Jeff Winter 1/8/26 Jeff Winter 1/8/26

The Familiar Always Wins Unless You Make It Lose

Most transformations don’t fail loudly or dramatically; they lose a slow, quiet tug-of-war against the familiar, long after everyone thought the hard part was over.

Jeff Winter 12/29/25 Jeff Winter 12/29/25

The Hardest Part of AI Isn’t Intelligence. It’s Letting Go.

Most AI initiatives fail not because the technology isn’t smart enough, but because organizations never decide which decisions they’re willing to let go of.

Jeff Winter 12/28/25 Jeff Winter 12/28/25

The Crooked House Problem: When Stability Stops Progress

A crooked 17th-century building becomes a metaphor for why stabilizing misaligned systems can preserve the past but quietly block progress when the goal is growth.

Jeff Winter 12/27/25 Jeff Winter 12/27/25

Think Big. Start Small. Go Fast.

We love tidy slogans because they sound actionable and safe.
This article unpacks how a familiar transformation mantra was born, why it still shows up everywhere today, and where organizations consistently get tripped up when turning good intentions into real progress.

Jeff Winter 12/21/25 Jeff Winter 12/21/25

Six Levers of Manufacturing Innovation

Manufacturing innovation does not have to be mysterious or overwhelming. These six simple levers offer a practical way to spot where innovation actually matters on the factory floor and turn big ideas into real operational impact.

Jeff Winter 12/15/25 Jeff Winter 12/15/25

OT Security Has a New Owner: Now Manufacturing Must Make It Work

OT security has finally made it to the CISO’s desk, but factories don’t run on org charts. This article explores why manufacturing is now the top cyber target, and what leaders must change to turn executive ownership into real operational resilience.

Jeff Winter 12/7/25 Jeff Winter 12/7/25

Stop Letting the Gods Decide: Why Data Driven Leadership Is Becoming Manufacturing’s Real Power

A Game of Thrones–inspired look at why modern manufacturers can’t compete by relying on instinct, hierarchy, or “the gods” to make decisions, and how data, AI, and real visibility finally give leaders the power to shape their own destiny.

Jeff Winter 11/17/25 Jeff Winter 11/17/25

The 1925 Invention That Explains Today’s AI Chaos

The real challenge isn’t blocking out AI noise, but sharpening the strategic signal that actually matters.

Jeff Winter 11/10/25 Jeff Winter 11/10/25

If Your Tech Disappeared Tomorrow, Would Anything Change?

Most companies call their efforts “digital transformation,” but if the operating model would function the same without the technology, then nothing transformative has happened, and this article explains why lasting change only occurs when the business itself evolves, not just the tools around it.

Jeff Winter 11/2/25 Jeff Winter 11/2/25

Forget Prediction. Build Readiness

A practical guide for manufacturers on how to strengthen their digital transformation readiness, move faster with confidence, and turn uncertainty into advantage.

Jeff Winter 10/30/25 Jeff Winter 10/30/25

If Captain America Worked in Manufacturing

What if Captain America ran a factory instead of fighting villains? This piece reframes the “A” on his helmet as Automation, AI, and Analytics, and argues that modern manufacturing leadership is less about heroics and more about designing systems that let people do their best work.

Jeff Winter 9/24/25 Jeff Winter 9/24/25

Stay Ready, So You Don’t Have to Get Ready: Thriving Amid Disruption

Disruption Doesn’t Knock, It Kicks Down Doors

Jeff Winter 9/10/25 Jeff Winter 9/10/25

The Illusion of Alignment: How Siloed Data Derails Strategy

Half-truths are more dangerous than lies. Because lies you can spot. Half-truths feel real. They give you just enough confidence to act… but not enough clarity to succeed.