Jan-Joost Kroon is an organizational strategist, speaker, and author of the bestseller *From Capo to CEO*. In it, he explains what companies can learn from the Italian mafia. His book topped the Management Book Top 100 list for nearly four weeks. As an organizational strategist, Jan-Joost helps scale-ups and growing SMEs streamline their operations.

A year ago, *From Capo to CEO* had just hit the bookstores. Jan-Joost was already advising organizations at the time, but at the operational level. It was then that he had a conversation that would change the course of his career. He spoke with a consultant from Straight-Line Leadership, someone he’d been in touch with for years. “He suddenly said, ‘You’re stealing from yourself,’” Jan-Joost recalls. “By that, he meant that I could achieve much more if I took certain steps in my development. He held up a mirror to me.” That made Jan-Joost realize that there was indeed more to come.

Taking It to the Next Level
After his book became a success, Jan-Joost struggled to build on that achievement. He had reached an important milestone. But what next? After that conversation, he had a clearer picture of the way forward. “I realized that I wanted to take my skills to the next level,” he shares. “Operational organizational consulting can be very useful, but my ambitions and capabilities lay at the strategic and tactical levels. I had built up the knowledge, experience, and credibility for that. But at the time, I was stuck in my comfort zone.” That’s why he joined the membership. “Straight-Line Leadership gave me the push I needed to truly break out of certain patterns.”

The Importance of Expertise
In Jan-Joost’s situation, seeking help might seem unnecessary. After all, how could someone who wrote a book to help entrepreneurs and CEOs run their businesses possibly need help with that himself? “I believe in the importance of expertise for continuous self-development,” Jan-Joost explains. “I’m always aware that other people and environments demand new things from you. Hiring expertise to become even better yourself isn’t a weakness, but rather a strength. The mafia does that too. They hire expertise, rely on it, and work only with the best people. That’s what I want too.”

He uses his own work as an example: “I help companies as an organizational expert. Entrepreneurs are very good at running their businesses and developing new ideas. But they aren’t business experts. When they suddenly experience rapid growth, they often haven’t given much thought beforehand to the fundamentals of their organization. That’s when I step in and establish frameworks for them, so they can move forward again. It works the same way for me. I’m constantly working on developing myself as a person and a strategist; I’m getting more and more new clients, different challenges, and I have to adapt my skills. The specialisms of Straight-Line Leadership help me a great deal with that.”

: Clear, Concrete Language Jan-Joost’s membership has helped him clarify exactly what he offers his clients and the value he adds. He is now better able to convey this because he is more aware of the power of language. “I’m much more aware of what I say and the impact it can have. I’m more specific and describe what I see without beating around the bush. In the past, I was often hesitant. Sometimes I didn’t say something I knew could add value because I didn’t want to come across as annoying or know-it-all. I’ve made huge strides in that area. Instead of positioning myself as an expert, I state what I’m good at and don’t second-guess myself about it. I do this by using powerful words and communicating effectively. As a result, I also help my clients better, because I seize more opportunities for improvement.”

Don't waste a minute

At Straight-Line Leadership, the focus is on concrete actions, which allows Jan-Joost to take swift action when something needs to be done. “Their approach is very action-oriented, efficient, and to the point,” he adds. “Just like the Italian mafia. As a result, what I’m learning now deepens and refines my own ideas. That makes it very valuable to me. And because of that, I can now organize my business in a much more goal-oriented way.”

Thanks to that efficiency and directness, he’s started making decisions faster—both in his own business and for his clients. “I simply don’t feel like wasting hours anymore. If a decision needs to be made, I just make it. In the past, I used to look for a compromise, but now I know that’s not always the best approach. I communicate respectfully, but I don’t waste a minute. No nonsense, just get things done.”

The Will to Win
Jan-Joost sees many people around him wasting their time. “I’m 41 and already see a lot of people around me who have basically stopped pushing themselves forward. I’m nowhere near ready for that. There’s still plenty to do. That’s why I started working with scale-ups and growing companies, because that’s where you find a lot of energy and the will to win. That’s what I enjoy doing: working with people who want to make a big impact.”

He sees those same people reflected in his circle of friends. “I surround myself there with ambitious people who want to achieve something in life. They realize that there’s always something new to learn, and they’re constantly working on creating a new version of themselves.” That environment also supports him in his own transformation. A change that hasn’t gone unnoticed: “People who know me well or whom I often work with have noticed that I’ve taken a step forward. In terms of substance, in the way I conduct myself, and how I spend my time. That’s what they tell me. Not that I need that confirmation, but the fact that they notice the development does show that the time I’m investing in this is absolutely worth it.”