Students of Leadership - 2024 update

Every superficial NO protects a deeper YES

Dear readers

I decided to create “Students of Leadership,” formerly “Leadership Reflections,” as a way to share learnings that shaped, challenged and strengthen my own leadership journey. From the seemingly superficial passion for pizza making to the character building readings of the Stoics or the visits to Ojai to read Krishnamurti, to the empathy lessons found in Ted Lasso and the lessons on life’s legacy by Clayton Christensen (not just on disruptive innovation), to the relentless work ethics (Ostinato Rigore) of Leonardo Da Vinci and the wit of Gilbert K Chesterton… everything that has helped me become a better thinker, a better professional, a better leader, a better human being… would ultimately become part of this universe, partially shared in the 110 posts over the past 15 months.

This was just the beginning!

I deeply enjoyed reflecting on the lessons I could extrapolate from such diverse topics, as well as playing with other “toys” such as inspiring a meditation with ‘the Spark,’ challenging conventional wisdom with ‘the Contrarian,’ and sharing some of the music I like with ‘the Treat’

Personally and professionally 2023 was a very rewarding albeit equally challenging year.

2024 finds me doubling down in both fronts, hence the pause.

On one hand I have plenty of ideas, new topics already lined up, notes from old books and new readings ready to be turned into short posts, plenty of beautiful music to share, inspiring Zen, Sufi and other quotes to meditate, even several (14) high level drafts waiting… But on the other hand, I must hyper-focus in the first part of 2024. I need as much as the silence as I need the sound to be able to create the right music.

Every clear NO should be strategically protecting a focused YES

This doesn’t mean that the Students of Leadership newsletter comes to an end, on the contrary, it is a strategic choice to pause, it’s what I need to do to walk the talk to be able to come back when I’m ready to give my absolute best in harmony with work and family priorities.

I referred to this pause as a strategic choice because I’ve been also thinking for the past 3-4 months how to improve and evolve the newsletter. I want to create the best experience possible, in only 15 months I made a change to the original name and added several sections through continuous exploration and experimentation. But I have a renewed vision for what this newsletter could look-and-feel-like.

Probably a different format and frequency, every other week or monthly instead of weekly, but longer in content. Still insightful yet even more pragmatic, impact oriented. Publish it in english and in spanish to reach a broader audience, including an audio version so you can decide how to best interact with the content, making it also easier to share.

Finally I want to create a podcast with long format interviews so more valuable content can be created to learn from the experience of leaders I respect and admire.

As you can see, there’s a lot more to come, this journey has just started; but in the meantime I need a pause so I can give my undivided attention to what’s in front of me right now. I know that this will also help me come back even stronger.

I hope you can be patient until I’m ready to resume this work!

If you ask me how I feel at this moment, the picture below paints it perfect: energized and focused to build a new road as I walk the path forward.

For now, a big “Thank you” for the support thus far, and a warm and sincere “Happy New Year” to all!! I’ll be back with more.

See you very soon!

Today’s treat is a very special one… a classic Argentinian tango

Enjoy the art and feel the soul in it

“Lead yourself, Learn to live. Lead others, Learn to Build.”

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