The Rocks Don’t Move
Applying the Lighthouse Principle…
In my last entry, I talked about the Lighthouse Principle and how it applies to business and at an individual level. So what is it that a lighthouse is warning you of…the rocks, and they don’t move.
I focus on deep expertise in specific areas: strategic planning, leadership development, operational improvement, and profitability. I'd rather be the definitive expert in these areas than a generalist chasing every type of project.
I show up consistently: Through networking with the Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, mentoring at UNC Wilmington's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and creating content that helps business leaders see what's coming—not just react to what's already happened.
I position myself as a futurist guide: My book Prepare to Tack: A Business Fable About Strategic Clarity isn't about fixing yesterday's problems. It's about helping leaders develop the clarity to see what's ahead and adjust course before the crisis hits.
I work with clients who value guidance: The businesses that reach out to Three Degrees Consulting aren't looking for someone to chase them with sales pitches. They're actively seeking strategic guidance because they recognize the complexity of the waters ahead.
The Rocks Don't Move
Here's the uncomfortable truth that makes the lighthouse principle so powerful:
The rocks don't move. The thing the lighthouse is signaling is usually an immovable object. We have those same things in business.
Market disruptions, operational inefficiencies, strategic misalignment, leadership gaps—these challenges don't disappear because we ignore them. They are there, solid, unmoving and , waiting for someone to ignore, disregard or be totally unaware.
A business can:
Seek guidance and navigate safely around them
Ignore the warnings and crash
Pretend the rocks don't exist until it's too late
As a consultant, my job isn't to convince you the rocks are there. My job is to stand firm in my expertise, keep my light burning consistently, and be ready when you decide you need help navigating.
Are You a Lighthouse or a Tugboat?
This principle applies beyond consulting. Every business leader, entrepreneur, and professional faces this choice:
The Tugboat Approach: Chase every opportunity. React to every trend. Try to be everything to everyone. Work harder and harder to pull others along.
The Lighthouse Approach: Establish your position. Build deep expertise. Show up consistently. Let your value speak for itself. Be there when people need you.
Both require work. But only one is sustainable long-term.
Finding Your Solid Ground
If you're drawn to the lighthouse principle, here's where to start:
Identify your rocks: What specific problems do you solve better than anyone else? What dangers can you help people avoid?
Build on solid ground: Develop genuine expertise, proven methodologies, and real results you can point to.
Show up consistently: Content, networking, thought leadership—be visible and valuable even when no one is actively buying.
Trust the process: The right people will find you when they need you. Not everyone will, and that's okay.
Stand firm: Don't compromise your positioning or expertise chasing clients who aren't the right fit.
The Light Is Always On
At Three Degrees Consulting, I've chosen the lighthouse approach. I'm here in Coastal Carolina, helping businesses navigate strategic planning, operational excellence, and the changes ahead. I bring 30+ years of experience in the areas that help companies thrive. Service based, retail manufacturing, for profit, or non-profit, We bring expertise, and a commitment to helping clients see what's coming—not just react to what's already happened.
We don't chase. We guide.
And when you're ready to chart a course through uncertain waters, you know where to find us.
The light is always on.
