Wisdom From Wizards with Nitin Kartik

We recently collaborated with Kristina Gent, CEO at SIX°. Here we discuss why stepping fully offline can beat attending 10 back-to-back conferences. Kristina chooses offline time without hesitation. For CEOs thinking about writing a book, there is a valuable lesson here: Your strongest ideas rarely appear when your calendar is packed, your inbox is screaming, and your brain is running on hotel cof...

We recently collaborated with Shana Cosgrove, CEO at Nyla Technology Solutions. Here we discuss why owning mistakes publicly can build more trust than fixing them quietly. Shana shares how her team accidentally sends a recruiting email to partner companies, including program managers and CEOs. Not ideal. But instead of hiding behind silence, she addressed it publicly on LinkedIn, apologized, expla...

We recently collaborated with Scott Arias, Founder at ACE Consulting. Here we discuss why a killer customer referral program can beat a Super Bowl ad. Scott points out that while a Super Bowl ad can create huge visibility, a customer referral carries something far more valuable: trust. For CEOs thinking about writing a book, the lesson is powerful. A book is not just a visibility tool. It can beco...

We recently collaborated with Ed Macha, CEO at Reliable Controls. Here we discuss why sustainable growth beats rushed expansion when quality, safety, and reputation are on the line. Ed shares a powerful reminder for CEOs thinking about writing a book: Your reputation is not built by how fast you move. It is built by what you are willing to protect. The same applies to thought leadership. A CEO boo...

We recently collaborated with Dave Hansen, CEO at ClientTether. Here we discuss why compassionate leadership often requires more strength than courage. Dave explains that compassion means understanding someone’s world, their experiences, their struggles, and then offering support as they move through them. For CEOs thinking about writing a book, this is a powerful reminder that your best stories m...

We recently collaborated with Barri Blauvelt, CEO at Innovara. Here we discuss whether it is better to own the U.S. market or be the underdog globally. Barri shares how for Innovara, the answer is not theoretical. The company is already number one in several other countries, while the U.S. still represents a massive growth opportunity. That is a powerful reminder for CEOs writing a book. Your bigg...

We recently collaborated with AJ Patel, CEO at TeleMed2U. Here we discuss whether it’s better to build something widely used but not recognized, or famous but not dominant. AJ chooses impact over recognition. He focuses on reach, not reputation. CEOs face this reach vs. reputation dilemma all too often. A bestselling book shifts that dynamic. It builds trust before the first call, answers objectio...

We recently collaborated with Eric Pratt, CEO at Instrumental. Here we discuss how structured back-to-back strategy sessions can outperform full-day offsites when it comes to respecting time and driving outcomes. That idea applies beyond meetings. It is about clarity, structure, and making it easier for others to choose you. This is exactly where a bestselling book comes in. When your thinking is...

We recently collaborated with Rich Sheridan, CEO at Menlo Innovations. Here we discuss why long-term ROI beats speed when it comes to delivering real value. Rich makes the point that getting there fast is not the same as getting there right. Sustainable value wins. That same principle applies to how CEOs position themselves. A bestselling book is not a quick win tactic. It is a long-term asset tha...

We recently collaborated with Jennifer Schielke, CEO at Summit Group Solutions. Here we discuss fast-paced leadership and embracing failure as a path to learning and growth. Jennifer shares why moving fast, even when things break, creates momentum, excitement, and faster recovery. It is a mindset that values progress over perfection. And progress over perfection is exactly the right mindset top CE...

We recently collaborated with Eric Chang, CEO at Claira. Here we discuss whether to prioritize narrative or numbers in building a company. Eric shares how numbers reflect reality and can be fixed. Narrative defines who you are, the future you create, and the people you attract. Get the narrative right and the numbers follow. Getting the narrative right is a key reason why writing a bestselling boo...

We recently collaborated with Drew Sechrist, CEO at Connect the Dots. Here we discuss whether to build something simple that scales or complex that dominates. Drew shares how externally, everything must feel simple, even if what powers it is deeply complex. That same principle applies to how CEOs position themselves. A bestselling book does exactly that. It distills complex thinking into something...

