Companion to The Code Takes Care of Itself
The guides, workshops, assessments, and sources the chapters point to
Companion to The Code Takes Care of Itself · Updated 2026-09-30
The chapters of The Code Takes Care of Itself make the argument. This companion holds the material a reader fills in, prints, or brings to a meeting: the full playbook from each chapter, two field guides, coaching guides for every seat in the C-suite, a workbook of workshops and assessments, and the notes and sources behind the chapters.
Nothing here replaces the book. Each page names the chapter it comes from and assumes you have read the argument around it. The chapters make the case, and this material assumes you’ve bought it. Print what you need, skip the rest.
What is here
- Playbooks: the full playbook that closes each of the 23 chapters. The book prints a short version of each; every step and example is here.
- Field guides: the Tradeoff Principles and the CTO’s Operating Principles, each built to scan before a hard meeting.
- C-suite coaching: the AI Maturity Ladder, a coaching guide for each executive seat, and a ninety-minute board workshop.
- Workbook: workshops, audits, assessments, a roadmap, and a discussion guide you can run without me in the room.
- Notes and sources: a link and a note for every study, survey, and case the chapters rely on.
Where to start
- A CEO, founder, or board member: read the AI Maturity Ladder, then the CEO guide and the board workshop.
- A CTO before a planning cycle or a hard conversation: scan the Operating Principles, then set your roadmap.
- A leadership team using the book as a shared text: work through the discussion guide together, one part per session.
In this section
- Two Field Guides You Can Print and Post
The Tradeoff Principles and the CTO’s Operating Principles from The Code Takes Care of Itself, formatted to print.
- Coaching Guides for Every Seat in the C-Suite
The AI Maturity Ladder, a coaching guide for each executive seat, and a ninety-minute board workshop, all built on Completion Engineering.
- Run the Workbook with Your Team
Workshop agendas, audits, assessments, a roadmap, and a discussion guide from The Code Takes Care of Itself that a team can run without the author in the room.
- The Full Playbook from Each Chapter Is Here
The full playbook that closes each chapter of The Code Takes Care of Itself, with every step, example, and prompt, listed in chapter order under its part.
- Every Claim That Rests on Someone Else’s Work Has a Source Here
Chapter-by-chapter notes and live links for every study, survey, case, and published playbook The Code Takes Care of Itself relies on, with each source’s limits stated.