Who’s number one on the desk this month?
Back in my institutional finance days, that question mattered.
The desk head was the lion of the pack—because if he didn’t stay sharp, someone else would take the crown.
But I once watched a guy take that mentality way too far.
A new brokerage launched, run by a CEO who came up from the sales floor.
He didn’t just lead the business—he competed with it.
He’d jump onto different desks, poach their deals, call the clients directly, and close the business himself.
Then he’d keep the commissions and turn around and berate the team for not keeping up.
Sure, he made some big bonuses.
But the cost?
Massive turnover.
Entire desks walked to competitors – taking $10M+ in business with them.
He still built a profitable company…
But he could’ve built a life-changing one.
Why?
Because he chased income, not equity.
And that’s the same mistake a lot of business owners are making right now—without realising it.
If your business can’t survive without you in every meeting, every decision, every deal…
You don’t own a business.
You own a job with overhead and your own personal parking spot.
And you’re one unexpected event away from the whole thing collapsing.
But there’s another way.
There’s a playbook—built on timeless principles, not trend-chasing tactics—
That can help you shift from being the operator to being the owner.
Want access?
Join The Owner’s Club
It’s free—and inside, you’ll get the strategies that help you:
- Step back without losing control
- Build an asset buyers actually want
- Create the freedom you thought you were building from the start
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P.S. I’m not the “systems guy,” “process guy,” or “finance guy.”
I’m the “start living your best life today” guy—where you grow a business that gives you freedom now and lets you exit on your own terms later.
Want to run your business, not let it run you?
Sign up here and start applying actionable advice today.
Ready to break free from the daily grind?
Click here to gain freedom with the Socratic Success System.
Curious about who I am and what I do?
Learn more about me here.