Guest commentary: The real constraint isn’t effort, it’s judgment
By Eric Zackrison “Work harder” is the default response to underperformance in most organizations. Miss a target? Increase activity. Fall behind on goals? Add more meetings, more outreach, more effort. The assumption is that results are a function of volume — and that volume is something you can simply decide to increase. In some contexts, Read More →
Guest commentary: How to prepare before the music stops
By John Grace In his 1952 memoir, Former President Herbert Hoover described the late-1920s market frenzy as an “orgy”, a period when speculation ran wild, discipline vanished, and risk was treated like a rounding error. Nearly a century later, the label still fits. Today’s version just has better branding: AI euphoria, real estate FOMO, private Read More →
Guest commentary: The Hidden Risk in AI-Supported Decisions
By Eric Zackrison The most common AI failure I see in organizations isn’t technical. It’s cognitive. Leadership teams across industries are integrating AI into forecasting, pricing, hiring, and strategic planning. The tools are improving quickly. The outputs are structured, precise, and increasingly persuasive. And that’s precisely where the risk begins. The danger isn’t bad data. Read More →
Guest commentary: Nonprofits don’t have a donor problem; they have a clarity problem
By Eric Knight Nonprofits are part of the Central Coast’s civic and economic infrastructure — delivering healthcare, food security, housing support, education and environmental protection in communities throughout the region. The people leading these organizations are among the most mission-driven professionals in our economy. Yet many nonprofit leaders are operating inside systems that make their Read More →
Guest commentary: Chartering a path through chaotic times with private flights
By Sarah Oberman How many businesses can survive their top executives being out of touch for more than a day or two? What about those same top executives being unavailable for a week? Two weeks? How many deadlines would be missed? How many deals would fall through? How many tasks wouldn’t be done? How much Read More →
Guest commentary: Why stronger brains will define the future of work
By Vlad Vaiman Artificial intelligence may be the most significant workforce transformation since the advent of electricity. But while earlier waves of automation replaced human muscle, today’s shift is fundamentally different. It is not about replacing people, but about reshaping how we think, decide and work alongside intelligent systems. A recent World Economic Forum report Read More →
Guest commentary: Why your environment, not your workload, is driving burnout
By John La Puma, M.D. We live in one of the most envied regions on Earth. From the tech corridors, beaches and foothills of Santa Barbara to the agricultural powerhouses and beautiful landscapes of San Luis Obispo, the Central Coast is defined by its terrain. Yet, despite our geography, local business leaders are facing the Read More →
