I’ve been there.
You’re working 60+ hours a week. You’re making things happen. And for a while, it works. You power through, you step in, you get it done — whatever it takes.
But then, without warning, the effort stops producing results. You’re still putting in the hours, still carrying the weight, but nothing’s really moving.
You’ve hit the limit of the Muscle Model.
What Is the Muscle Model?
It’s what I call the early-stage approach to growth that relies almost entirely on personal effort. Leaders shoulder the load. Superheroes jump in. The business grows because of brute force.
And for a while, that model is not only effective — it’s necessary. Startups and turnarounds are powered by it. But it’s not sustainable. And it doesn’t scale.
Eventually, even the most driven leaders run out of hours, energy, and answers.
Here’s how you know you’ve outgrown the Muscle Model:
- You feel like everything depends on you.
- Your team is maxed out — or worse, checked out.
- You’re constantly firefighting instead of focusing.
- The results don’t match the effort.
- You’re successful, but exhausted.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And more importantly — you’re not stuck.
The Shift That Changes Everything
When muscling stops working, the answer isn’t to push harder. It’s to evolve.
That’s what Talent-Driven Growth is all about. It’s the framework I’ve developed and refined over the last 30 years — helping leaders move from grind to growth, from friction to flow.
Here’s the big idea:
Growth is movement. And movement only happens when you align your growth goals, your talent, and your leadership.
Most leaders try to fix their growth problems by changing strategy. But strategy isn’t the problem — integration is.
When your growth agenda isn’t aligned with your people agenda, you stall out. But when those pieces work together, everything moves.
You Can’t Muscle Your Way to Sustainable Growth
This is where a lot of good leaders get stuck.
They keep muscling, because it worked before. But they’re chasing a level of growth that requires a different approach — one driven by aligned talent, not heroic effort.
And here’s the kicker: the more successful you are, the harder it is to let go of the Muscle Model. You’ve been the superhero. But the business has outgrown that phase. Now, it needs a leader who can move the line — not carry it alone.
So Where Do You Start?
Start by understanding where you are in your business lifecycle. I’ve worked with companies across industries, and I can tell you: there’s a predictable pattern to growth. I call it the Lifecycle of Movement.
If you don’t know where you are on that curve, it’s impossible to know what your business needs next.
That’s why I created the Locator Report — a simple tool that helps you figure out where you are, what’s working, and what’s in the way.
You don’t need another “grind it out” phase. You need clarity, alignment, and movement.
Let’s get you out of the Muscle Model — and back into momentum.
