Our featured article either offers a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to at Empower or provides a fresh lens on how to grow, operate or think differently about business.
THE GLUE YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKING
Do you ever think about the glue holding your business together?
The person.
The technology.
The systems.
Glue might not be the first thing you notice (or measure performance against).
When you look at a building, do you first think about its binding agent?
I’m guessing most of you would answer, “no.”
You admire the facade, the interiors, or the other elements tailored to capture your eye.
The same may be true when examining your business and team.
When you look at how things are going, you’re likely more drawn to:
The sales that closed this week.
That valuable partnership on the horizon.
The marketing campaign that’s driving more leads than you can manage.
The people who shine in your eyes are the ones driving those outcomes.
That’s all important, and those metrics are quantifiable signals of revenue progress or traction.
But you also shouldn’t forget about that glue. It’s what determines how various pieces of your business come together and make things actually hold.
Strong glue helps you sustain under pressure.
It can withstand extra weight and mold with growth.
That’s why it’s critical.
It’s part of the foundations.
The infrastructure.
Last fall, an article was published in The Wall Street Journal highlighting behavioral scientist Jon Levy’s research on what makes teams thrive. A concept that surfaced was the outsized impact, or multiplier effect, caused by glue team members.
In his words:
A glue player is the team member who multiplies everyone else’s results, helping the team win. They have unusually high emotional intelligence and know how to move the group forward. They anticipate needs, take actions no one asked them to and help teammates perform at their best, often without seeking recognition. They put the team above themselves and don’t fight for credit because their priority is progress, not attention.
While this team member may not be able to rattle off revenue and inbound lead stats that turn heads, their impact on performance should. Without them, momentum may stall.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you know: There are those moments when growth accelerates, and you start to feel demand pull before systems and teams may be ready. This is when you lean on your glue.
Invest in it.
Let it help bring all the pieces together and push you into the next phase stronger.
A peek into another entrepreneurial journey. The wins, challenges, pivots and lessons.
MEET MARIANNA SACHSE, CEO OF JACKALO
Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “I knew I was destined to start a business when I saw that there were so many parents dealing with kids' clothes that didn't last long enough to be outgrown. The more I watched this, knowing about the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills, the more I needed to find a way to fix this.“
Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “I didn't expect that I was creating a solution for neurodiverse kids, but as I communicated with my customers, I found that often kids who are particularly hard on clothes are also neurodiverse. Designing a solution for active kids meant that I was making one thing easier for all families, but specifically families of neurodiverse kids. This felt particularly meaningful to me.“
Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “My first scaling challenge was really related to loneliness as an entrepreneur. Doing this work on your own is really hard. Especially as a solo-founder! I overcame this by starting my own mastermind. I researched how to structure a mastermind, found a group of female founders at different stages with their business, and started it. Together, we were able to support each other, problem-solve, learn new skills, and stay accountable. All of which was critical at a challenging time.“
Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “Build out an advisory board early! Getting a handful of people with expertise in areas that can help your business to support your efforts is invaluable. Doing this early makes a huge difference.“
Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant and where is it located?
A: “My favorite restaurant is Witloof, in Maastricht (Netherlands). It's a wonderful little Belgian restaurant with an enormous beer list. Each dish is homey and delicious, far from pretentious. They make their own jenever and will happily bring you several to try before deciding. It has so much nostalgia for me, as it was our favorite spot when we lived there for four years. Every visitor we brought there loved it. When we moved away, the owners sweetly gifted us a bottle of jenever as a goodbye. From a food and community standpoint, it was top-notch.“
Want to learn more?
Check out Jackalo’s website to learn more about the company and the product line. You can also follow along on IG and TikTok.
Curated reads or listens that piqued my interest and might spark new ideas for you, too.
SINCE LAST EDITION…
Still listening to the audiobook of 1929.
Quick notes on mortality, or memento mori.
Speaking of glue…this Lenny’s interview with Molly Graham of Glue Club and formerly Google, Facebook, Quip, and more.
Breakout startup signals.
Examples of building effective waitlists.
A case for boring retention tactics.
The CEO-employee chasm when it comes to AI.
LOOKING FOR MORE EMPOWERMENT?
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If you’re ready to take the step, reach out to discuss how we can support your goals.
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