Whiplash
So many topics. So little time. CEOs I am speaking with this week have whiplash. Time to head to our Outsell CEO Network Meetings and to sign up for RevvedUP 2026 co-produced by H2K Labs and Outsell. The topics we are facing are dizzying and our events are just the ticket.
It’s been a week full of calls and it’s only Thursday when I write this. Spending time with executives in industry; those we serve, those who are partners, those who are prospective clients is where the alchemy lies. My conclusion: It’s wild out there:
- Two CEOs were dropping everything to find out about the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) (who knew!?) and what, implications it would have for their overseas business and teams.
- A CEO who built one of the top agencies in her field is ousted by private equity within the first year. Knowing the PE firm and her business, it is another year before they destroy what she built and what they bought. I wish she’d called before selling.
- Another sold her company, turned over the reins, and departed after a 24×7, always on run at building a profitable, saleable asset. She is now home de-compressing and enjoying white space. How do you turn if off after years of going to bed thinking about the business and waking up thinking about it too?
- Another is deciding between a role at Nvidia, Google, or starting her own AI-focused business.
- Another is addressing succession planning at all levels of the organization including her own role.
- Still another was deciding between a speaking engagement or being with family during spring-break. In between a high-powered role and her next act, she is home for a bit. Her husband asked her to stay put. My advice — skip the event and enjoy your family. I could feel her exhale straight into our text thread.
- Still another is running a confidential search for a CFO and like so many leaders before him came through our “computer-screen door” to network.
- Another is looking for an independent voice (and research and data) to help their organization decide direction between two very strong factions in their firm about best paths forward in a zero click world.
- Five leaders are running beta for us testing our Outsell Accelerate A! Assessment as they benchmark where they are on five different dimensions. (Afterall, we must all have the AI questions answered for our boards or buyers.)
- Another sent their pre-announcement of one of the most innovative deals sure to take place this year. (Hint — we are publishing analysis about it this coming week!). This quiet company under its amazing leader is out-flanking competitors, out-pacing growth.)
- And then there are the lessons learned and case studies built from conversations about new revenue streams from licensing content to Big Tech.
It is simply a whirling-dervish of a time. CEOs are managing their boards, honing target markets, addressing cost structure to best position an exit, and dealing with what we at Outsell have come to call “two hands on the steering wheel, hair blown back!”
Throw in Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, and Greenland where this post began, and all we can do is march on.
There are sales meetings to kick-off. Customer meetings to hold. Partnerships and products to build. Companies to buy and sell. Key hires to make and boards to manage. The work is never done.
We are supporting it every day with original data, syndicated and custom research, a network of SMEs, and peer-to-peer communities. It’s a unique combination all focused on growing revenue and mitigating risk in an AI-driven world.
So, when these leaders need a sounding board or a bit of relief we love taking those calls. And we look forward to seeing them soon to connect, problem-solve, get deals done, compare notes and make plans about what’s going on out there. The Outsell CEO Network is the place so register here. And when it’s time to stoke the growth and revenue engine in an AI world — RevvedUp 2026 is too. H2K Labs and Outsell can’t wait to see you in Florida too.