Who Says… it has to be this way?

Hey leader,

You ever notice how fall demands change? The air sharpens, the leaves let go, and suddenly it’s clear—growth doesn’t come from holding on. It comes from shedding what no longer fits.

As leaders, we feel it too. The world’s moving faster than ever, and we’re staring down old systems and beliefs that no longer serve us. Our teams are demanding more—more purpose, more humanity, more flexibility. Yet, here we are, trying to pour new ideas into a cup that’s already full.

It’s like the Zen parable: a professor visits a Zen master to learn about enlightenment. The master pours tea into the professor’s cup, but keeps pouring until it spills over. The professor says, “The cup is full! No more will go in!” The master replies, “Like this cup, you’re full of your own ideas and beliefs. How can you expect to learn unless you first empty your cup?”

That’s the heartbeat of Who Says? — making room for the new by letting go of the old. But here’s the hard truth: leaders like us rarely pause long enough to do it.

We even caught The Wild Robot with the kids, and there’s a line that hit me: “Sometimes, to survive, we must become more than we were programmed to be.” That’s exactly where we are—breaking free from the programming, realizing that just because we’ve always done something a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the way forward - who's with me??

So, here’s the challenge: What belief, behavior, habit, or system are you still holding onto that no longer fits?What’s filling your cup, leaving no room for something new? And if you let it go… what could you make space for?

Less Than 30 Days… Let’s Go!

Who Says? drops in less than 30 days, and there’s a different energy around this one. After two previous books, something about this feels more alive, more urgent. I can feel it, my publisher feels it, and I think you’ll feel it too.

Over the last 50 years, we’ve seen more progress than in the previous 250,000—from rotary phones to AI in our pockets, room-sized computers to wearables on our wrists. Yet the way we work? Still stuck in patterns that were written for a century ago. We’ve unknowingly inherited systems that keep us grinding without question, without pause.

But who decided it has to be this way? (hint: there is no they)

When I started writing Who Says? I didn’t expect how much it would pull me apart and put me back together. I lost my brother Eddie. I also said goodbye to 3 mentors and a few close friends. This book was born out of that raw place. It became a reckoning with time, with life, and with how we spend our days. And every page of this book holds that truth—there’s no time to waste living by old rules that don’t fit anymore.

We’ve been told how to live, how to lead, how to succeed. But the real question is, Who Says? Who decided the rules, and why do we keep following them when the world is demanding something more from us?

Who Says? is about expanding what we know is possible—at work, in life, and beyond. It’s about tapping into something bigger than the grind and finding a way to build a future that actually fits.

If this hits home for you, I invite you to grab a copy -> Pre-Order Now

And a huge thanks to Dan Pink for the incredible endorsement—his words mean the world to me ??.

Stages to Pages—The Conversation’s Only Getting Started

Last week, I had the chance to speak at HR Alliance in DC (one of four gigs this month), and something hit me deep. Someone from the audience came up afterward and said, “You flipped the script on leadership in a way that was so personal yet so universally needed.” And that stuck. Because leadership isn’t about flexing knowledge or dropping buzzwords—it’s about creating real change that people feel.

The energy in the room? ?? Unbelievable. Here’s what one attendee shared:

"The session was outstanding. Joe delivered the content with clarity, energy, and just enough humor to keep everyone locked in. The strategies were practical and timely—exactly what we need to navigate rapid change and disruption in today’s world. I walked away with takeaways I’m already putting into action at work. Rated the session a 5 across the board: Content, Delivery, Engagement, and Usefulness at Work."

But this wasn't just about what I said—it’s about what we created together in that room. The conversations didn’t end when I stepped off stage. Someone else took to LinkedIn after the event and wrote:

"Yesterday, I attended the HR Alliance DC event where Joe Mechlinski spoke on strategies for navigating radical disruption. The timing couldn’t have been better. I left with 7 pages of notes, all relevant to a client going through an acquisition, and I’m still processing it all…"

All to say, it's an my high honor and privledge to be with people in this way.

Check out the full post here: LinkedIn Post .

Alpha SHIFTs—The Future Is Now

I've been in the trenches with several CEO's recently, and one thing is crystal clear: being ahead of the curve is no longer a luxury—it’s the edge we all need. Spotting the early trends, leaning into innovation, embracing disruption? That’s where the real growth lives. And the good news, I love being early (even ChatGPT agrees below). ?? Here’s a peek at what’s firing me up right now:

• Google NotebookLM – We dropped our Latch pitch deck into this tool and walked away with an 8-minute, mind-blowing conversation . This is the kind of speed and intelligence that changes how we operate. Google was impressed and even reached out to put this on their social platforms assuming I would sign over every right I ever had, forever.
• Perplexity.ai – If you're still Googling like it’s 2010, this will shake things up. Perplexity is on a whole other level. It's a must-try, and I’m glad I got to share this one early. It's usually a major AHA moment. You may never use Google again, there I said it.
• Napkin.ai – This tool is still flying under the radar, but it won’t be for long. It’s the next big thing. Trust me—get in early. Big thanks to Matt Hampton our designer for this one. If I am earlier, he is usually super duper early. Happy to make an intro if you are looking for a kick-ass problem solver.
• Elon Musk’s Chopsticks Moment – Musk used chopsticks to catch a rocket??. Yeah, you read that right. We’re one step closer to being multi-planetary. Oh, and don’t forget the Optimus robots and autonomous cabs. Just a normal week for Elon. He helps me see I am still no where near dreaming and visioning big enough.
• Does ChatGPT Know You? – I asked ChatGPT what it knows about me, and I was shook. Want to see if it can nail who you are? Try asking, "What do you know about me?" and let me know how it responds:

Wrapping It Up—The Challenge Ahead

Here’s the deal: we’re all in this game together, caught between what’s coming and what’s demanding our attention right now. But I challenge us all to stop asking how we can keep up—and start questioning why we’re still playing by these rules in the first place.

The future? It’s blank pages waiting for us. And the best part? We’ve got the pen in our hands.

Thanks for sticking with me this week. Let’s keep pushing, breaking, and rewriting what’s possible—together.

Catch you next week,

Joe