Noah’s Tuesday Tidbit: The High Cost of Not Showing Up

A few years ago, I flew to Austin, Texas to meet a CEO about a potential project.

We had a few calls and talked about his company’s challenges. I knew I could help. So I put my money where my mouth was.

Booked the flight, covered the hotel, and spent about $2,000 to be there. All on my own dime.
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That morning, as I'm getting dressed in the hotel, his assistant called.

“He’s not available anymore.”

No reschedule. No explanation. Just unavailable.

He ghosted me.

I tried calling his cell and it went straight to voicemail. No reply. Complete disrespect.
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The one upside?

It meant I could catch an earlier flight to Red Bay, Alabama, where I met with another CEO...one who actually showed up.
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We sat down, talked business, and over the best sweet potato pie and barbecue I’d had in a long time, we built a real connection.

Fast forward to today....I just read a LinkedIn post from that CEO about ‘adjusting to market challenges’ and ‘navigating uncertainty.’

And I thought back to our encounter years ago, how many opportunities did he miss just by not showing up?

A few weeks ago, I told the story of a sales rep who visited his top client—only to find his biggest competitor already sitting there, doing what he thought was his job.
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He assumed the relationship was solid. He assumed the business was locked in. But the competitor? They showed up.

Business isn’t lost to better products. It’s lost to the people who actually show up, or keep their promises.
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​Your Challenge This Week

Where are you assuming things are fine instead of ensuring they are?

A competitor is knocking on your client’s door right now. Are you inside, or are you waiting for an invitation?

Where Are the Leaks in Your Business?

Most companies don’t lose deals because of a better competitor. They lose them because of:

• Missed follow-ups

• Internal breakdowns

• Blind spots they never saw coming

One of the services I offer is the Full Focus Navigator—a one-day intensive designed to cut through the noise and find what’s really holding your business back.

Maybe growth feels harder than it should. Maybe the team isn’t firing on all cylinders. Maybe you know there’s money being left on the table, but you can’t quite put your finger on where.

Here’s how it works:

• Pre-Work: Before we even meet, I’ll have you and your leadership team complete a targeted assessment. This surfaces the biggest frustrations and blind spots before we even start.

• One-Day Deep Dive: I get inside your business—talking to key people, reviewing processes, and identifying the breakdowns that are slowing you down.

• Action Plan: At the end, you get a clear, prioritized roadmap that tells you exactly what to fix first to stop the leaks and regain momentum.

Most companies don’t need another consultant—they need answers. The Full Focus Navigator gives them clarity and a plan.

If you’re feeling stuck, let’s fix it. Reply here or book a quick strategy call.

Best,
Noah
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P.S. I flew across the country to help a CEO who didn’t show up. His company is struggling now. If you bring me in, you can bet I’ll show up—and I’ll make sure your team does too.