In a world that worships speed, "move fast and break things" has broken more than we bargained for. In a world of AI and automation, Content scrolls by, decisions get rubber-stamped, relationships flatten into emoji reactions - and somehow we still feel behind.
Valuable Friction makes the unhurried, counter-intuitive case that the surest path to differentiation isn't one more productivity hack but a well-placed pause.
Marketing strategist and storyteller Robert Rose guides you through four motions of "valuable friction":
Creative Friction - resist copy-and-paste culture and rediscover the thrill of original work.
Strategic Friction - slow the knee-jerk pivot and choose a direction that actually reveals you.
Operational Friction - design systems that favor craftsmanship over reflex-even when software begs for automation.
Relational Friction - trade instant replies for real conversation and build trust that algorithms can't fake.
Blending behavioral research and war stories from boardrooms and backyard side-hustles,
Rose shows how intentional resistance turns into momentum. You'll meet college grads plotting meaningful careers, founders standing out in crowded markets, families setting healthier digital tempos, and global brands reclaiming loyalty by making customers work - just enough - for experiences that matter. Along the way, you'll collect surprising neuroscience, a hidden history of convenience culture, and a playlist of riffs to keep you inspired.
Each chapter finishes with practical tools: "pause-points," diagnostic questions, and small experiments you can run tomorrow. No preachy slow-living manifesto here - just a pragmatic field guide for anyone who wants to create things worth noticing without burning out or giving in to the algorithm.
If you're tired of being another blur in the infinite scroll - whether you lead a team, launch products, teach kids, or simply want your life back - Valuable Friction will help you dial down the noise, dial up the meaning, and stand unmistakably apart. Time to stop chasing the fast lane and start paving the road that only you can travel.
