I’ll be honest, most people who know me would never describe me as quiet. At home, I can be loud on the phone, pacing around, talking through ideas, and yes, it drives my wife a little crazy. But recently, I’ve been discovering the benefits of something I didn’t think I’d ever embrace fully: quiet. 

One of the best parts of my job has always been getting out of the office and spending time with clients.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that the best leaders don’t wait until the last minute to plan for the future. Whether you’re running a team of five or five hundred, the earlier you start planning and budgeting, the stronger your results will be, not just for you, but for everyone who counts on you. 

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned as a leader is that perspective is everything. You can sit in meetings, read reports, and talk strategy all day long, but if you’re only seeing the world from your desk, your view will always be limited.

Recently, I embarked on a journey that’s been years in the making, one that’s focused on something I care deeply about: shaping the next generation of leaders. 

There’s this old-school idea in business that companies are structured like pyramids. You know the one, interns and entry-level employees at the bottom, middle managers in the middle and the CEO sitting right at the top. It’s tidy. It’s linear. And honestly? It’s outdated. 

Let’s be honest, conflict at work is inevitable. You put a bunch of people with different backgrounds, personalities, and habits in one place. Sparks are bound to fly now and then. But I’ve learned that the conflict itself isn’t the real issue. The real challenge is how you respond to it. 

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career. Some small, some expensive, some that still make me cringe a little when I think about them. But here’s the thing, I’ve learned way more from those missteps than I ever did when things were smooth sailing. And now, I get to share those lessons with companies and teams across the country. 

I’m going to say something that might make you pause; Working hard isn’t always enough. You can be the smartest person in the room, grinding behind the scenes and still get passed over for opportunities.

Most people work to live; they don’t live to work. That simple idea shapes how I lead. Because if you’re not thinking about the human side of your team, you’re missing the whole point of leadership.

There’s one moment in my career that I can say, without hesitation, completely changed my trajectory.

There was a moment, years ago, that I’ll never forget. My team sat me down and said, “Mark, you’re the problem.” 

Oof. Not exactly what you hope to hear as a leader.