Effort ≠ Impact

Ten years ago today, I was sitting in a Shanghai conference room watching a deal die.

Two companies. Three countries. Zero alignment.

I remember texting a friend: "I'm throwing everything at this and getting nowhere."

He replied: "Effort does not equal impact. Try throwing the right thing instead."

That equation stuck.

I was working hard. Really hard. But harder wasn't better—it was just louder, messier, more desperate.

Impact isn't about doing more. It's about doing it right. Knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to let skill—not sweat—do the heavy lifting.

That memory hit me hard this morning because after a decade of learning and listening, wins and losses, the math isn't just making sense... it's making an impact.