This week is a two-for-one. I’m sharing this week’s edition of Little Leadership Lessons AND the past week’s episode of Good Work.
So below you’ll see:
- A moment of peace in nature
- The leadership lesson of the week
- Commentary from me
- Overview of this week’s podcast
- Summary of takeaways from the show
- Let’s get to it!
A Moment of Peace
It’s easy to see why Patagonia became the inspiration and namesake for the iconic outdoor clothing brand when you see photos like this.
Little Leadership Lesson of the Week
When someone [on your team] says, ‘Just let us do our thing,’ and you take the advice despite your strong intuition that you need to be deeply involved in a thing…
When you let go and when you say ‘I want the ball’… That is the judgment that makes great founders.
Andrew Farah, Founder of Density
How This Applies to Your Work
The judgment call on when to give your team freedom versus when to be deeply, perhaps overbearingly, involved in your business is so difficult.
This is the debate we have when we talk about founders like Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos and how they behave(d) within their businesses. Did they succeed because of or despite their level of obsession with details?
It feels true to me that there is no universally correct answer to how involved you should be in your business. But what is universally true is that you need a perspective — a fully formed opinion — on what things matter enough for you to dive in. And what things your team can handle without your involvement.
The call on where that line falls makes all the difference in how much impact you make and how much your business grows… just like Andrew said on the show.
This Week’s Episode: The Pandemic Put Justin Moore Out of Business; Then He Came Back Stronger Than Ever
My guest on the show this week is Justin Moore, founder of Creator Wizard and author of Sponsor Magnet. In his business, he teaches creators how to make the most of their audiences and build long-term partnerships with brands they love. Brands win by reaching new customers and creators win financially.
Our conversation on the show had little to do with his work helping creators get paid (he’s one of the best in the business). No, instead, we talked about family and failure and what it means to bounce back when we thought we might be down for the count.
Instead of rehashing what his book says (which you should read), we had the conversation he hasn’t had anywhere else: the one about what you do when you have a great business going and a once-in-a-century pandemic comes along and puts you out of business. The one about how you keep going when it’s all been torn down.
I think you’re going to love this one.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
Ask for What You Want—But Be Okay with Any Answer: Many people hesitate to ask for what they truly want, whether in business or personal life. But when they finally muster the courage, they often expect only a “yes” and struggle to accept rejection. Justin emphasizes that making peace with both acceptance and rejection is crucial in business, particularly for creators reaching out to brands.
Build a Business That Supports Your Lifestyle, Not the Other Way Around: After experiencing the pressures of running an agency, Justin intentionally built Creator Wizard as a lifestyle business, not a high-growth, venture-backed company. His goal was to maintain financial stability without sacrificing his personal values or mental health. This decision allowed him to avoid the burnout and misalignment that many entrepreneurs face.
Diversification is Key to Long-Term Stability: Justin started an influencer marketing agency to diversify his family’s income, knowing that relying solely on YouTube might not be sustainable. He saw an opportunity to leverage his brand experience to help creators navigate sponsorships and brand deals. His story highlights the importance of thinking long-term and creating multiple revenue streams.
Failure is Not the End—It’s a Setup for Growth: After his agency faced financial struggles, Justin had to make the tough decision to shut it down rather than run it into the ground. Though this felt like a personal failure, he later realized that this setback paved the way for the success of Creator Wizard. His experience is a great example of how to learn from failures rather than letting them define you.
Focus on the Relationships That Truly Matter: Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, Justin recognized that external opinions don’t matter—only the well-being and support of his wife and family do. Whether he was contemplating shutting down his business or navigating online criticism, he learned that staying aligned with personal values and prioritizing family over public perception leads to greater fulfillment.
To Tune In…
Much love and respect,