Healthy urgency can't be rushed.

Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, discusses what it really means to lead with healthy urgency - the balance between moving fast and staying focused.

In this episode, he explores why constant pivots and chasing the "next big thing" often do more harm than good, how to separate meaningful feedback from noise, and why sustainable growth starts with discipline, not speed. Chris shares practical ways to build urgency that's grounded in purpose, avoid the trap of shiny objects, and make confident decisions even when pressure mounts from customers, investors, or your board.

If you've ever felt torn between acting quickly and staying the course, this conversation lays out a clear, grounded framework for growing with intention, without creating chaos for your team.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "healthy urgency" is about clarity, not speed

• How to tell the difference between valuable feedback and distraction

• The hidden cost of chasing every "if only" customer request

• Why doing something isn't always better than doing nothing

• How to build focus and credibility through consistent execution

Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Introduction (00:16) What healthy urgency really means (01:34) Balancing ambition, speed, and focus (03:15) The bright shiny object syndrome (04:30) How customer feedback can create confusion (06:00) When to act and when to pause (08:16) Navigating board and investor pressure (10:07) Avoiding reactionary decisions (12:13) Slowing down to go fast (14:10) Building frameworks for healthy urgency (17:29) Finding mentors and sounding boards for better decision-making