Why I work like a chess player, not a firefighter

Private executive support is not about reacting to urgency, it is about strategy, foresight and calm leadership. In this piece, I share why I approach support like a chess player rather than a firefighter, and how intentional, anticipatory support creates space for founders to lead with clarity and confidence.

Studio Elita

Most founders are surrounded by urgency.

Emails marked important. Messages that feel loud. Decisions that demand immediate answers. The constant sense that if you slow down, something will fall apart.

This is firefighter energy.
Always reacting. Always rushing. Always putting out the next fire.

It keeps businesses busy, but rarely wise.

I do not work this way.

I work like a chess player.

A chess player is never panicked.
They are calm because they are already several moves ahead.

They see patterns before others notice them.
They protect what matters most.
They understand that the strongest moves are often quiet and unseen.

This is how I support my clients.

My role is not to react faster.
It is to notice earlier.

To spot pressure points before they become problems.
To remove distractions before they steal focus.
To create space so the person leading the business can think clearly and move with intention.

In chess, the most important piece is not the loudest one.
It is the one being protected.

That is how I see the founders I work with.
Visionaries who carry a great deal and deserve to be held properly.

This is also why I work with a small number of private clients.
Depth requires presence.
Strategy requires stillness.
Trust requires time.

If you are looking for someone to simply respond faster, there are many options.
If you are looking for someone who thinks ahead, holds the board and keeps you steady while you lead, that is different work entirely.

Private support is not about doing more.
It is about thinking better.

And that is where real growth begins.