What if your biggest strength is also what’s holding you back? Visionary thinking, relentless execution, and risk tolerance push us to build what others won’t. But when left unchecked, they can become obstacles that slow us down.
I’ve learned that over-relying on strengths can backfire. As founders, we don’t just need people who share our vision — we need people who challenge us, fill in our gaps, and help keep the business balanced. That starts with clarity. A strong, compelling vision pulls in the right talent, aligns teams, and ensures the business scales without relying on one person’s strengths or weaknesses.
Awareness is one thing. Doing something about it is what matters. Are you building a team that challenges you, or are you surrounding yourself with people who don’t push you to grow?
PERSPECTIVES
“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.”— Sundar Pichai
“People are not your most important asset. The right people are.” ― Jim Collins
MARK MY WORDS
Every founder I’ve met has a handful of strengths that have propelled them forward. But those same strengths, when unchecked, can also hold them back.
Visionaries can get stuck in ideas and struggle to execute. Drivers can push too hard and burn out their teams. Risk-takers can ignore critical details and create unnecessary chaos. The goal isn’t to suppress these traits but to balance them by surrounding ourselves with people who are comfortable challenging our thinking.
Clarity of vision makes this possible. A strong vision attracts the right people, aligns decision-making, and ensures no single strength — or its downside — determines the company’s future.
Are you actively building a team that sharpens your vision and challenges your thinking, or are you stuck in your own way? Don’t let your strengths be the biggest obstacle to your own success.
GOT A MINUTE?
Your Relationships Matter As I grew as a founder, I realized the people who helped early on didn’t always understand the challenges I faced. But that didn’t mean going it alone. It meant finding the right people for each stage.
Having someone you can talk to is essential. Watch this clip from the Founder’s Framework podcast on why the right relationships matter, and join the conversation on LinkedIn.
When our team rolls out new updates, I’m intentional about making sure we’re not adding features just to add them. Every change is designed to remove friction, increase alignment, and help leadership teams focus on what truly matters — growing the company.
Here's what's new:
Knowledge Portal
KPI Manager
Microsoft To Do and Calendar Integrations
These aren’t just incremental updates. They’re part of my commitment to making Ninety the most holistic and fully integrated system for the core concepts, tools, and disciplines leaders need to build great companies.
I’d love to hear how the new features are working for you — reply to this email and let me know.
.png?upscale=true&width=1052&upscale=true&name=Newsletter_3.23_CTA%20(1).png)
