More Guide Stories from those who have walked the terrain
Before you decide if this terrain is yours to walk, hear from people already on it. No marketing language. No company line. Just the guides themselves: on the work, the life, and what changed when they chose this path
What Changes When You Stop Forcing the Fit
Justin flew Apaches for the Army for 20 years before he retired in 2019. He almost went a different direction with coaching until a Pinnacle guide showed up in his LinkedIn feed. He talks about what the military taught him, why his clients treat him like part of the executive team, and what he had to unlearn about forcing everyone into the same box.
“I truly feel like I’m part of the executive team with my clients — not an outside consultant.”
The Framework That Lets the Lights Come On
Three years guiding leadership teams and CEOs, and Garry still talks about the moment the lights come on: when a client finally has a way to handle the conversation they’ve been ducking. He gets into the toolkit, why structure beats the latest hot idea, and what changes when teams stop firefighting.
“The product and the tools that you have are the best of the best. There’s no ceiling on you.”
Community, Flexibility, and the GOAT Toolkit
Kelly was a CEO before she was a guide. She built her firm during the pandemic on her own terms — room to travel, sit on boards, do the volunteer work she cares about. What surprised her was the reach. She thought the impact would happen in the session room. Turns out it happens everywhere.
“If you’re ever wondering if you make a difference in this business — you absolutely are.”
From the Ceiling to the Next Peak
Eric was running another system at his own company, hitting the ceiling on rocks, strategy, people, and process. He asked a peer in a Toronto coaching session what else was out there. She told him to call Greg Cleary. He compares the Pinnacle toolkit to open-source software — frameworks he fuses for whatever the client in front of him actually needs.
“I do feel like I’m guiding them up a mountain. And then hopefully we get to the top — and we can come down gracefully or find another peak.”