[What is] The Captain’s Log
Leadership philosophy for people who actually lead
What This Is
Real talk about leadership from someone in the chair. Not theory. Not what worked in 1985. Not LinkedIn platitudes from people who’ve never had to fire anyone or ship under pressure. This is what it actually looks like to lead creative teams, navigate chaos, and make decisions when the stakes are real and the data is incomplete.
Why It’s Needed
Because most leadership content is written by consultants, not operators. Because the hard stuff—the politics, the loneliness, the impossible tradeoffs—gets sanitized into “5 Tips for Better Team Communication.” You don’t need tips. You need truth. And maybe some validation that the struggle isn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong.
Who It’s For
New leaders who feel like they’re faking it. Experienced leaders who are tired of feeling alone. Anyone who’s ever sat in a meeting wondering if they’re the only one who sees how broken everything is. You’re not crazy. You’re just awake.
What to Expect
Essays on systems thinking, team dynamics, and the emotional labor of leading. War stories with the lessons extracted. Frameworks you can actually use on Monday. No fluff. No filler. Every word earns its place.
The Ideology
Leadership is a practice, not a title. Culture is what you tolerate. Systems beat heroics every time. Your team’s ceiling is your leadership’s floor. The best leaders build things that work without them.
Three Things to Do Now
1. Audit your calendar. What you spend time on reveals what you actually value—not what you say you value.
2. Name one thing you’re tolerating that’s eroding your team’s trust. That’s your next conversation.
3. Subscribe. The log updates when there’s something worth saying—not on a content calendar.