Welcome to Momentum by Design

Why I’m building this blueprint

The world is rapidly evolving — authoritarianism is on the rise, big companies are running the show, and there’s a fight for domination in the AI space.

That all adds up to a handful of people (or companies) who are dictating the way the world works and making decisions for the rest of us.

Now more than ever, we need belief in our individual ability to disrupt the current power dynamic. That’s where Momentum by Design comes in.

I’m on a mission to teach everyday people how they can get power and influence, cultivate the right relationships, and end up in the room where big decisions are being made.

Representation matters. The way we no longer feel powerless is by getting into power. The way we get ahead is by knowing the right people. The way we change the world for better is by empowering others.

Through this newsletter, I’ll share content like:

👉 An introduction to what I call “The Strategy of Play” in the ‘game of life,’ as seen through the distinguished career of retired four-star Army general and former CIA Director, General David Petraeus

👉 How to employ the art of “radical collaboration” to launch and sustain groundbreaking initiatives, as exemplified by Saudi Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the country’s first female ambassador to the United States

👉 How to combine serendipity with strategy to unlock new opportunities, as told by Caleb Gardner, who turned a budding friendship with a stranger on Twitter into a job managing former President Obama’s Twitter handle

What I’ve loved recently:

👂 Nick Kokonas on The Tim Ferriss Podcast: Two divergent thinkers with fascinating opinions, anecdotes, and changes to the status quo.

📖 The Third Door by Alex Banayan: The best part of the book was the last few pages where I felt the author had finally matured and had a deeper message to share, plus the acknowledgements section where he talks about what it was like for his Dad to die of cancer. The story itself is of the author chasing around big names and hanging around celebrities – it’s an entertaining read, but it’s excruciatingly awkward to hear the story of a college kid bumbling his way into stalking celebs. He did it and he interviewed them, so he definitely deserved credit for it. The story feels more like a TV show.

📰 “Gen Z Isn’t Here for Elected Women’s Low Salaries and Dangerous Jobs” in Cosmopolitan: The younger generation grew up seeing women harassed online, making them more afraid and less interested in public service - at a time when we need women in office more than ever.