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The Hidden Costs of Unfinished Business
How open loops drain attention, focus, and clarity. A few weeks ago, I found myself feeling unusually distracted. I would sit down to work and my mind would drift. I'd start one thing and think about another. The workload wasn't any heavier than usual. Nothing major was wrong. Yet it felt like my attention was being pulled in ten different directions. Then I was reminded of a concept from David Allen's book Getting Things Done. He calls them "open loops." An open loop is anyt

Rick Slark
1 hour ago4 min read


Before You Look for Another Solution, Read This
Why hard work alone doesn't always produce growth. If you're feeling stuck in your business right now, the answer may not be more effort. In fact, it may not be a lack of effort at all. Many of the business owners I meet are working incredibly hard. They're putting in long hours. They're carrying a tremendous amount of responsibility. They're trying to move the business forward. Yet they still feel stuck. Over the years, I've noticed that when a business isn't making the pro

Rick Slark
Jun 52 min read


The Number One Hiring Principle for Early Growth Companies
The number one hiring principle for growth companies is simple: As the business grows, employee roles will change. Not might change. Will change. And if leadership does not prepare employees for that reality early, growth itself can create unnecessary confusion, resentment, insecurity, and organizational friction. As organizations scale, complexity increases. Systems evolve. Leadership structures tighten. Communication patterns change. Responsibilities shift. Technology chang

Rick Slark
May 223 min read


I’m Grinding All Day… So Why Isn’t the Business Moving?
You’re getting a lot done. It just doesn’t feel like anything actually moved.

Rick Slark
Apr 32 min read


Why Canva Isn’t a Business Model for Freelancers
Flat budgets don’t create hostility.
They create scrutiny.
And scrutiny exposes vagueness.

Rick Slark
Feb 143 min read


Aldi’s Growth Playbook: Lessons for Growth Companies
Aldi’s Growth Playbook: What Growth Leaders Can Learn
While most grocers are stagnant, Aldi is up 7% in customer traffic.
Their secret? Clarity, not complexity.

Rick Slark
Sep 5, 20254 min read
“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving".— Oliver Wendell Holmes
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