When Optimization Breaks Systems

Most systems don’t fail because they’re weak.

They fail because they were optimized too early, in the wrong places, for the wrong reasons.

This short book is a field guide to removing hidden friction from work—by shrinking systems, reducing recovery time, and designing for human judgment instead of false certainty.

For builders, operators, founders, and knowledge workers who feel busy, careful, and stalled—and want momentum back without adding tools.