The Spotlight Isn’t the Stage
A shiny idea isn't strategy. This post digs into decision hygiene: the discipline of thinking beyond the spotlight, and seeing the systems, ownership, and scope your choices actually live inside.
Nino Chavez
When Meta Conversations Start to Sound Like Sermons
I’ve been writing and thinking so much about how I think, it’s started to shape my real-life conversations — sometimes in ways that feel disconnected. When does thoughtful reflection cross the line into sermonizing? And how do we find balance between clarity and presence?
The Sky Is Not Falling
I built the core Let’s Pepper site in under 2 hours—then spent over 8 trying to get one visual detail (the section dividers) to look right. AI can prototype, but it doesn’t ship. This post breaks down why the real work happens after the first draft, and why experience still matters more than ever.
Coaching Without Coddling: How I Support High-Potential People Without Micromanaging
Once I know someone’s worth investing in, I shift gears. Here’s how I coach without taking the wheel—and why presence matters more than pressure.
Coach Up or Coach Out? What I Look for Early
Not everyone clicks right away. But I’ve learned to spot the difference between someone who just needs support—and someone who’s not built for the work we do.
We Don’t Need More Coders. We Need Early-Stage Problem Solvers.
The game changed. We don’t need new hires who’ve built a few apps—we need people who can navigate ambiguity, think in systems, and ask the right questions early.
How We Find the Ones Who Just Get It
Hiring the right consultant isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about building the kind of process that makes the right people show up—and lets the wrong ones opt out early.