LKS July Digest: Calm amid chaos
Lynne King Smith
CEO | Entrepreneur | Commercial Real Estate | Restaurant & Bar | Board Member & Community Advocate
Welcome to the July Issue of the LKS (listen, keep, share) Digest
For the last five years of owning my company, we regularly met with a business coach at a Tucson resort. Secluded in a suite, we'd order in food and dive in.
In that room, we dreamed, fretted, and strategized, often ending with a few drinks to reflect.
More often than not, we came in hot with industry stats, trends, and reasons why our organic growth wouldn't suffice. We wanted action, mergers, acquisitions.
Yet time after time, after many rounds, we received the same advice: Keep doing what you’re doing. It's working. You own 90% of the company. Your ARR is growing. Client retention is high. The culture thrives. Essentially, don't f___ it up.
So we didn't. And he was right. Our exit was successful, the books were clean, and the cap table simple.
As leaders and entrepreneurs, distractions abound.
Today, there’s plenty of noise — an uncertain economy, elections, and a pervasive sense of instability.
What do good leaders do amid the chaos? Three things:
1. Turn off the noise: One of my favorite tech podcasts has become saturated with election coverage, losing its informative edge. Recognizing this, I’m taking a break.
James Clear asks: “There are two ways to grow: by adding or by shedding. Do you need to add something or do you need to shed something?”?
(Members and subscribers – see exclusive content from James Clear at the end of this issue.)
LISTEN w/ Simon Sinek [45 min]: Courage isn’t about bravado; it’s about staying calm.
Learn from Li Karlsen, a world-renowned freediver who holds records for diving hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Discover how her lessons in calmness transcend from the depths of the ocean to leadership above water. ?? Listen to the full conversation with Sinek on your preferred podcast platform.
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2. Take in the data: Smart leaders filter out the noise and focus on data. They deal in reality and use data-driven insights to make decisions.
KEEP: “It’s not swimming, but it’s not drowning.” That’s the headline for the just released Q2 CEO Confidence Index. Get full analysis, summary and data here: Q2 CEO Confidence Index
LISTEN | WATCH [1 hour]: Get an inside look at the macro environment and the trends important to executives in 2025 and into 2026 from economists. REGISTER HERE to join live or watch the recording:? July 26 webinar | 2025-2026: Years of change with ITR Economics - My Vistage Research Center
3. Stay the course: We’re business leaders, not politicians or economists. Consistency isn’t always thrilling, but it distinguishes great companies from good ones.
This month, our CEO and executive meetings highlighted a critical decision and a mid-year strategy adjustment for a strong finish.?
KEEP: How’s your 2024 strategy going at the mid-way point? Download this guide to help identify gaps in your game: Vistage Strategic Planning Guide
SHARE [9 min]: What is strategy? It’s simpler than you think. Watch and share this 9-min video from Harvard Business Review with your leadership team: Watch Video
Who champions your initiatives and do they have the tools they need to succeed??
Our Vistage Leadership Development Programs for Key Executives (direct reports) and Advancing Leaders (operational leaders) accelerate your team’s support and execution.
Take action: Book a 30-min call with me to evaluate your team and find out which programs are best for you.?
Think Vistage isn’t feasible due to time or budget constraints? Time to rethink. A member shared how, after joining two years ago, he gained more time, increased profits, and greater freedom. His secret? Investing in Vistage not only enhanced his leadership team's decision-making but also grew his business by 80% annually. This isn't just about spending resources on Vistage; it's about multiplying them. If he can defy the odds, so can you.
Let's challenge the notion that time and money constraints are barriers. They were for him, until they weren't.
If you run a business from $5M-$250M let’s talk. Book a 15-min intro call here: lynnekingsmith.com