Why The Best Growth Strategy Isn’t About You.

Edition — 002

Welcome to The Obsession, glad you’re here.

Some of the best inspiration for your business doesn’t come from your industry at all.

It’s easy to look at competitors or major players in your space for ideas. That’s usually the first place we go. But I’ve found there’s real value in studying companies that operate in completely different worlds, especially the ones that have built something that lasts.

One of the best examples of this is Trek Bicycles.

John Burke, the CEO of Trek, helped grow the company from roughly $250 million to over $2 billion in revenue. And what stood out to me most wasn’t some complex growth hack or perfectly timed market shift. His approach was surprisingly simple: create value for others first.

In the podcast linked below, John talks about how Trek focused heavily on mom and pop bike shops. These were people who loved bikes, but weren’t always great at running a business. Instead of locking them into contracts or forcing inventory, John and his team offered help. They showed shop owners how to operate more efficiently, how to increase sales, and how to build a better business. No obligation. No pressure to buy Trek bikes.

But something interesting happened.

As those shops grew, they naturally needed more inventory. And when it came time to choose a partner, they chose Trek.

That story stuck with me because it raises a question all of us should be asking: How are we consistently creating value for the people we work with?

I believe real growth starts with investing in others first, the same way John did. It’s easy to let work feel like just work. To get stuck in the day to day and forget why you started in the first place. But that passion, that original drive, matters. When you bring that energy to your clients and genuinely help them grow, your business grows too.

It’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far in my career: helping others win is one of the most reliable growth strategies there is.

Podcast: The ultimate infinite minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke

The Weekly 3

1. One Question I Asked Myself

Where could I create more value for others without expecting anything in return?

2. One Idea That Shifted Me

From John Burke: the fastest way to grow your business is to help someone else grow theirs first.

3. One Challenge to Take Into Your Week

Identify one client, colleague, or relationship where you can offer help this week, with no agenda attached.