Are you a Thermometer or a Thermostat? (Plus: 48 hours left)

It was a privilege to sit down with Yash Chitale, author of "A Poet in the Workplace" on Tuesday for our livestream, "The Inside Job".

We talked about the pressure of the New Year - the overflowing inboxes and the immediate return to high-stakes demands.

One concept we discussed that seemed to resonate with the live audience was the difference between being a Thermometer and a Thermostat.

In the heat of a conflict or a stressful deadline, most of us default to being a Thermometer. We simply reflect the temperature of the room. If the team is anxious, we get anxious. If a client is aggressive, we get defensive. We let the external environment dictate our internal state.

But the leaders who truly navigate complexity - and avoid the "Zero-Sum" trap - act as Thermostats.

They notice the temperature rising. They feel the heat. But instead of just reacting to it, they actively set the temperature. They choose to inject curiosity where there is judgement, or calmness where there is chaos.

This shift isn't about suppressing your feelings. It is about pausing long enough to choose a response that changes the outcome.

Watch the Replay

If you missed the session, we dove deep into how you can make this shift, how to surf your reactive instincts through values and identity, and how to find rhythm in the chaos.

You can watch the full recording here.

The Campaign Closes this Friday

This concept of the "Thermostat" is just one small part of the toolkit I am building in The Zero-Sum Illusion.

We are now in the final 48 hours of the crowdfunding campaign. The doors close this Friday.

If you have been thinking about supporting the book, or if you have been waiting for the "right time"—this is it.

By backing the campaign before Friday, you aren't just buying a book. You are joining the inner circle of early readers who will receive the manuscript first and help shape these ideas before they go out to the wider world.

The Presale Campaign Ends Soon

Join the Campaign before it closes!

Thank you to everyone who has already pledged. Your support means more than I can say.

Best wishes Grant

To chat about how these ideas apply to your own work or leadership, reply to this email. I’m booking 15-minute virtual coffees and would love to meet you. Book it directly in my calendar here.

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