Half a Bubble Out

06/03/2026

Most business owners understand the power of testimonials when they’re the customer.

They read reviews.
Ask friends.
Trust referrals.
Watch videos before buying.

But many never stop to ask a deeper question: “What kind of experience are we creating for our own customers?”

Because the companies people talk about most usually aren’t the ones obsessing over testimonials.

They’re the ones obsessing over the customer experience.

Click the link in comments to read Issue #23 of The Leadership Contrarian.

06/01/2026

Why do people rave about certain products for years?

Why do some companies naturally create word of mouth while others constantly have to ask for reviews and testimonials?

A great testimonial is not a marketing artifact. A great testimonial is evidence of transformation.

People naturally talk about the products, services, and experiences that genuinely improve their lives. That’s true for kitchen gadgets, great meals, trusted brands, and businesses that create experiences worth remembering.

Because great testimonials usually aren’t collected.

They’re earned.

This week’s issue explores why the strongest testimonials are created long before anyone asks for a review, and what that reveals about the way great businesses build trust, loyalty, and customer experiences people can’t stop talking about.

➡️ Click the link in the comments to read.

05/29/2026

The leaders who thrive over the long haul are the ones who build wise counsel around them.

People who can see what they cannot, who will say what others won’t, and who keep them honest about the gap between where they are and where they think they are.

05/28/2026

What’s dangerous about Syndrome 27 is that it rarely looks dangerous.

It looks like success.
Experience.
Confidence.
Strong opinions.
Quick answers.

It’s the belief that your perspective is complete and that there’s not much left for you to learn.

However the best leaders never stop staying curious, seeking perspective, and questioning themselves along the way.

Click the link in the comments to read the newest issue of The Leadership Contrarian.

05/26/2026

At 27 years old, Michael had a realization: He couldn’t think of a single area where he needed to grow. Not one.

Life was good. Work was good. Marriage was good. And for a brief moment, he genuinely believed he had figured it all out.

A few steps later came a second thought: “If I can’t think of a place where I need to grow… that’s probably a problem.”

In the newest issue of The Leadership Contrarian, explores “Syndrome 27” — the dangerous kind of confidence that doesn’t feel like arrogance from the inside. It feels like clarity. And why success can blind even strong, capable leaders if they stop staying curious.

Click the link in the comments to read.

05/22/2026

One of the hiring mistakes leaders make is assuming talent transfers cleanly from one organization to another.

But when you hire someone, you import the person, not the system, culture, and environment that made them effective.

That’s why context matters far more than most leaders realize. Context is the environment in which competence either flourishes or fails.

05/20/2026

Most hiring failures don’t happen because someone lacked talent.

They happen because leaders underestimate how much context drives performance.

Culture. Relationships. Communication. Trust. Expectations.

Those things shape whether capability actually turns into effectiveness.

The newest issue of The Leadership Contrarian explores why “hit the ground running” may sound like a high standard, while creating problems leaders are trying to avoid.

Link to read the newest issue in the comments.

05/18/2026

Most leaders don’t look for new hires who can “hit the ground running” because they’re unrealistic.

They do it because they’re overloaded, stretched thin, and need relief quickly.

But in the newest issue of The Leadership Contrarian, I make the argument that “hit the ground running” has become a shortcut disguised as a high standard, one that often undermines the very outcome leaders are hoping for.

Read the newest issue: https://hubs.li/Q04h0j-20

Discover how to better integrate leaders into your organization for lasting success.

05/15/2026

In a world where skepticism is rising everywhere, leaders who learn how to intentionally create trust will have an advantage most people underestimate.

Read the most recent issue of The Leadership Contrarian #020, You're Already Trustworthy. That's No Longer Enough https://hubs.li/Q04gHm7r0

05/13/2026

Trust affects more than reputation.

It affects how quickly customers say yes. How confidently employees make decisions. How much friction exists inside your organization every day.

And in a Post-Trust Era, leaders can’t afford to build trust passively anymore.

The leaders who win the next decade will build it intentionally.

👉 Read issue #20 of The Leadership Contrarian here: https://hubs.li/Q04gpsLg0