Stay in Your Lane—And Accelerate

Why I Don’t Give Financial Advice (and What I Do Instead)

Last week, my sister sent me a video by a sharp investment analyst with the suggestion: “This might give you something to share with your clients.”

I watched the whole thing—but somewhere in the middle, my eyes glazed over. Not because the content wasn’t smart, but because it reminded me just how far outside my “desire zone” that kind of work really is.

It did spark some reflection, though—about where I actually add the most value to the leaders I coach.

This week, I’m in New York. A client of mine—CEO of a community bank in Georgia—invited me to attend the ceremony where he’ll ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. It’s a big moment. His company was recently listed.

I’ve coached him for over three years. I’ve never given him a single piece of financial advice. I’m not invested in his company either, even though I believe in it—because I’d be considered an insider.

So why did he ask me to be there?

Because he knows I helped him stay focused on what mattered most: mindset, clarity, leadership, communication, time, energy, and personal margin. That’s my lane.

In fact, I work with a variety of small business owners, non-profit leaders, and a few community bank CEOs—never with Fortune 500s or bureaucratic machines. After almost four decades in the military and corporate world, I’ve learned: I’m most effective where I can be nimble, present, and practical.

My clients are the experts in their business. I don’t try to be. Instead, I ask the questions that help them find clarity and focus. Then I guide them in applying frameworks that help them eliminate what’s draining them and amplify what makes them thrive.

Here’s what I believe:

You should only do the work that requires your unique contribution.

If you’re not both passionate and proficient in a task, it’s likely outside your “Desire Zone” (as Michael Hyatt puts it). That means it should be eliminated, automated, or delegated.

Too many leaders are spending 80% of their time on things that won’t move the needle. At best, they get incremental improvement—2x gains through hustle. But it burns them out and blocks them from the 10x opportunities.

I coach people to find their top 20%—the work only they can do—and pursue it with focus and intensity. Then we get ruthless about refining it.

What’s in your 20% today may not be there tomorrow. You need to keep pruning.

 If it can’t 10x your impact, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Not everything needs to be done by you. Delegate what doesn’t align with your genius zone. Free yourself to do the work that truly matters.

Case in Point:

I’ve had some surprising wins in investing (like buying Apple stock 20 years ago), but let’s be honest—that was a gut call, not a strategy. I don’t actively manage my portfolio today. I delegate that to someone I trust.

Why? Because financial management is way outside my lane. I don’t enjoy it, and I’m not good at it.

What I am good at is helping leaders like you:

• Clear the noise
• Focus on what drives 10x returns
• Build margin into their lives
• And lead with clarity and conviction

So I stay in that lane. It’s working—for me and for the people I coach.

And if you’re tired of spinning your wheels on the 80%, maybe it’s time to find your lane too—and accelerate.

If this resonated with you, or you want to explore your 10x zone, I’d love to connect. Click here to schedule your complimentary breakthrough hour.