https://blog.rondeaur.dev/#newsletter Newsletter articles in the Standalone series. en-us Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:56:29 +0000 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/continuous-learning-ross-rondeau/ newsletter-4--8232334338401786605 Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Most professionals stop learning the moment they land the job they wanted - and the skills that got them there become the ceiling they stay under. Distinguishes finite learning goals (certifications: 2-3 months of study, 2-3 years of relevance) from infinite learning goals (structured degrees: 2-3 years of study, 30+ years of relevance). Intelligence is not the barrier - decision and discipline are. Managers are accountable for professional development; individuals are responsible for doing it. (Tags: Lifelong Learning, Certifications, Executive Education, Professional Growth) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/measures-metrics-key-performance-indicators-kpis-okrs-ross-p0kpc/ newsletter-10--5111151287399712971 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Organizations drown in dashboards while measuring the wrong things. Distinguishes Measures (data points), Metrics (contextualized data), and KPIs (outcome-tied metrics). Introduces Measurements of Effectiveness (MOE) vs. Measurements of Performance (MOP) from defense systems engineering: MOPs track activity, MOEs confirm whether the activity is working. Goodhart's Law predicts gaming any metric turned into a target. Real OKRs are durable lifetime objectives aligned to outcomes - not annually-reset SMART goals. (Tags: MOE/MOP, KPIs, OKRs, Goodhart's Law, Metrics Architecture) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ownership-when-we-own-one-does-ross-rondeau-ropdc newsletter-12--1028287950923824797 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone When everyone owns a system, no one truly does. Organizational inventory spans hardware, APIs, processes, contracts, and vendor relationships. Up to 30% of systems in mature environments lack named owners, quietly compounding cloud costs and compliance risks. Shifting to single-point accountability replaces tribal firefighting with deliberate simplification and confident modernization. (Tags: System Ownership, IT Inventory, Technical Governance, Asset Accountability) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/retirement-math-your-employer-telling-you-ross-rondeau-hb3xc newsletter-14--2168819399095809597 Sun, 24 May 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Standard financial advice often obscures compound growth realities: at a 7% inflation-adjusted return, invested assets double every decade. Introduces the Coast FIRE model, where early savings compound sufficiently to eliminate late-career contribution pressures. Covers tax-advantaged account hierarchies, calculating retirement spending targets, and avoiding the trap of over-saving while under-living. (Tags: Coast FIRE, Compound Interest, Financial Strategy, Wealth Planning) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/salary-ross-rondeau/ newsletter-15--5271114077243829658 Sun, 17 May 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Salary is essential compensation and a career signal, not a measure of personal worth. Before negotiating, benchmark your market rate across multiple data sources to eliminate outliers. Contrasts strategies for seasoned candidates leading with proven business outcomes against junior candidates demonstrating first-90-day impact, while analyzing the legal realities of counteroffers. (Tags: Compensation Strategy, Negotiation, Market Benchmarking, Career Growth) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/strategy-ross-rondeau-msist-emba--g20sc/ newsletter-16--1545826397600151104 Sun, 10 May 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Most companies call tactics, activities, and goals "strategy" - and pay for it in misdirected budgets and failed transformations. A real strategy requires something UNIQUE (built around people, culture, and skills competitors cannot copy), done in a SYSTEMATIC WAY, to produce OUTCOMES measured by Measures of Effectiveness. Introduces layered strategies (outputs of one feed inputs of the next) and the cost of isolated strategies that never connect to the next level up. (Tags: Strategic Architecture, Layered Strategy, MOE, Competitive Advantage) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/professional-objectives-do-you-have-mission-what-vision-ross-rondeau/ newsletter-18-9113869602898296178 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone A professional objective answers "why are you looking for this role?" - most professionals cannot answer it clearly. Covers the distinction between a mission (what you do and for whom) and a vision (where you are going), and why a resume without a clear professional objective signals an unfocused candidate. Practical guidance on writing both for a resume and for personal career planning. (Tags: Mission & Vision, Career Strategy, Executive Positioning, Resume Architecture) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/end-year-ross-rondeau-uvupc/ newsletter-21--5241614783631963607 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Annual performance reviews cost $2.4M-$35M per year for 10,000 employees, yet 86% of employees find them useless. The system is designed to produce inconsistent outcomes through escalation, tragedy of the commons, and rule-beating (Meadows, Ariely). Fix: quarterly cycles with monthly calibrations, and a structured AI-first approach using the CAR format and an EOYAgent prompt to compress review quality while cutting hidden costs of engagement loss and attrition. (Tags: Performance Reviews, Quarterly Cycles, AI Evaluation, Talent Management) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-year-fix-boost-youre-missing-ross-rondeau-qxyoc newsletter-22-3305548204592348073 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:56:29 +0000 Standalone Conventional benefits packages often fail to prevent expensive employee turnover and compounding burnout. Proposes a mandatory, fully disconnected three-month sabbatical every five years for all employees, funded as a standard total rewards line item. This predictable model levels career progression, enhances long-term talent retention, and normalizes planned organizational coverage. (Tags: Total Rewards, Sabbatical Policy, Talent Retention, Burnout Prevention)