For the discerning businessperson
Hundreds of operators and investors purchase a Commoncog membership to augment their understanding of business. The membership gives you access to the full case library, to a private community of serious businesspeople, and to exclusive events.
A membership includes:
A Growing Case Library
See around corners, make better decisions.
Experienced businesspeople and investors see more business patterns than novices. This ability to see makes for a big difference in their skill.
You make better decisions when you have more cases to compare with in your head.
Commoncog publishes cases the same way experts think, so you learn the way they do. (Read about the Calibration Case Method, and why it works.)
We make it easier to see more cases, faster. We do the research for you. We publish a case or two a week. You get all the benefits of an expansive reading program, for a fraction of the time costs.
Frameworks that Work
We test ideas so you don’t have to.
Business writing can be full of fluff. Not every framework is worth testing.
The rule at Commoncog is this: every idea must be tested against reality, and presented according to a hierarchy of practical evidence.
We are not interested in frameworks for the sake of frameworks. We are interested in outcomes. As a result, we do not publish many of these ideas. But when we do, it tends to come from business experimentation — either from our own businesses, or from selective consulting.
A Community of Serious Businesspeople
Shared sensemaking and live events, with other business nerds.
A Commoncog membership attracts those who are serious about the game of business. We care about competence. We don’t like bullshit. These are your people.
Got a question about a business problem? Want a recommendation for a service provider? Want the community to sensemake around a new technology?
Whatever challenge you face, you’ll have access to an exclusive, members-only forum, curated and moderated like the value investing forums of old.
“Commoncog has basically replaced any reason for me to do an MBA-type Masters program.” - Botong C, Lead Learning Designer
Sign Up for a Commoncog Membership:
USD $250 a year ($20.83 a month) Subscribe Yearly
Many members get their companies to pay for their Commoncog membership. To make it easier for you, here’s a sample email you can send to HR to get it comped.
Members Say
“Pro tip: if you have a Corp role in Big Tech, a premium subscription in @commoncog will teach you more than any generic business strategy executive education course.” - Vassilis Tziokas, Microsoft
“Your prolific and thought provoking writing has had a major influence on the way I think about business and career. The series on product and design taste really clicked with me, and made me realize that moving back into a product focused role was the best way for me to get the deep satisfaction of solving incredibly difficult problems with novel, elegant solutions.” - Jonathan Horowitz, The Home Depot
“I continue to find Commoncog among the most on point and relevant business material I've come across in my career. I think it's the combination of Cedric's curiosity and rigor that leads him to frame both the conventional and unconventional conclusions and hypotheses he offers in such a clear fashion (at least to my brain and sensibilities).” - Josh Rosen, Bengal Capital
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Commoncog a replacement for an MBA program, or on-the-job learning?
A: No. An MBA program is a different bundle: it forces you to attend class, and gives you a network. And as for on-the-job learning: nothing replaces learning from doing.
A Commoncog membership is what you buy as supplement while you’re operating (or investing), or if you want the continued rigour of a business education after your MBA ends.
It’s a secret weapon: an extra edge that your peers aren’t getting.
Q: Do you offer discounts or purchasing power parity?
A: No, we do not offer discounts of any type. However, many members get their Commoncog membership expensed by the company. Here’s a sample template you may use — send it to HR, or to your boss.
Q: Are you able to issue a custom invoice for VAT?
A: Yes, absolutely. After you purchase, email us and we’re happy to issue you a custom invoice.
Q: Do you offer a monthly plan?
A: No, we do not.
Q: Would you mind offering a discounted price for students?
A: Unfortunately, Commoncog is not meant for students. Nearly all of Commoncog’s topics are somewhat advanced; the membership is targeted towards those with a few years of business experience. If you’re not sure if Commoncog is for you, browse the site as a non-member — there’s still plenty of free content available!
Ready to start?