The Two But Rule

Revitalize your team's creativity and overcome negativity with this inspiring guide to building unstoppable momentum for your transformative ideas In today's high-stakes world of R&D and innovation, the difference between a groundbreaking idea and a stagnant project often rests on your team's approach to criticism and opposition. John Wolpert, a seasoned tech innovator, brings you The Two But Rule: Turn Negative Thinking Into Positive Solutions, a revolutionary guide to turning skepticism into a powerful catalyst for innovation. In The Two But Rule veteran tech innovator John Wolpert delivers an exciting, hands-on guide to using the principles of Momentum Thinking to get you-and your organization-unstuck. You'll learn how to build unstoppable velocity for your big idea, product, or strategy as you blast through the endless objections and counterarguments that bedevil every innovator and changemaker. Momentum Thinking offers a lifeline for leaders whose teams are trapped in counterproductive criticism cycles, offering a refreshing, easy-to-understand, and engaging alternative to the toxic positivity that plagues so many organizations. You'll discover how to address criticisms like "But that's too expensive" or "But that won't work" and use them to refine your idea and polish it into a gem worthy of attention and implementation. In the book, you'll also find: - Innovative Problem-Solving Strategies: Learn how to convert team criticism into innovative solutions and opportunities. - Tips for Countering Toxic Positivity: Navigate beyond blind optimism to embrace diverse perspectives, enhancing problem-solving. - Engaging and Practical Advice: Implement the intoxicatingly fun "Two But Rule" for immediate positive impact on your team dynamics. - Ways to Encourage Innovation at Any Level: Foster a culture of positive contribution and creative momentum whether you're managing a small team or leading a large organization. Designed for managers seeking to enhance their team's creative processes, executives navigating complex challenges, or any team member striving to contribute positively without being sidelined, The Two But Rule will fundamentally change your approach to teamwork and innovation, transform your team's dynamics, and pave the way for breakthrough success in your organization.

JOHN WOLPERT has founded companies, R&D consortia, and open source organizations in his decades-long career, from the early days of the Web to the rise of artificial intelligence. John has served as a CEO, a product executive, and a writer featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the popular newsletter and podcast, 2Buts.com. But the title that describes him best is Seeker of Awesomeness. It's a role that taught him not to ignore obstacles or hide from problems but to embrace them.

Introduction xi Part 1 Momentum Thinking Essentials 1 Chapter 1 Embracing Your But 3 Our Broken Buts 5 Two But Basics 7 Stating the 1But 9 Stating the Because 11 Stating the 2But 12 Elon Musk's Fuzzy But 13 Chapter 2 No Buts Allowed 17 The Tragic Buts of Facebook and Lehman Brothers 18 The No- Buts Policy Makes Dumb Ideas Stupid: Ask Coke 19 Spanx, Adobe, and the 1But Winner 20 We Need Bolder Buts 22 Building Braver Buts 24 The Science of Buts 26 Waiting for the Quantum But 27 Saving But- Head 28 Rescuing 1But- Guy 30 Chapter 3 This Book Saved My But 31 Chapter 4 Getting Your But in Shape 35 The Pain in Your But 36 What's Behind Your But 38 Best Buy's Big Buts 39 Uber's Bigger Buts 41 Chapter 5 Advanced Butology 45 Gnarly Buts 45 Chain of Buts 48 Rediscovering Your But 53 Proteins Got a Brand New But 54 Hidden Buts 56 Chapter 6 Bad Buts 59 Lewis and Clark's Historic Buts 60 Cheating Buts 63 Volkswagen's Gassy But 64 Don't Be a Lazy But 66 Don't Argue with Your But 66 Part 2 The Two But Rule in Practice 69 Chapter 7 The Social Life of Buts 71 Drunken Buts 72 The Gaps in Your But 73 Exposing Your But 75 Wolpert221080_ftoc.indd 8 16-11-2023 14:22:08 Chapter 8 Playing with Your But 79 Timing Your But 82 Butting In 84 The Odious But 85 The Empathetic But 86 The But of an Ass 87 Chapter 9 Old Buts and New Buts 89 Airbnb and Paul Graham's Old But Breakthrough 90 Runaway Buts 92 The End of Buts 95 Chapter 10 Putting Your But to Work 97 Leaning Into Your But 99 Five Buts 101 The Two But Retrospective 103 Chapter 11 Managing Your But 105 2But Tools 106 Two But Notation 107 Artificial Buts 107 Two-But Buddy 109 Protecting Your Buts 111 Teaching AI to Embrace Its But 112 Part 3 Life's Big Buts 113 Chapter 12 You and Your But 115 Everyday Buts 116 Fixing the Fan 117 Surviving Parenting Purgatory 118 Changing Careers 120 Wolpert221080_ftoc.indd 9 16-11-2023 14:22:08 Chapter 13 Business Buts 129 Running a Small Business Is a Pain in the But 129 Calendly and the Many Buts of Starting a Business 133 Where to Sit Your Buts 138 Chapter 14 Product and Technology Buts 145 The 2B Product Review 146 Who Owns Your But Online? 146 Product Feature Creep 151 Regulating AI 155 Chapter 15 Buts in Conflict 163 Solon, Father of Buts 163 Big Government's Budget Buts 168 Chapter 16 Saving the World...with Your But 175 Windy Buts 176 Plastic Buts 178 Chapter 17 The Rear End 193 The Buts We Leave Behind 194 Embrace Yourself 194 All Your Wonderful Buts 195 Acknowledgments 197 About the Author 199 Index 201