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The identity tax
How an invisible psychological need can become an economic constraint, and how that value-leak compounds into systems.
Oct 8
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
How to create value immediate through partnerships
Relationships themselves are key systems through which value is created.
Oct 5
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
A city that imports its own meaning
What Perth, my home city, has shown me about intangible value expressed through culture.
Oct 1
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
Most Popular
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Maybe you’re not emotional enough.
Apr 3
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
1
Develop your creativity: The Ideas Reservoir
Feb 2
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
2
Building cities that aren’t boring
Dec 4, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
1
Learn faster than failure
Mar 5
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
1
2
The most important skill to learn by 2035.
Feb 5
2
1
Empathy is not the pinnacle of evolved leadership, but it is a necessary skill to get there.
Feb 26
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
Mental Models
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How to create value immediate through partnerships
Relationships themselves are key systems through which value is created.
Oct 5
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
The Revenue Seed
How to not tell Business Development to just find more money.
Mar 9
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
Develop your creativity: The Ideas Reservoir
A practical system for working with creativity’s natural rhythms.
Feb 2
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
2
Ideas Economy
On creativity, intangible value, and systems design.
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Your Ideas, Examined
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Q&A – CREATIVITY PT II: Individual vs. systemic creativity
Your Ideas, Examined
Apr 16
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
1
Q&A – PART I: Individual vs. systemic creativity
Your Ideas, Examined
Mar 19
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
1
Q&A – Cross industry strategies, cities and national identity, and revenue driven by cultural storytelling
Your Ideas, Examined
Nov 13, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
4
Q&A — Applying creativity functionally
Your Ideas, Examined
Oct 16, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
1
Uncovering value creation in ideas, for business, innovation, and life.
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Anchors and Catalysts: How transient populations shape city life
Optimising the balance between visitors and long-term residents.
Sep 3, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
2
Anchor your advantage in cultural fluency
How social relevance equips brands and people with influence, clarity, and commercial power.
Jul 25, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
1
Is boredom making you more innovative?
On finding the void where real productivity begins.
May 28, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
6
2
6
The birth of one Ideas Economy
Do you believe value can sprout from nothing?
Dec 3, 2024
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
3
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Essays
View all
The identity tax
How an invisible psychological need can become an economic constraint, and how that value-leak compounds into systems.
Oct 8
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
A city that imports its own meaning
What Perth, my home city, has shown me about intangible value expressed through culture.
Oct 1
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
Where I have been all these months
What exactly is 'intangible value' — beyond the obvious — and how is it expressed across regions globally?
Aug 13
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
Maybe you’re not emotional enough.
Why “removing emotion” from decision-making is not wisdom but a failure of human fluency.
Apr 3
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
1
13 statements you might need to hear
From a raw journal entry.
Mar 26
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
How to be creative when you don’t have time.
Develop your innovative mind from things you already do.
Mar 12
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
Learn faster than failure
Why the real leadership challenge isn’t ‘failing fast,’ but designing systems that can learn.
Mar 5
•
Rachel O'Brien
3
1
2
Empathy is not the pinnacle of evolved leadership, but it is a necessary skill to get there.
There is a step beyond emotional intelligence, and into moral authority.
Feb 26
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
The most important skill to learn by 2035.
And how to exercise it in your profession.
Feb 5
2
1
On the audacity to work from home
How WFH culture affects autonomy and creative output.
Jan 9
•
Rachel O'Brien
4
1
Twelve primers for a nonlinear year
Sharpen your creativity, perception, and momentum for opportunity.
Dec 31, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
2
A festive space where ideas play
On creativity, generosity, and the quiet magic of the season.
Dec 18, 2025
•
Rachel O'Brien
1
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