First off, kudos to those who recognise the title reference from Marshall Goldsmith’s excellent book. This is a long post, but I promise there’s valuable business insight at the end.
This book holds special meaning for me. It was my promotion gift when I advanced to Executive Director at UBS, the culmination of 10 years of a hard but rewarding journey. The message was clear: the bar had been lifted. To reach the next level of Managing Director I had to adapt, acquire new skills, and deliver at a higher level.
Consolidating or standing still was never an option. In the world of Investment Banking, the performance culture is simple, you’re either moving forward or heading for the exit.
Why share this personal story? Because it’s a strong analogy for business today. In our fast-changing business landscape, if you’re not innovating, building scale, and focusing on long-term strategic goals and execution, you risk being overtaken. Your competitors won’t just steal your good staff, they’ll take your customers, too. Being outcompeted is one of the most common reasons businesses fail.
A frequent issue I encounter in my exploratory calls with entrepreneurs and business owners is what seems like a lack of ambition. I don’t think that’s the real problem, it’s often that they don’t yet have the right skills or strategies to elevate their business to the next level. Self-sabotage often comes into play when people feel they’re unable to break through.
Don’t let mediocrity hold you back. As a founder or business owner, you’re likely already an expert at what you do. You just might need some guidance to move forward. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to explore ways to unlock your business’s full potential.
