Lead storyLeadershipSeptember 16, 20266 min
RID Principle: Your Success is Guaranteed
Failure is not the end of your story—it is the moment you apply resilience, innovation, and determination to create your next win.
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Leadership — RID Principle: Your Success is GuaranteedOpinion — “Small Potatoes” to Whom?General Leadership — Leadership Is What You Do When the Plan BreaksTechnology — Most firms treat AI as a side project. That's why it fails.Operating — Treat time as your scarcest resource, not your most flexible one.Capital — Why I keep buying boring cash flow on purpose.Leadership — Command, service, and what the private sector still gets wrong.
Leadership — RID Principle: Your Success is GuaranteedOpinion — “Small Potatoes” to Whom?General Leadership — Leadership Is What You Do When the Plan BreaksTechnology — Most firms treat AI as a side project. That's why it fails.Operating — Treat time as your scarcest resource, not your most flexible one.Capital — Why I keep buying boring cash flow on purpose.Leadership — Command, service, and what the private sector still gets wrong.
Sean Today — News, Opportunities & Special Topics from Sean Chao
The Everything Guy
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News & MusingsOpinion
“Small Potatoes” to Whom?
Eighteen American service members lost their lives, each one irreplaceable, and their sacrifice deserves to be remembered with dignity—not reduced to a political talking point.
September 7, 2026 · 2 min
General Leadership
Leadership Is What You Do When the Plan Breaks
The true test of leadership is not how you perform when everything goes right—it is how steady you remain when the plan falls apart.
September 6, 2026 · 1 min
Venture Spotlight
Rotates daily · One of Sean’s ventures
Defense Technology
Four Signal Labs
Defense technology building BLISS-enabled receiver-analyzer modules that let drones, robots, and dismounted radios self-orient against jamming and spoofing.
www.four-signal.com
Zen Strategics — federal cyber & cloudDovetail Solutions — dual-use technologyMy Executive Agency — executive searchiConnect Social — real estate growthSC Real Estate — brokerage & STRACFN Greater DC — ATM portfolio
Zen Strategics — federal cyber & cloudDovetail Solutions — dual-use technologyMy Executive Agency — executive searchiConnect Social — real estate growthSC Real Estate — brokerage & STRACFN Greater DC — ATM portfolio
22+
Years across federal programs, security, and ownership
15+
Businesses and affiliates operating today
20+
Years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve
9
Collegiate degrees
15+
Professional certifications & licenses
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MY DAUGHTER LEADING THE FUTURE
Meet Evelyn Chao — the next generation, building her own thing.
My daughter Evelyn is already creating, writing, and building online. Visit her site and follow along — the next chapter is hers.
Visit evelyn-chao.com