We always say we’re building.
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But lately, I’ve been asking — what kind of building, exactly?

There’s a kind of building that looks good on LinkedIn.

Then there’s the kind that costs you something: ego, speed, certainty.This past month, I felt the creep of performative building — checking in with metrics before checking in with myself. I was getting caught in a cycle of systems that looked like momentum but felt like avoidance. The tools I was using were sharp, but the purpose behind them had dulled.

So I stepped back and asked: ​Am I building something real, or just something recognizable?

This issue is a return to what’s real. We’re talking about AI that actually works — not just markets. Land stewardship that isn’t performative. Tools that reflect the human behind the hustle.

Because systems are only useful if they hold you, not just your goals.

Keep building. And build for what matters.