October 17, 2025
In his early years as a wealth advisor, Mark did what most entrepreneurs do when things got busy.
He chased everything. Every prospect. Every product idea. Every market that looked like it might hold opportunity. His weeks were filled with motion, but momentum never showed up.
Mark thought strategy meant one thing: sell more. But the harder he pushed, the more scattered he felt. His revenue grew, but so did his stress. And when clients asked him what made his firm different, his answers sounded like everyone else’s.
The turning point came when I asked him a question that cut through the noise: “If strategy is music, what notes are you playing?” That metaphor reframed everything.
Like music, business isn’t noise. It’s deliberate notes played in harmony. Mark realized there are five notes every business owner must choose with intention:
Mark went back to his practice and got ruthless.
He defined his vision: To be the top advisor for business owners in his city.
He narrowed his scope: no more chasing every demographic.
He sharpened his value: “We help entrepreneurs build wealth outside their business.” He invested in capabilities: client reporting tools and a stronger support team.
And he tied it all together with a simple dashboard he checked weekly.
The result? Mark didn’t just grow. He grew with focus. His team felt aligned. Clients knew exactly why they chose him. And he finally had a strategy that played like music instead of noise.
Strategy isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing well.
If your business feels scattered, ask yourself: Which note is sharp, and which one needs tuning?
Want help finding your notes? Pick up my book Strategy to Action: Run Your Business Without It Running You.
And if you’d rather talk it through, reach out. I’d be glad to explore how you can make strategy a lived practice, not just a yearly escape.
In all that we do, let us seek wisdom, discipline, courage & justice.
Be well,
Keita
