Logo
Archive
Work with Michael
Subscribe
Search
Logo

Archive

Every issue of Broken Pencils, newest first.
What My Daughter's Robotics Team Taught Me About AI Transformation

Aug 18, 2025

•

6 min read

What My Daughter's Robotics Team Taught Me About AI Transformation

Why constraint-driven teams outlearn resource-rich organizations

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
Why Most AI Transformations Are Just Expensive Theater

Aug 11, 2025

•

8 min read

Why Most AI Transformations Are Just Expensive Theater

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The AI Reality Check: What 16 Product Leaders Actually Told Me

Aug 4, 2025

•

8 min read

The AI Reality Check: What 16 Product Leaders Actually Told Me

It's messier than the LinkedIn posts would have you believe...

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The "Good Enough" Decision

Jul 28, 2025

•

9 min read

The "Good Enough" Decision

When to Trust AI vs. When to Stay Human

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The sycophancy trap

Jul 21, 2025

•

6 min read

The sycophancy trap

(and why your AI assistant is making you a worse leader)

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
I've Seen This Movie Twice Before

Jul 14, 2025

•

5 min read

I've Seen This Movie Twice Before

Why AI Transformation Will Take Longer Than You Think

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The AI Reality Check I Need Your Help With

Jul 7, 2025

•

5 min read

The AI Reality Check I Need Your Help With

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The Quiet Mind Advantage

Jun 30, 2025

•

5 min read

The Quiet Mind Advantage

What a 9-year-old taught me about AI strategy

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The Fresh Start Trap

Jun 23, 2025

•

5 min read

The Fresh Start Trap

(and how to avoid it)

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
The Talent Gardener

Feb 3, 2025

•

4 min read

The Talent Gardener

Why Protecting Your PMs' Time is Your Most Important Job

Michael Hirsch
Michael Hirsch
Load more

Broken Pencils

Sharpen your thinking.

© 2026 Break a Pencil Consulting.
beehiivPowered by beehiiv