Who You Gonna Call?
Some jingles stay with us forever. One that has been coming to mind lately for me is “Who You Gonna Call?”
Today, running a company can feel as scary as the specter-strewn buildings and streets of Manhattan in Ghostbusters.
CEO tenures are shrinking.
71% of CEOs feel imposter syndrome.
AI is eating the world and making the future very hard to predict.
And failed CEOs are pushed to the side for “more time with family.”
Who are YOU gonna call?
If you’re struggling with an issue in your role as CEO, who can you dial?
Consultants are expensive. They have a mercenary feel a lot of the time. They aren’t embedded in your company. It’s easy to end up after a yearlong seven-figure engagement feeling set back even further than you started.
CEO coaches can be great. Truly. I recommend CEOs be in a coaching relationship. But the coach is best for holding the CEO accountable to specific development goals, building concrete leadership skills. If you’re spiraling and the company needs help now, a CEO coach isn’t going to do much. (It’s like picking up flossing when your teeth are already falling out.)
Peer groups — again, a great practice, but not the kind of intervention that’s going to help you, in your specific business context, make fast corrective moves. The time dedicated to you is split, and it’s hard to be fully candid in these settings.
The CEO’s go-to call
Years ago, around the time I became chairman of the Austin Technology Council, we did a study on what Austin needed to become a bonafide tech hub.
We found two answers:
More venture capital
More CEOs who knew how to lead a company once it got that capital
On point 1, mission accomplished - subscribe to Texas CEO Magazine to get our Weekly Deals newsletter if you need evidence.
On point 2, we still have work to do.
And it’s not just an Austin thing. Most CEOs across the US are operating with zero training on their role and a smattering of support figures who, while well-intentioned, aren’t delivering results.
I have spent the past chunk of my career focused on training CEOs on a systematic methodology for their role.
Which brings me to my point: If you’re a CEO who wants the highest chance possible of success amid a volatile world, who are you gonna call?
Me, I hope. I mean that sincerely.
My email and calendar link are below.
I’m very proud to have built a system and team that is helping hundreds of CEOs feel more confident - like they have usable tools in their hands to succeed as CEO.
If you’re feeling haunted, give me a call. I am happy to spend some time just hearing about your current issues and goals.
Revenue goal feeling impossible?
Big executive hire not working out?
Feeling like you’re spinning the captain’s wheel and the ship’s still headed for the iceberg?
My career is currently focused on helping CEOs plagued by issues like these.
The next question is when are you gonna call? Why not now?
