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...
11 days 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...
18 days 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...
25 days 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 1 month 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...
about 1 month 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....
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about cultivating resilience in a tumultuous world. For the first time in almost 2 years, I missed last week’s release of the Snafu newsletter. In a single week, I moved, a longtime friend had a mental health crisis, and a family friend died. It was a busy week! I’ll doubtless write some future articles delving into some of these experiences, but today’s Snafu is more lighthearted. Because who doesn't love puppies? If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the...
about 2 months ago • 7 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about cultivating resilience in a tumultuous world. I have two friends looking to buy used cars right now, and over the last fifteen years I purchased six used cars and sold five of them. I'm a novice compared to used car salesmen, but I have slightly more experience than the average layman, and thought it would be useful to write out what I’ve learned. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was this sent to you? Subscribe...
2 months ago • 10 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about cultivating resilience in a tumultuous world. Eustress is an underappreciated word that means beneficial stress; the kind of experience that is difficult but ultimately does you good. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was this sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The opposite of distress I love when the English language has a word for something that I’m trying to describe that isn’t in the popular vernacular. Today's...
2 months ago • 4 min read