Issue 00014 - Know your role, break the mold
Welcome to 5 Bites – The BLTnT Newsletter!
Intro
Well… if you’re a die-hard The BLTnT Podcastor Five Bites aficionado, you probably noticed I missed last week’s edition. But we’re back on the pony and makin’ it happen! So let’s dig in…
Every so often, I hear a phrase I’ve never heard—or I’ve never heard it put quite that way before. When I hear these, I stop and think, whoa, that’s good!
Today I want to share two of those phrases I’ve recently picked up—and then add a few more lessons that connect to them.
Bite 1: Shut Your Hole and Know Your Role
Blunt? Yes. True? Absolutely.
Thank you to Nick DeMiro of MAYCO—he’s the guy who shared this one with me.
Sometimes the most important contribution isn’t talking—it’s executing your part with focus and humility. Teams thrive when people embrace their roles and let others shine in theirs.
Great leaders know when to speak up, but they also know the power of restraint.
Bite 2: TTWWADI – “That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It”
If you ever catch yourself (or your team) saying this… beware.
The status quo is often the death knell of progress. The world doesn’t stand still, and neither should you.
David J. Friedman , founder of CultureWise, defines culture as “the way people do things around here.” That can either be a healthy accelerator or a dangerous anchor. If “the way we’ve always done it” becomes the only reason something happens, culture drifts from strength into stagnation.
Innovation begins the moment you ask, “But why do we do it that way?”
But let’s be clear: the way we do things around here isn’t always bad. Some culture behaviors are the glue that binds. Think “my pleasure” at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. or Chick-fil-A Restaurants. Don’t stop doing things like this!
Bite 3: The Balance Point
The tension between Bite 1 and Bite 2 is where leadership lives. On one hand, humility: know your role, execute, don’t let ego take the wheel. On the other, courage: challenge the status quo, push past “always,” and look for better.
The best leaders (and ideal team players) do both. [Little Patrick Lencioniplug!)
Bite 4: Simplicity Wins
Ever notice how the phrases that stick are usually the simplest? We drown in complex strategies and endless jargon. But the guidance we actually remember—the stuff that changes how we act—comes in plain words.
The power is in clarity, not complexity.
And many of you know one of my favorites that keeps it very simple: “People don’t remember the details—they remember the way you made them feel.” So often, we don’t need to leave people with a quote they can memorize—we just need to be conscious of the feelings we’re leaving in our wake.
Bite 5: Handle Hard Better
Getting better and better… Excelsior. The Mamba Mentality….whatever your catch phrase…
If you have a meaningful pursuit in life, it will never be easy. You’ll just learn to handle hard better.
The challenges don’t shrink, but your capacity grows. That’s the mark of real growth—when what once crushed you now feels like just another Tuesday. Kara Lawson
“If you have a meaningful pursuit in life, it will never be easy. You will just learn to handle hard better.” — Kara Lawson, Duke Basketball.
Bonus Wisdom
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” – Alvin Toffler
Wrap-Up
This week is about balance: knowing your role without silencing your voice, respecting what works without clinging to “always,” and remembering that simplicity usually carries the deepest truth.
I’ve shared a couple of the phrases that stuck with me—now I want to hear from you.
👉 What’s your best go-to line?
👉 What are you known for saying that people repeat back to you?
Drop it in the comments or reply—I’d love to build a collection of the simple, sharp lines that guide leaders like you.
Thank you to our sponsors
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About 5 Bites
5 Bites is a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨
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