The Best Things I Did for My Business Were the Things I Didn’t Do
Lessons to carry into the new year
The start of a new year has a way of inviting reflection. We look back at what worked, what didn’t, and what we might do differently as we move forward. For business owners (especially those who have built something from the ground up), this reflection often extends beyond strategy and numbers. It reaches into leadership, trust, and the hard work of letting go.
A few years ago, I remember feeling as if I wasn’t showing up as the kind of leader or business partner I wanted to be. As I reflected on our many meetings throughout the year, I realized that too often I was making withdrawals instead of deposits. Sometimes, while I was simply being updated on the business, I would interrupt with opinions or direction. Other times, I was genuinely asked for my thoughts or opinions, but the distinction wasn’t always clear to them or to me.
So I asked for help from my business partner and our Director of Operations.
I asked that, for a period of time, we clearly distinguish between meetings that were meant as updates and those where the team truly wanted my input and perspective. This wasn’t about disengaging, but about recalibrating. They graciously agreed.
As the year came to a close, I found myself reflecting on what I’m most proud of, not just in terms of growth or progress, but in how I showed up as a partner.
And the answer surprised me.
The best things I did for Note Advisors last year were the emails I didn’t send and the phone calls I didn’t make. Messages that, in years past, I would have fired off almost reflexively. Pausing instead created space for others to lead, for trust to deepen, and for the business to operate without my constant hand on the wheel.
For many business owners, this is one of the hardest transitions: moving from being the driver of every decision to becoming a true partner. Letting go doesn’t mean caring less. It means caring differently.
As we begin a new year, I’m reminded that leadership isn’t always about action. Sometimes, it’s about restraint. And often, the greatest progress comes from learning when to step back.
That lesson, for me, has been one of the most meaningful rewards of all.
Tom is a person who likes to see good things happen for others. It’s why his life’s work has focused on serving those who are building good things for themselves and others. This mostly looks like advising business owners, their family members, and their key employees in attaining success by aligning their personal and professional visions. He’s been doing this for nearly four decades and has watched as his clients’ financial situations have evolved, gaining insights that only experience can provide. Tom applies his mix of financial know-how and business acumen to guide clients toward better financial outcomes, avoiding the common traps that thwart even the most well-intentioned business owners.