Library - Jaime Calaf

Execution & Discipline

The 80% Identity

I don’t aim for perfection. I aim for 80%.And I hold that 80% with a level of discipline most people don’t understand. My fault—if you can call it that—is that I believe in mastering most skills at about 80%, much like Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard. I’ve never read his book, but I’ve always respected the…
On the Satisfaction of Writing

Writing is the antidote for modern distractions—it resurrects the part of you that died when someone told you to grow up. The hardest part of writing is always the beginning—that first line, that first idea, that first breath of truth. As I sit at my desk and think about why I write, I’ve landed on…
The Conversation You Haven’t Earned Yet

”If you haven’t been through it, you haven’t paid the admission ticket, so you don’t get a seat at the table.” — “Mark” (XA) Mark (not his real name) sat across from a man who spoke with confidence—too much confidence. The man claimed expertise in a subject he barely understood, speaking in broad strokes and…

Unexpected Teachers

Some of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned came from people I didn’t expect—on the range, in an empty office, or in my own home. These moments reshaped how I lead, parent, and show up.
Of Battles and Angels

It’s bedtime once more, and that means my son gets to ask existential questions about life and God—right before prayer. My five-year-old son always seems to have deeper questions. Last night, he asked about angels. Specifically, he asked, “Dad, are angels God’s soldiers?” I have no idea where he comes up with these things. As…
More Than a Marathon: A Promise to My Son

My legs screamed in protest as I stepped out of the finish area, each step a reminder of the brutal toll the marathon had taken. The five blocks to my car stretched before me like an impossible journey. Just standing took effort. Every movement reminded me of the damage—the lingering injury in my left leg,…

The #1 Rule Most Companies Break

Most companies don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail because they hire carelessly. This post challenges the default hiring mindset and makes the case for treating team selection like an elite operation, not a checklist.
When to Ignore Good Advice

Not all popular business advice is universally true. Discover when and why you should thoughtfully ignore conventional wisdom to build genuine skill, autonomy, and professional success.

Unexpected Teachers

Some of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned came from people I didn’t expect—on the range, in an empty office, or in my own home. These moments reshaped how I lead, parent, and show up.
Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Most Americans take their rights for granted — but owning a gun without skill is not self-defense, it’s a liability. This is a call to those who carry: train, or don’t carry at all.
On the Satisfaction of Writing

Writing is the antidote for modern distractions—it resurrects the part of you that died when someone told you to grow up. The hardest part of writing is always the beginning—that first line, that first idea, that first breath of truth. As I sit at my desk and think about why I write, I’ve landed on…
BUSY IS A LIE

No tombstone ever read: “Here lies a man who would have done something great, but he was too busy and went along to get along.” I was raised in a household where “I don’t have time” wasn’t allowed. The only acceptable phrase was: “I don’t want to make time.” And that’s the truth no one…
Unlocking Business Wisdom with Founders Podcast

https://www.founderspodcast.com/