By The Book: Avoiding The Common Pitfalls

(RSVP @ our private FB group)

It’s not the hard problems that kill a business. It’s the easy ones you ignored.

Every business faces challenges, but it’s rarely the complex issues that bring you down—it’s the simple, obvious problems left unchecked. Profit isn’t a dirty word; it’s the foundation you can’t afford to neglect. Yet many leaders shy away from confronting profitability head-on, letting opportunity slip through their fingers.

Is my business coasting on past wins—while small, fixable problems quietly compound into future crises?

Remember, the bottleneck is always at the top. If leadership doesn’t see clearly, act decisively, and hold themselves accountable, the entire business will suffer. Reputation compounds over time—each decision either builds or erodes it. And your edge? That sharp, unique advantage is yours to own, defend, and sharpen relentlessly.

Complacency and comfort are the silent killers. They disguise risk as stability and lull you into dangerous passivity. This chapter is your blueprint to spot the common traps, protect what matters, and keep your business—and yourself—on the cutting edge. Because in business, survival favors the vigilant, not the comfortable.

If you haven’t challenged your assumptions, pressure-tested your profitability, or sharpened your edge lately, this chapter is more relevant than ever.

Chapter 11, Avoiding the Common Pitfalls, features these 4 fundamental Rules:

— Rule No. 30: Profit is not a dirty word.

— Rule No. 47: The bottleneck is at the top.

— Rule No. 41: Reputation compounds.

— Rule No. 44: Own your edge.

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By The Book is the disciplined counterweight to Unscripted. Wednesdays. This is where continuous learning becomes a responsibility, not a slogan.

Each month, this CEO study group will work through The Executives Institute curriculum chapter by chapter—studying a focused set of Rules and the timeless business books behind them.

The room is intentionally small and peer-driven, allowing leaders at different stages to challenge, mentor, and sharpen one another through real experience. You’ll hear how the same Rule holds up across industries, ownership structures, and seasons of leadership—and where it breaks if misapplied. The goal isn’t agreement. It’s clarity, earned through reading, discussion, and thoughtful application—by the book.

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As Executives’ Club Members, you have the opportunity to host By The Book at your business or comfortable location of your choice.

Email Kurt to host an upcoming month in 2026