STOP ADVISING, START COACHING

If you’re like me, you don’t love being told what to do. It’s not rebellion. It’s ownership. I prefer to learn, adapt, and move forward on my own terms.

That same wiring shows up for many of us founders when we lead. We jump in with advice. We mean well, but often, it lands flat or gets ignored.

Advice (especially the unsolicited kind) tends to oversimplify and misfire. It skips context. It assumes the person you’re helping is just like you — same stage, same mindset, same values. But that’s rarely the case. Even solicited advice has blind spots because, most of the time, the person giving it doesn’t have the context to understand your unique situation or fully understand the lesson you’re working through.

That’s where coaching changes everything. Coaching respects the uniqueness of the individual. It starts with curiosity, not control. It’s a partnership, not a prescription.

Read more in Advice Isn’t the Same as Coaching (And That Difference Matters).

As founders, one of the most powerful upgrades we can make is shifting from advising to coaching. Embracing this shift means letting go of the need to provide all the answers and instead creating the space for others to find their own.

PERSPECTIVES

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.” 
— John Wooden

“Most people need love and acceptance a lot more than they need advice.”

— Bob Goff​

MARK MY WORDS

I’ve been on both sides of the advice table. Giving it, getting it, and realizing after the fact that neither side really moved the needle. So what has made a difference? Coaching. The kind that starts with listening. The kind that respects someone’s context, wiring, and journey.

Most people who have spent time with me know I say this often, and I believe it deeply: We are exactly where we’re supposed to be, learning the lessons we need to learn.

That belief has changed the way I lead. It reminds me to meet people where they are and to coach instead of advise. It’s one of the hardest leadership shifts to make, and it’s a shift I’m still working on every day.

GOT A MINUTE?

Your investors aren’t just writing checks. They’re joining your journey. In this clip, I explore why raising capital is less about runway and more about relationships. It’s a reminder to think beyond the pitch and ask: Is this someone I trust to be in the trenches with me when it gets hard?

[Watch Now]

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:

The Answer Is Almost Always Both

Founders are often told to choose between sprinting and pacing themselves. But what if the real skill is knowing how to do both? In this article, I share why intensity without consistency leads to burnout and how building systems that sustain momentum is the key to lasting impact.

[Read Now]

INSIDE NINETY

I believe running a great company shouldn’t feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve reimagined Ninety to make alignment and execution easier at every stage.

• New tiered plans that meet you where you are
• Maz, your AI assistant, now in beta 
• Powerful Insights reporting
• A new mobile app built for teams on the move
• 30% off when your whole team joins

This next version of Ninety was built to support your journey and help you build something that lasts.

[Explore What's New]