Sign in Subscribe

Ryan Pavel

📍 Chicago http://3DProductivity.com

If My Kids Ask About Joining the Military

It’s the day after July 4th (aka July 5th). Amidst yesterday’s fireworks and cookout, I found myself pondering: how would I feel if my kids consider joining the military? I have a few days off work, allowing me precious time with family and a chance to do things

Think.

Think. This is what my father taught me. When I faced a challenge, made a poor decision, or tried to figure out what to do with my life, he would give this simple yet profound advice: think. In Our Declaration, political philosopher Danielle Allen titles her second chapter “Patrimony,” which

Go With the (Lazy) Flow

Culture is a strange thing. Leaders can and should be intentional about how they build and reinforce it, but sometimes it develops or regresses for completely unforeseen reasons. Enter, for example, the lazy river. Last week, we brought together our 32 alumni fellows and a dozen central team members to

The 5 AM Flight (and other questionable decisions)

So, here's the dilemma. Travel is an ever present part of my job, and I love it. I'm actually hard-pressed to think of a work trip within the last few years that I haven't been excited about for one reason or another. I'

Two Thousand and Two Ways to Feel Inadequate

Hello inadequacy, my old friend. I've come to battle you again. This morning, I woke up and did a quick scroll through LinkedIn. Within the first few minutes, I saw: * A project someone launched that I wish I had launched * A post from someone I keep meaning to

Saying Yes

The other day, I walked past Revival Food Hall in Chicago. I stopped in to snap this picture and take a few minutes to reflect on the significance of this spot. Nearly five years ago, this is where I said "yes" to Warrior-Scholar Project co-founder Jesse Reising about

Presumption of Guilt - My Disabled Journey

A year and a day ago, I started writing about my disability. I was dealing with a particularly rough patch of symptoms, and there was something therapeutic about venting to myself on the page. 366 days later, The Warhorse published the piece. It went live this morning. Quick note: the

Write. It. Down.

I’m at a conference this week, where thousands of people will make thousands of connections and will commit to thousands of follow-up actions that won’t come to fruition. Sometimes that’s because the committers realize after walking away that the thing isn’t actually worth the follow-up (it’

2022 Productivity - Year in Review

In the last week of each year, I strive to do two work-adjacent things: (1) review the systems and mentalities I rely on to keep me on track, and (2) reset my caffeine tolerance (I read years ago that it only takes four days to do so, and I'

It's Alive!

*ahem* It's time to dust off this 'ole thing and get cranking on some content. I started this back in college a decade ago and lost the motivation to keep posting here, but I never stopped writing and I've always been drawn to the idea