Sales Strategy
Jimmy DeGroot: The Success Trap, Why What Got You Here Won’t Get You There | September 03, 2025 (0 comments)
Appleton, WI--We all know that moment when you realize you’ve arrived—your hard work, grit and talent have paid off. But Marshall Goldsmith makes a powerful point in What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. Often, the very traits that lifted us to success can hold us back from going further.
Goldsmith, a veteran executive coach, found that at higher levels, your performance isn’t limited by ideas or technical prowess—it’s your behavior. His book unpacks 20 subtle, often unnoticed habits that successful people fall into. Things like adding too much value, winning too much, judging others, or not listening—little things that build up and chip away at relationships and your leadership presence.
Think about that: Your sharp mind got you into leadership. But now, to keep advancing, you need to rein in the ego, step back, let others shine, apologize genuinely, and listen more than you speak. Goldsmith calls it “behavioral” growth—changing how you act, not what you know.
He doesn’t just name the problems—he gives us a roadmap. The fix? Start with a “To-Stop list”: Note which habits you want to let go (not "do more of," but "stop doing"). Then, begin with a “feedback loop”: ask colleagues for honest observations. Next, “advertise the change”: tell people you’re working on undoing a behavior. Add in “listening, thanking, apologizing,” and “follow-up” to lock anything in for the long haul. r
Here’s what we can do right now:
- Own the blind spots, stop assuming you're perfect.
- Stop rescue-adding, don’t fix every idea; let others grow it.
- Begin every conversation with curiosity, not correction.
- Offer genuine thanks, not just transactional praise.
- Follow up on commitments you’ve let slip or things you’ve apologized for.
If you consider yourself successful, getting to the next step means that your behavior matters more now than your brilliance. Because at the next level, greatness is less about being good and more about being remarkably human.
James (Jimmy) DeGroot is a professional jewelry sales and operations trainer from the jeweler’s side of the counter. Having been in management and the jewelry business for over 20 years, Jimmy offers weekly training to jewelers nationwide via the Train Retail website. Jimmy and his partner Kyle Bullock help jewelry stores grow their profits and their people to fulfill their greater purpose! We do it through one-on-one business coaching, sales training, and leadership development. Contact Jimmy at jimmy@trainretail.com or call 920-492-1191.