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Adam Allred

The Mixtape Newsletter

Thoughtful essays and practical tools to design a better future for work and life. Also some music too. And the occasional curse word. Sign up to download the free business Strategy Canvas to kick-start 2026.

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Featured Post

The Strategy Decision You Keep Avoiding

Feb 19th, 2026 When it comes to strategy, we crave data and rigor. In the search for answers, we get addicted to digging up more questions. The more questions we ask, the more rigorous we feel — optimistic that more data, discussion, or research will unlock the answer. The sure thing. The path forward. I've seen leadership teams filled with the brightest minds — minds responsible for much of our digital world — sense a strategic decision on the horizon and begin to thrash, laying down on the...

18 days ago • 5 min read
Strategy

Feb 5th, 2026 Strategy Isn’t About Competition Anymore Most of our understanding of what strategy is (and isn’t) is based on one of our greatest pastimes: War. Whether it’s business, sports, education, or a CBS game show, the stage is often set in the context of a battle. A) There is an enemy out there trying to crush youB) You must crush them first Today, we call this competition. Most of our strategic ideas are based on the belief that everything is a competition — and that the ultimate...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read

January 20, 2026 “We have six months before we fold.” That’s what a startup CEO told me. They needed a new strategy. Not just any strategy. One that set a course for survival. They wanted to bring the team together to figure it out — and there was no time to waste. Your approach to strategic planning can make or break your year. Or your company. And the reality is, strategy offsites usually fail to live up to expectations. Too much debate. Not enough decisions. Then there’s the guy who...

about 2 months ago • 4 min read