably will, happen at any moment. Mise-en-place is important. Preparation does matter. But at least as important is the ability to regulate your own response. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The lie of mise-en-place I love the phrase “mise-en-place,” which is common...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about cultivating resilience in a tumultuous world. Political and social unrest are on the rise. Economies are volatile. Climate change and AI have added new layers to that unpredictability. The rules my grandfather espoused – work hard, get a good education, keep your head down and things will work out okay – aren’t just outdated. They’re actively wrong. Snafu has become my shorthand for navigating the chaos, striving to get ahead , and laughing along the way....
2 months ago • 5 min read