[Verse 1]
When the meeting starts and voices rise
Everyone wants their feature in the prize
But resources thin and time runs short
We need to learn a different sort of sport
Not "yes and" but "this or that"
Trade-offs are where the truth is at
[Chorus]
Own it, don't add it, choose your path
Simplify before you feel the wrath
Say no to complexity's call
Ready or not, we can't do it all
Think first, align the way
Before systems lead us astray
[Verse 2]
Sarah owns the login, Mark the cache
No one's blamed when something needs a patch
Clear ownership isn't about the shame
It's knowing who to call when things need change
Explicit roles, explicit care
Responsibility we're willing to share
[Chorus]
Own it, don't add it, choose your path
Simplify before you feel the wrath
Say no to complexity's call
Ready or not, we can't do it all
Think first, align the way
Before systems lead us astray
[Verse 3]
The process has seven steps today
But three would get us the same way
Jim's authority is tied to step four
How do we change without starting a war
Politics dance around the flow
Change requires trust to grow
[Bridge]
"We're not ready" sounds like fear
But leadership makes the vision clear
Sometimes stepping back is moving ahead
Building foundation instead
Muscle memory for the "no"
Lets the right solutions grow
[Chorus]
Own it, don't add it, choose your path
Simplify before you feel the wrath
Say no to complexity's call
Ready or not, we can't do it all
Think first, align the way
Before systems lead us astray
[Outro]
Aligned thinking comes before
The systems that we're building for
Trade-offs, ownership, and saying no
These are the skills that help us grow