Did you know a single Clydesdale horse can pull up to 8,000 pounds on its own?
Now here is where it gets interesting.
- Two untrained Clydesdales, paired together, can pull around 24,000 pounds, three times what one can do alone.
- Two Clydesdales trained to work in harmony can pull up to 32,000 pounds, four times their individual potential.
This isn’t just about horsepower; it is a powerful lesson in teamwork. When effort is aligned, the combined result becomes greater than the sum of the parts.
The Lone Clydesdale Problem in Business
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 59.2% of businesses operate with a single owner.
In other words, nearly 60% of businesses are being run by one Clydesdale pulling the entire load.
Over the course of my career, I have seen the downside of this repeatedly. Owners work long hours, shoulder every decision, carry the stress alone, and often do not have anyone they trust to challenge ideas, validate strategy, or simply listen.
That reality is one of the main reasons I decided to begin consulting, mentoring, training, and speaking.
I exist to be the second Clydesdale.
“But I Like Operating Alone…”
Many owners prefer isolation, and for good reasons.
- Partnerships often fail.
- Having one final decision maker can be efficient.
- Independence feels safer than compromise.
All of that is valid.
But there is a major difference between giving up control and injecting trusted support. Bringing in someone experienced to consult on specific tasks, pressure test ideas, or even just to vent does not weaken leadership, it strengthens it.
Being discrete is exactly why I make myself available evenings and weekends, when owners finally have space to think. And it is also why I call myself a “Business Therapist.”
How cool is that? I can be the second Clydesdale, you pull more weight, and no one even has to know the second horse is there.
Experience Matters When the Path Is Unclear
Here is an important question every leader should ask themselves:
Am I pulling this weight down the right path, or right into quicksand?
Just because you are a strong leader, just because you are a powerful horse, doesn’t mean you have traveled every road. I have not either, but I have helped businesses that were weeks away from closing their doors pull themselves out of quicksand and return to profitability.
I have also worked with businesses that were already successful and helped turn them into high-growth, award-winning organizations.
One was stuck and the other was moving forward.
Both needed help navigating the next stretch of road.
Experience is not about ego; it is about knowing which paths are solid ground and which ones will swallow 8,000 pounds in a heartbeat.
Train Together and Pull Four Times the Weight.
I make myself available for as little as six minutes or as long as several months, whatever it takes to complete the task at hand. No long-term obligation, no loss of control. Just support when and where you need it.
Let’s help you pull four times the weight, without burning out, stalling, or sinking into quicksand.
You do not have to pull alone.
Let me be your second Clydesdale.
Let’s train together. Let’s work in harmony.
