Friday Field Notes: 5/23/2025
Happy Friday, folks.
Congratulations, you’ve made it another week.
I don’t say that lightly. Sometimes, we hit these weeks from Hell and it feels impossible to gain any traction.
I’ve got a few clients going through that right now, with the perfect storm of disaster forcing them to reevaluate immediate priorities so they stay afloat.
It’s not fun. And there’s no perfect solution.
Sometimes a key team member quits…the day after you let someone else go. Now you refilled your plate.
And trying to run a company, while driving new business, while delivering client work is HARD.
That’s not an acronym I’m about to share. It’s just the truth. So it deserves caps lock.
Regardless of what your current situation looks like, just remember the phrase, “This, too, shall pass.”
Stay focused on your goals.
You may need to set them aside for a moment, but that’s only to ensure the house doesn’t burn down while you’re building the next floor.
Find people ready and willing to help.
Ask a friend or family member you can confide in to relieve some tension.
If jumping on a call just to vent would help, shoot me a note and let’s get something on the books.
Regardless, don’t quit.
There are lessons and opportunities in the present that’ll pave the way for your future successes.
Get after it and be good to yourself.
Lessons Learned This Week:
1. Real innovations frequently emerge from removing features rather than adding them.
We often think innovation means stacking on more: more features, more complexity, more flash. But the most powerful breakthroughs tend to come from subtraction.
The book, Subtract, by Leidy Klotz is worth a read.
Stripping away the non-essential sharpens the value. It’s not minimalism for the sake of aesthetics. It’s clarity, speed, and usefulness. Think fewer clicks, less friction, tighter focus.
2. Incredibly valuable feedback comes from prospects who chose your competitors.
It stings, sure. But when someone goes elsewhere, they often leave behind gold.
Their reasons tell you what they really value, where your positioning slipped, or what didn’t land. These aren’t just lost deals. They’re intel drops.
Don’t just ask why they chose someone else. Ask what they wish you had done differently. That's where the leverage hides.
3. Things can be easy AND worth it.
We’re conditioned to believe that effort is a prerequisite for value. If it feels simple, we assume we’re missing something. But ease doesn’t equal laziness.
Sometimes the most effective paths are the ones that flow. If something works and it feels light, that’s not a red flag. It’s a green light. Don’t add grind just to feel like you earned it.
Quote That Slaps:
“He who is absent is always wrong.” - Proverbs
This quote is a brutal little truth about decision-making dynamics.
When you’re not in the room, whether it’s a meeting, a conversation, or a pitch, you lose the chance to represent yourself, your ideas, or your intentions. People fill in the blanks without you, and those blanks rarely work in your favor.
Presence isn’t just visibility. It’s influence.
Content Roll Up:
Have a great weekend!
Comment and share any of your learnings this week!
