Step Back From the Work. But Don’t Lose Sight of It.
Why the founders who stay close to the work will build better firms than the ones who don’t
Pro Serv Blogs
The Negative Impacts of Not Investing in the People-Process-Systems Trifecta
Most business owners invest in the things they can see: sales, marketing, technology, and growth initiatives. Meanwhile, the people side of the business often gets the “we’ll deal with it later” treatment.
What Matters Most Has a Way of Getting Your Attention
As founders, we spend a lot of time thinking about the future.
The next client. The next hire. The next growth milestone. The next chapter.
We are builders by nature. We are wired to look ahead, solve problems, pursue opportunities, and create something meaningful from nothing. It is one of the things I love most about entrepreneurship and one of the reasons many of us chose this path in the first place.
The Fireflies and the Floodlights
We moved to the mountains a couple of years ago, and we’re still new enough that we chase things the locals stopped chasing decades ago. So when we heard that the synchronous fireflies in the Smoky Mountains put on a show for a week or two each year — in only a handful of places in the whole country — we went looking.
AI-Enhanced Clients vs. AI-Native Professional Services Firms
Why AI Sees Answers and Experts See Consequences. Artificial intelligence is transforming professional services faster than any technology in recent memory.
The Big Firms Have the Budget. You Have the Thing That Actually Matters Now.
Early in my career, I spent a lot of time in rooms with Fortune 500 executives during the digital transformation era. Big data was going to change everything, and every company had a strategy, a budget, and a deck to prove it. What I remember most is the lament, and it was never about money.
The AI Standards Are Here. Build Your Future on the Right Foundation.
Picture this. You’re about to sign for a new AI tool. The demo was slick. The salesperson swears it’ll transform your firm. Then six months later a better model ships, a sharper competitor launches, and the thing you bought is a dead end. You’re locked in. You’re starting over. Again.
LinkedIn Is Flooded With AI. Here’s Why That’s Good News.
I was recently in Florida for the Make Big Happen summit. About 400 CEOs attended. AI was the theme. When LinkedIn came up, the reaction was consistent. The feed is flooded with AI content. It’s pushing them to disengage. CEOs aren’t the only ones noticing.
Ship It and Fix It
Some of you are trying to make your AI work perfect before anyone sees it. You are polishing in private. You are waiting for the version that cannot be criticized.
If You’re for Everyone, You’re for No One: Sharpening Your Firm’s Focus
Most professional services firms don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they sound exactly like everyone else.