Archive - Independent Variables by Andrew Bartholomew

Four ways to build a $1m indie consulting practice

Respecting the balance between offering, price, and acquisition motion.

Feb 4 •

Andrew Bartholomew

January 2025

Year 3 as an indie consultant: Asking some destabilizing questions

In the tradition established by others, my reflections on the past year and my intentions for the next one.

Jan 14 •

Andrew Bartholomew

April 2024

Certain phrases have a stink to them

Apr 8, 2024 •

Andrew Bartholomew

March 2024

Zero-sum thinking is the enemy

“What do we need to do to make this situation positive-sum?”

Mar 4, 2024 •

Andrew Bartholomew

February 2024

Executive presence in five questions

Sometimes I hesitate to write a post because it feels too simple.

Feb 27, 2024 •

Andrew Bartholomew

The conflict quadrants

When I sit in leadership meetings that lack conflict, I get suspicious.

Feb 13, 2024 •

Andrew Bartholomew

December 2023

Year 2 as an indie consultant: On working less

If Year 1 was about me changing how I worked, Year 2 was about how I worked changing me

Dec 19, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

July 2023

On Maps and Seeing

Last weekend Anna and I were talking about the harbor near our house, and the small channel that separates our side from the other.

Jul 24, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

March 2023

Truth-telling systems and incentive systems

There are two kinds of measurement systems: Truth-telling systems and incentive systems. A system can be one, the other, or both.

Mar 28, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

Don’t compete with your forebears; collaborate

How working on my dad's autobiography helped me appreciate shared play and infinite games.

Mar 22, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

Distance as a service

How going indie helped me be more myself — and also took me further from many of the people I work with

Mar 6, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

February 2023

The holy trinity of startup employee traits

On optimism, agency, and rigor

Feb 28, 2023 •

Andrew Bartholomew

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