40 - Your Biggest Opportunity Is Getting the Least of Your Time

How do you 10X a business without burning it down? John, former wealth management founder and current C12 Chair, shares the pivotal thinking shift that led to explosive growth—from a stagnant expansion plan to scaling past $1.25 billion in assets before exiting the business in 2020. After conducting a rigorous two-week time study with over 400 data points, he discovered that his highest-leverage opportunity—M&A was receiving the least amount of his time. That misalignment was costing him millions. John's upcoming book, Thinking for Success, distills decades of leadership lessons into practical stories that upgrade how leaders think about relationships, problems, influence, productivity, and belief systems. This is a masterclass in disciplined thinking for CEOs, business owners, and leaders building for impact beyond profit. What We Unpack In This Episode: Why your calendar reveals your real priorities How poor thinking compounds into poor outcomes The danger of seeing people as objects instead of partners Turning obstacles into strategic tools The tension that comes with rapid growth Why managing wealth together can strengthen families across generations Show Notes Go to the Ultra Influential website for show notes.  Resources & Mentions Download the Game Changer Leadership Collection  Subscribe to the Ultra Influential Newsletter Follow Dr. Sharalyn Connect on LinkedIn: Dr. Sharalyn  Connect on Instagram: Dr. Sharalyn Call to Action If this episode sharpened your thinking or challenged your leadership, subscribe to The Game Changer with Dr. Sharalyn and share it with a leader who refuses to settle for average.  Leave a review. It helps us elevate the standard of leadership in more boardrooms, organizations, and industries. For consulting inquiries, speaking engagements, or to bring Dr. Payne into your organization email [email protected].