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LEXICON: STRUNE

STRUNE.

When movement creates its own resistance. The self-generated friction pattern.

QUICK ANSWER

Strune (stroon) is the physics pattern where forward movement generates backward drag. It's when your own actions create the very resistance you're trying to overcome. The harder you push, the stronger the resistance becomes—because you're creating it.

TL;DR

  • Strune = self-generated resistance patterns
  • Your solution becomes your problem
  • More effort = more resistance
  • Break it by stopping, not pushing harder

COMMON STRUNE PATTERNS

PROCESS STRUNE

Creating processes to fix problems caused by too many processes. Each new system adds friction to solve friction from the last system.

Example: Approval chains that create the delays they're meant to prevent
Solution: Delete, don't add

COMMUNICATION STRUNE

More meetings to discuss why nothing gets done. More channels to coordinate fragmented communication. More updates about lack of progress.

Example: Daily standups about why yesterday's standup items aren't done
Solution: Stop talking, start doing

OPTIMIZATION STRUNE

Optimizing systems that shouldn't exist. Perfecting processes that create no value. Making the wrong thing more efficient.

Example: Automating reports nobody reads
Solution: Question existence before efficiency

GROWTH STRUNE

Growing complexity faster than capability. Each expansion creates more problems than it solves. Success becomes the source of failure.

Example: Hiring to manage problems created by hiring
Solution: Constraint before expansion

STRUNE DETECTION SIGNALS

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUNE

  • • Working harder yields worse results
  • • Solutions create new problems
  • • Complexity grows exponentially
  • • Everyone's busy, nothing moves
  • • More resources = less output

PERSONAL STRUNE

  • • Productivity systems kill productivity
  • • Planning prevents execution
  • • Optimization creates chaos
  • • Tools multiply, output shrinks
  • • Motion without movement

THE STRUNE PHYSICS

EFFORT → RESISTANCE → MORE EFFORT → MORE RESISTANCE
SYSTEM LOCKS IN SELF-DEFEATING LOOP
COMPLETE PARALYSIS DESPITE MAXIMUM ACTIVITY

BREAKING STRUNE PATTERNS

STEP 1

Stop All Movement

Strune feeds on motion. Starve it with stillness.

STEP 2

Map the Pattern

Identify where your solution becomes your problem.

STEP 3

Delete, Don't Fix

Remove the action creating resistance. Don't add more.

STEP 4

Move Perpendicular

Change direction entirely. Don't push through—go around.

CRITICAL INSIGHT

The only way to break strune is to stop doing what created it. Not do it better. Not do it differently. Stop. The pattern cannot survive without your participation.

BREAK YOUR STRUNE PATTERN

Stop creating the resistance you're fighting. Start moving without friction.