The Inner Monologue

The Google Fallacy: How Success Warps the Meaning of Risk

The Myth of the Infinite Playground The business world loves to copy its heroes. “What would Google do?” has become a mantra whispered in boardrooms, business schools, and startup incubators. The problem is that almost no one asking that question lives in Google’s universe. Google doesn’t play the same game anymore. Once you’re a trillion-dollar…
I don’t picture a billionaire, a celebrity, or some political icon carved into history.

When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why? When I think of the word “successful,” I don’t picture a billionaire, a celebrity, or some political icon carved into history. I think of someone whose name I don’t even know—one of the countless people who did something…
The American Paradox: Why “Buy Local” Sounds Patriotic but Rarely Pays Off

In theory, Americans love the idea of buying local. It’s stitched into our slogans, emblazoned on campaign signs, and whispered through every “Made in the USA” label. Yet, when it comes time to swipe the credit card, the wallet reveals a different truth. In the hierarchy of developed nations most willing to pay extra for…
The Illusion of the Six-Figure Salary: How 45% Became the Real Take-Home for America’s Workers

There’s a quiet revelation that happens the first time someone lands what they think is a “good job.” The offer letter beams back proudly: $100,000 per year. Six figures. The kind of number that used to mean something — a mark of professional success, economic stability, and social arrival. Then the paychecks start arriving. The…
🎬 The Cinematic Lie: When Real Life Starts Sounding Like a Movie

There’s a rule of thumb I’ve started using:If a CEO, politician, or government agency tells you a story that sounds straight out of a blockbuster — it probably is. Not literally, but narratively. Because we no longer sell truth; we sell believability packaged as entertainment. Modern propaganda, corporate messaging, and even crisis communications don’t emerge…
🎬 THE PUBLIC DOMAIN CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

“All stories are true — they just forgot they shared the same world.” 🌑 PHASE I — THE WORLD OF SHADOWS (The Gothic Foundations) Tone: Fog, gaslight, obsession. 19th-century Europe on the edge of modernity.Theme: Science and sin blur; immortality tempts mortals. 🎞️ 1. Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus (Year 1) Setting: 1820s Geneva & Arctic…
“Fail Early, Fail Often — and Other Terrible Advice”

There are few business mantras more self-destructive than “Fail early, fail often.” It sounds bold, Silicon-Valley cool, and psychologically liberating. But it is, at its core, an excuse for poor planning masquerading as innovation. The Origin of a Bad Idea The slogan was born in a world of venture-backed startups where the money isn’t real,…
Young People Do Want to Work — The Numbers Prove It

For years, headlines and coffee-shop grumbles have painted a picture of younger generations as “lazy” and uninterested in working. The stereotype is simple: Gen Z and younger Millennials just don’t want jobs. But when we cut through the clichés and actually adjust the numbers for reality — school enrollment, retirement, and people who truly aren’t…
Unlock Your Potential: The “Miracle Happened” Strategy for Breakthrough Thinking

Have you ever felt stuck in the same old patterns, unable to see a way forward? What if, overnight, all your biggest challenges disappeared? What would your business—or your life—look like then? This is the power of the “Miracle Happened” principle, a game-changing thought experiment that pushes leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to break free from…
The Virtue of Retreat: Why There Is No Shame in Hiding

There is a peculiar kind of bravery that never makes the history books. It doesn’t wave a flag, doesn’t shout slogans, and doesn’t die dramatically in front of cameras. It is the bravery of survival—the courage to step back, to hide, to wait until the noise fades and the world forgets your name. In a…