Some questions hit like a spotlight. One simple ask can snap values into focus and set a new path. A year ago, a friend’s offhand question did exactly that for me. The lesson is simple: freedom, love, and the right people beat a bigger check every time. That choice has fueled real growth, kept our independence intact, and deepened my gratitude.
The Question That Clarified Everything
We were at a gathering of business owners when Matt Holtzquist pulled me aside and asked if I would ever leave BGW. The gut response was instant and clear.
“Nope. Why? Because I’m free to be who I am. I work with people I love, serve people I love, in the city I love. No amount of money would be worth leaving that.”
That answer wasn’t about comfort. It was about identity. It was a stake in the ground: freedom over money. Work with people you love, serve people you love, where you love. That’s a life worth building.
Why Freedom Beats a Bigger Check
After leading four companies, completing a turnaround at 28, and spending years coaching CEOs, I’ve seen what happens when leaders chase the dollar and sacrifice the soul. The culture decays. Clients feel it. Teams drift. Growth becomes empty.
Contrast that with owning your values. When you choose freedom—who you serve, how you serve, and with whom—you create energy. Energy attracts the right clients. It builds momentum. It sets a standard for decisions large and small.
Values are strategy. They are not slogans. They filter who you hire, who you partner with, and what you turn down. That clarity keeps you independent in the ways that matter most, even as you grow.
The Right Introduction Can Change the Game
Matt didn’t stop with the question. He said his good friend was doing bold work in our industry and thought we should talk. That friend was David Wurzbacher. We connected, traded notes, and realized we shared the same heartbeat: serve well, stay independent, grow smarter.
Last summer, we joined forces with David. The move did not sell our identity. It strengthened it. We protected what mattered—our independence—while gaining new ways to serve businesses better. It is rare to find a partnership that honors freedom and accelerates growth. This one did. And it has been a blast.
“That random introduction led us to join forces with his friend, David Wurzbacher last summer, which allowed us to remain independent and ascend together as we serve businesses.”
What This Means for Leaders
Gratitude and clarity are not soft skills. They are levers. They cut noise, align teams, and drive results. They also reveal who your real allies are. Real allies ask strong questions and make thoughtful introductions.
- Protect your freedom. If a deal requires you to become someone you are not, it is the wrong deal.
- Pick people over price. Working with people you love produces better client outcomes and healthier teams.
- Say your values out loud. When you do, the right partners can find you.
- Honor connectors. A single introduction can shape the next decade.
- Use questions as tools. The right question can do more than a 40-page plan.
This is not a call to ignore money. It is a call to put money in its proper place. The counterargument says, “Take the check, fix the culture later.” That rarely works. Culture set aside is culture lost. You cannot bolt values back on after the fact.
Gratitude Builds Momentum
Here’s what I know as a connector, confidant to CEOs, and co-host of the Anything But Typical podcast: gratitude compounds. It changes how you lead and how you are led. It sharpens judgment. It draws out courage. It also keeps success from making you small.
I’m grateful for Matt Holtzquist. For a timely question. For a key introduction to David Wurzbacher. For a path that let us stay independent and scale impact. We’re just getting started.
Choose Freedom, Thank Your Connectors
Leaders, take stock. Name what you will not trade. Write it. Share it with your team. Ask one brave question this week that clarifies your path. Then thank the people who make you better, especially the quiet connectors who open doors.
Freedom is a decision you make before the offer comes. Make it now. Grow on your terms. And if someone asks what you’re grateful for, have an answer ready.