We recently collaborated with Bonnie Hagemann, CEO at EDA. Here we discuss whether leaders should invest in storytelling or sales enablement and why storytelling often wins. Bonnie shares how storytelling is not separate from sales, it is the vehicle that makes ideas land. Whether coaching teams or closing deals, stories connect, persuade, and stick in ways features and facts alone cannot. And sto...

We recently collaborated with Andrew Devlin, CEO at PitchHub. Here we discuss whether to perfect your core product or expand your suite and why. Andrew shares a clear take. Go deep first. Build an exceptional core experience. Then expand. When the foundation is strong, everything else grows more naturally. This is exactly how category leaders think. Focus creates clarity. Clarity creates authority...

We recently collaborated with Mark Michael, CEO at DevHub. Here we discuss whether leaders should prioritize mission or profit potential when building a team. Mark shares a nuanced take of how mission matters when it is big and clear. But for many companies, especially smaller ones, profit potential is what motivates teams day to day. The best leaders know when to lean into each. And leaning into...

We recently collaborated with Ari Tulla, CEO at Elo Health. Here we discuss whether to localize your product for every region or unify under a global standard and why. Ari shares how most companies overcomplicate expansion. Instead of fragmenting across markets, he emphasizes dominating one large market like the US first. Standardization creates scale, while premature localization creates drag. He...

We recently collaborated with Milind Katti, CEO at DemandFarm. Here we discuss whether CEOs should personally interview senior hires or trust their teams, and why culture alignment often matters more than pure competency. Milind shares how leaders closest to the vision must shape the cultural backbone of the company. That responsibility cannot be fully delegated. Shaping the cultural backbone inte...

We recently collaborated with Jason Pearsall, Founder at Club Caddie. Here we discuss whether CEOs should prioritize explosive growth with high churn or slower growth with strong retention. Jason makes clear that high churn is just loud failure. Retention is the real growth engine because it compounds credibility, lowers acquisition costs, and builds something sustainable. And building something s...

We recently collaborated with Adam Saghei, CEO at We Recycle Solar. Here we discuss whether to rebuild after failure or reinvent before success fades, and how learning from failure shapes future growth. Adam shares how failure is not the end. It is feedback. The leaders who win are the ones who extract lessons and use them to evolve before the next opportunity. This is exactly why writing a bestse...

We recently collaborated with Irad Eichler, CEO at Circles. Here we discuss whether culture should be defined by rituals or results and why rituals often win in early-stage environments. Irad highlights how when data is limited, rituals create consistency, direction, and momentum. The same applies to thought leadership. A bestselling book gives you a consistent narrative that shows up everywhere y...

We recently collaborated with Austin Burns, CEO at Burns Pest Elimination. Here we discuss scaling through personal brand vs paid acquisition and why personal brand wins for building a unique, culture-driven business. Austin highlights how your personal brand is not just marketing. It is what makes your company feel human, differentiated, and worth choosing. This is where a bestselling book become...

We recently collaborated with Steve Benson, CEO at Badger Maps. Here we discuss how to invest in training for maximum impact across teams. Steve shares a powerful insight. Instead of spreading effort thin with org-wide training, focus on team-specific development where impact compounds. The same principle applies to thought leadership. When you write a bestselling book, you do not just attract cus...

We recently collaborated with Ron Salazar, CEO at MR2 Solutions. Here we discuss leading a movement vs leading an organization. Ron makes a powerful point: leading a movement is about purpose. It aligns people around a shared mission that goes beyond structure, hierarchy, or titles. That is what creates meaning and momentum. For CEOs considering writing a book, this connects directly to one of the...

We recently collaborated with John Cecilian, CEO at Cecilian Partners. Here we discuss whether it’s better to win by being faster or smarter. John makes a powerful point. Speed without strategy burns teams and erodes trust. Smarter sequencing, grounded in real customer problems, builds something that lasts. He shares how thoughtful execution beats rushed momentum when the goal is long-term impact....

We recently collaborated with Paul Powers, CEO at Physna. Here we discuss whether to build a monolithic product or a suite of modular tools. Paul chooses modular. Why? Because the future is composable. Users want flexibility, not rigidity. They want to build their own workflows, not inherit someone else’s. Modular systems evolve with the customer. Monoliths struggle to keep up. That same idea appl...